How to play Spider solitaire
Spider is played with two decks. Build each suit in order from King down to Ace, right in the columns; when a suit is complete it leaves the table. Clear all eight suits to win.
The layout
- Ten columns: the first four have six cards, the rest have five. Only the top card of each is face up.
- The deck (top left) holds the other 50 cards: five new rows of ten.
- Eight spaces (top right) collect finished suits.
The rules
- Any card can go on a card one rank higher, whatever its suit: a 6 goes on any 7.
- You can move a group of cards together only if they are in order and all the same suit.
- Any card or ordered group can go into an empty column.
- When you’re out of moves, tap the deck to deal a new row, one card on every column. Every column must have at least one card first.
- A complete run from King to Ace in one suit is removed automatically.
One, two or four suits
With one suit every card is a spade, so any run can move together: this is the relaxing version. Two suits (spades and hearts) is a real puzzle, and four suits is one of the hardest solitaires there is. Choose in the Menu; it applies from the next deal.
Playing with real cards? The Spider solitaire rules page shows how to deal 104 cards from two decks, how to play the easier versions with ordinary cards, and has a one-page rules sheet to print.
How to play here
- Tap a card to move it, with the cards on top of it, to the best place. The game prefers a card of the same suit.
- Tap the deck to deal a new row when you’re stuck.
- On a phone, turn it sideways for bigger cards: ten columns are a lot for a narrow screen.
- Undo as often as you like, and tap Hint for a suggestion.
Tips
- Build in the same suit whenever you can. Mixed-suit piles can’t be moved as a group later.
- Turning over face-down cards matters more than anything else. Go after the tallest columns.
- An empty column is your most powerful tool. Use it to rearrange before you fill it.
- Before dealing a new row, make as many moves as you can, since the new cards will cover everything.
Questions
Can every game of Spider be won?
Most one-suit games can be won with careful play; four-suit games are much harder and some can’t be won at all. Undo is unlimited here, so you can try different approaches.
Why can’t I deal a new row?
The rules require every column to have at least one card before you deal. Move a card or group into the empty column first.
Is it free? Will my game be saved?
Yes and yes: it’s free with no sign-up, and your game is saved in this browser after every move.