Spider Solitaire

Play Spider Solitaire Online for Free – No Downloads, No Distractions

Spider Solitaire is back—smarter, faster, and more polished than ever. This modern online version of the classic Windows favorite challenges your strategy and sharpens your focus.

Arrange cards by suit in descending order, complete full sequences, and tackle increasingly complex layouts.

With no downloads, ads, or clutter, it offers smooth gameplay, intuitive controls, and a sleek, responsive design.

Whether you're taking a quick break or aiming for a long win streak, Spider Solitaire online free download delivers pure, satisfying gameplay every time.

What is Spider Solitaire ? 

Spider Solitaire is a classic patience card game played with two decks. It gained worldwide recognition after its digital release. The earliest known reference to the game dates back to 1917, in Culbertson’s Card Game Complete with Official Rules by Ely Culbertson. By 1949, the version we know today—featuring 104 cards, 10 tableau piles, and eight foundations—was formalized in rulebooks. The name “Spider” reflects the eight foundations, symbolizing a spider’s eight legs.

The game’s digital breakthrough came in June 1998, when Microsoft included Spider Solitaire in the Microsoft Plus! 98 pack for Windows 98. It later became a fan favorite on Windows XP, Vista, and 7 and was eventually added to the Microsoft Solitaire Collection starting with Windows 8.

How to Play

Spider Solitaire is a fun card game you can play by yourself. Here’s a simple guide for kids who are just starting:

To play Spider Solitaire, you need two decks of cards (without jokers). First, shuffle the cards and then make 10 columns on the table. The first 4 columns get 6 cards each, and the other 6 columns get 5 cards each. Only the top card in each column is face up; the rest are face down. The leftover cards are kept in a pile called the “stock”.

The goal of the game is to make complete lines of cards in order from King down to Ace in the same suit. When you finish a line from King to Ace, it is removed from the table. You win when you remove all the cards by making eight complete lines.

You can move cards around the columns if the card you want to move is one number lower than the card you put it on (for example, you can put a 6 on a 7). If you move a card and there are face-down cards under it, turn the top one face up so you can use it. If you can’t make any more moves, you can deal one card from the stock to the top of each column.

Keep playing, moving cards and making lines, until you finish all the cards or run out of moves. Have fun and good luck!

Objective

 The core objective of Spider Solitaire is to arrange all 104 cards into complete sequences — from King to Ace — within the same suit. Once a full sequence is completed, it’s automatically removed from the board, bringing you closer to clearing the tableau. But this isn’t just about moving cards around — it requires foresight, strategic planning, and clever use of empty spaces. Whether playing with 1, 2, or 4 suits, the ultimate goal remains: build all eight full stacks and win the game with focus and skill

The Setup and Play Area

Spider Solitaire is organized into three main sections, each playing a key role in the game:

• Tableau: This is where the main action happens. The tableau consists of 10 columns, with a mix of face-up and face-down cards. Your goal here is to move and arrange the cards in descending order, ideally within the same suit.
• Stock: The remaining cards that weren’t dealt to the tableau are placed in the stock pile. When you run out of moves, you can deal a new row of cards from the stock — one card to each column — adding a fresh layer of complexity to your strategy.
• Foundation: Completed sequences (from King to Ace, all in one suit) are automatically moved to the foundation area. To win the game, you need to complete and transfer all eight full sequences here.

Understanding how each part of the play area works is the first step to mastering Spider Solitaire.

Available Moves

In Spider Solitaire, your primary goal is to build sequences by moving face-up cards onto others that are one rank higher and of the same suit — for example, placing an 8♠ on a 9♠. These moves help you organize the tableau and work toward clearing full suit sequences.

You can also move a group of cards together if they are in perfect descending order and all belong to the same suit. For instance, a run like Jack♠, 10♠, 9♠ can be moved as a stack onto a Queen♠ in another column. This ability to shift entire sequences gives you more flexibility and opens up opportunities to reveal hidden cards.

As cards are moved, if a column has only face-down cards left, the top one is automatically flipped. This reveals a new card that can potentially be used to continue building sequences — an essential part of progressing in the game.

If you reach a point where no more valid moves are available within the tableau, you can deal a new row of cards by clicking the stock pile. This action distributes one face-up card to each of the ten columns. Be mindful, though: you can’t deal new cards if there’s an empty column — all columns must contain at least one card before drawing from the stock.

After drawing, you may encounter disordered stacks. For example, if a low-ranking card like an Ace ends up on top of higher cards in sequence, you’ll need to move it elsewhere before continuing to manipulate the sequence underneath. Cards out of order will block movement until properly resolved.

Interestingly, even if a card is trapped by a misplaced sequence, you can still build a partial sequence beneath it — like placing a 10♣ on a Jack♣ even if a Queen is stuck above. Once you regain control of the stack, you can move the sequence as a whole.

Whenever you clear an entire column, it becomes a valuable space where you can move any single card or a properly sequenced stack. Using these empty columns wisely can be the difference between winning and getting stuck.

The ultimate aim is to create full sequences — from King to Ace of the same suit — in a single column. Once completed, these are automatically transferred to one of the eight foundation piles. When all eight are filled, you win. But if all the cards are drawn and no more moves are possible, the game ends in defeat.

How do you play 2 Suits or 4 Suits Spider Solitaire

1. Understand the Objective
   Your main goal is to arrange all 104 cards into sequences from King to Ace in the same suit. Once a full sequence is completed, it automatically moves to the foundation. You need to build 8 full sequences to win the game.
2. Choose Your Difficulty
   - 2 Suits: Typically includes Spades and Hearts. This version is a medium difficulty level.
   - 4 Suits: All four suits (Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs) are used, making it the most challenging mode.
3. Set Up the Tableau
   54 cards are dealt into 10 columns. The first four columns contain six cards each, and the remaining six columns hold five cards each. Only the top card in each column is face-up; the rest are face-down.
4. Move Cards in Descending Order
   You can move any face-up card onto another card that is one rank higher, regardless of suit. For example, a 9♣ can be placed on a 10♦. However, to move groups of cards together, they must be in a perfect descending order and all of the same suit.
5. Reveal Hidden Cards
   Each time you move the top face-up card from a column, the face-down card underneath is flipped face-up. Revealing hidden cards is key to progressing in the game.
6. Use Empty Columns Strategically
   If you manage to clear a column entirely, it becomes an empty space. You can move any card or a valid descending sequence to this space — use it to rearrange difficult stacks or reveal more face-down cards.
7. Deal from the Stock Pile
   When you run out of useful moves, click on the stock to deal 10 new cards — one on top of each tableau column. But remember: you can only deal if no column is empty. Fill all columns first!
8. Watch for Mixed-Suit Problems
   In 2 or 4 suits mode, it's easy to accidentally create mixed-suit sequences. These look like descending stacks, but they can’t be moved as a group unless the suits match. Always plan ahead to avoid blocking important moves.
9. Complete and Clear Full Sequences
   Once a full sequence (e.g., King to Ace of Spades) is completed in one suit, it will automatically be removed from the tableau and added to the foundation. You need 8 complete sequences to win.
10. Win or Run Out of Moves
    You win when all cards are organized into 8 perfect sequences. If all cards are drawn and no more valid moves exist, the game ends and you lose. Planning is crucial in higher-difficulty versions.

Spider Solitaire Strategy

Winning at Spider Solitaire, especially in 2-suit or 4-suit versions, requires more than just knowing the rules—it demands strategy, patience, and foresight. One of the most important techniques is to uncover hidden (face-down) cards as early as possible. The more cards you reveal, the more control you gain over your moves.

Try to build sequences in the same suit, even though the game allows you to stack cards of different suits. Mixed-suit sequences can block your progress because they cannot be moved as a group. Completing full sequences of the same suit is the only way to efficiently clear cards from the board.

Empty columns are powerful tools. Aim to clear at least one column early and keep it empty when possible. An open column gives you flexibility—it can hold any card or a properly ordered sequence, making it easier to reorganize and access face-down cards.

Use the stockpile wisely. Avoid dealing new cards until you've exhausted your current moves and cleaned up the tableau as much as possible. You can’t deal if any columns are empty, so plan your plays carefully.

Always think a few moves ahead. Instead of rushing into the first available move, consider how each decision might affect your future options. Sometimes, holding back a move—or using a card differently—can lead to better outcomes later on.

Don’t hesitate to use the undo button if you're playing digitally. Trial and error helps you recognize patterns in the game. With consistent practice, you’ll develop sharper insight into sequences, and your chances of winning will steadily improve.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Spider Solitaire?
   Spider Solitaire is a card game you play alone. The goal is to build sequences of cards in descending order (from King to Ace) in the same suit. When a full sequence is completed, it’s removed from the board.
2. How many cards are used in Spider Solitaire?
   The game uses two complete decks of cards, making 104 cards. These are dealt into 10 columns (the tableau), with the rest kept in a stockpile.
3. What are the difficulty levels in Spider Solitaire?
   There are three primary levels:
   - 1 suit (easy)
   - 2 suits (medium)
   - 4 suits (hard)
   The more suits you play with, the harder it is to create complete sequences.
4. Can I move multiple cards at once?
   You can move a group of cards only if they are in descending order and of the same suit. Otherwise, you can only move one card at a time.
5. What should I do if I run out of moves?
   If no moves are available, you can click the stock pile to add one new card to each column. But remember: you can’t deal new cards if any column is empty.
6. What is the stockpile for?
   The stockpile holds the remaining cards that haven't been dealt yet. You use it to bring in new cards when you're stuck.
7. Can I undo moves in Spider Solitaire?
   Yes, if you're playing a digital or online version. Most versions have an undo button to help you correct mistakes or try different strategies.
8. Is every game of Spider Solitaire winnable?
   No, not all games can be won. Sometimes, the starting layout makes it impossible. But with a smart strategy, you can win many games.
9. What’s the best strategy to win?
   Focus on uncovering hidden cards, building sequences in the same suit, creating and maintaining empty columns, and delaying the use of the stockpile. Always plan a few moves ahead.
10. Is Spider Solitaire good for kids?
    Yes, especially the 1-suit version. It’s simple to learn and helps kids improve logic, patience, and concentration while having fun.

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