Play Spider Solitaire Online for Free
Spider Solitaire is widely regarded as the most challenging and deeply strategic of all Solitaire variants. Using two full decks of cards, it demands patience, planning, and the ability to think many moves ahead. The satisfaction of completing a full King-to-Ace sequence and watching it sweep off the tableau is unmatched in the world of card games.
Whether you’re a beginner starting with one-suit Spider or a seasoned player tackling the four-suit challenge, our free online version offers the perfect experience with smooth controls, unlimited undo, and smart hints.
Game Features
- Free to Play – No registration or download required.
- Two Full Decks – 104 cards for a deep, satisfying challenge.
- Unlimited Undo – Rewind and try different strategies.
- Smart Hints – Find moves you might have missed.
- Mobile Friendly – Full touch support on any device.
- Daily Challenges – A unique deal every day with streak tracking.
Spider Solitaire Rules
Setup
Two standard 52-card decks are shuffled together (104 cards total). Fifty-four cards are dealt into 10 tableau columns — the first four columns get six cards each, the remaining six columns get five cards each. Only the top card in each column is face-up. The remaining 50 cards form the stock pile.
How to Play
- Build the tableau by placing cards in descending order on top of each other. You can place any card on a card one rank higher (e.g., 9 on 10), regardless of suit.
- Move same-suit sequences together as a group. Only cards of the same suit in proper descending order can be moved as a unit — this is the core strategic element.
- Uncover face-down cards by moving the cards on top of them. Each revealed card opens new possibilities.
- Complete sequences from King down to Ace in the same suit. Completed sequences are automatically removed from the tableau.
- Deal from the stock when no more moves are available. Each deal places one new face-up card on every tableau column (all 10 columns must contain at least one card to deal).
Winning
You win when all eight complete King-to-Ace same-suit sequences have been built and removed from the tableau.
Tips for Winning Spider Solitaire
- Always build in the same suit when possible. Mixed-suit sequences block your ability to move groups of cards. Same-suit runs are the key to winning.
- Uncover face-down cards first. Revealing hidden cards gives you more information and more options. Prioritize moves that flip new cards.
- Create empty columns early. Empty columns are incredibly valuable — they serve as free workspace for rearranging cards. Guard them carefully.
- Don’t deal from the stock too early. Exhaust all possible moves before dealing. Each deal adds 10 cards and increases complexity significantly.
- Think in terms of suits. Track which suits have the most cards exposed and focus on completing those sequences first.
- Use undo liberally. Spider requires experimentation. Try a move, see the consequences, and undo if it doesn’t work out.
Spider Solitaire Difficulty Levels
Spider Solitaire is commonly played in three difficulty modes:
| Mode | Suits Used | Difficulty | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| One Suit | All Spades | Easy | Beginners learning the mechanics |
| Two Suit | Spades & Hearts | Medium | Intermediate players building strategy |
| Four Suit | All four suits | Hard | Experts seeking the ultimate challenge |
One-suit Spider is an excellent way to learn the game mechanics, since every card can be placed on every other card of higher rank. As you progress to two and four suits, the constraint of same-suit movement makes the game exponentially harder.
One Suit vs Two Suit vs Four Suit: A Detailed Breakdown
One Suit (Easy): All 104 cards are the same suit (typically Spades). Since suit doesn’t matter for grouping, every card can be moved with any other card of higher rank. This mode is ideal for learning the mechanics of Spider — column management, dealing strategy, and sequence building — without worrying about suit constraints. Win rates exceed 90% with careful play.
Two Suits (Medium): Cards come in two suits (typically Spades and Hearts). Now the suit constraint matters: you can still place any card on a higher-ranked card, but only same-suit runs can be moved together. You need to think about which suit you’re building in each column and avoid mixing suits unnecessarily. Win rates drop to roughly 20-30%.
Four Suits (Hard): All four suits are in play, making it extremely difficult to build clean same-suit runs of 13 cards. Every card placement decision matters enormously. Most players find that four-suit Spider requires planning 10+ moves ahead and liberal use of undo. Win rates are approximately 10-15% even with strong play, making it one of the hardest popular Solitaire variants.
Progression recommendation: Master one suit until you’re winning most games, then move to two suits. Only tackle four suits once you’re consistently winning two-suit games.
How Spider Compares to Other Solitaire Games
| Feature | Spider | Klondike | FreeCell | Yukon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decks | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Columns | 10 | 7 | 8 | 7 |
| Win rate | ~33% | ~30% | ~99% | ~25% |
| Luck factor | Medium | Medium | Very low | Low |
| Key challenge | Same-suit sequences | Hidden cards | Cell management | Group movement |
If you enjoy Spider’s deep strategy but want a faster game, try FreeCell Solitaire where all cards are visible. For a similar challenge level with a single deck, Yukon Solitaire offers flexible card movement without a stock pile. And if you want to relax with something lighter, TriPeaks Solitaire or Pyramid Solitaire provide quick, casual rounds.
The History of Spider Solitaire
Spider Solitaire’s roots stretch back to 1949, making it one of the older computer-era card games. The name “Spider” comes from its eight foundation sequences — like the eight legs of a spider.
The game became a worldwide phenomenon when Microsoft included it in Windows ME (2000) and later Windows XP. Its inclusion alongside Klondike (Windows Solitaire) and FreeCell created the “holy trinity” of Microsoft card games that defined Solitaire gaming for a generation.
Spider’s two-deck format and multiple difficulty levels gave it enormous replay value. The one-suit variant became a gateway for casual players, while the four-suit version challenged even the most dedicated card game enthusiasts. Today, Spider remains one of the most-played Solitaire variants globally.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many decks does Spider Solitaire use?
Spider Solitaire uses two standard 52-card decks (104 cards total). The cards are dealt into 10 tableau columns with 54 cards in the tableau and 50 cards in the stock pile.
What is the win rate for Spider Solitaire?
With optimal play, roughly 1 in 3 games (about 33%) can be won. One-suit Spider has a much higher win rate, while four-suit Spider is the most challenging.
What is the difference between Spider and Klondike?
Spider uses two decks and requires building same-suit King-to-Ace sequences to remove them. Klondike uses one deck and builds alternating-color sequences onto foundation piles. Spider has no foundation piles — completed sequences are removed automatically.
Can I move cards of different suits together?
No. You can place any card on a card one rank higher regardless of suit, but only same-suit sequences can be moved as a group. This is why building in the same suit is the most important strategy in Spider.
Play More Solitaire Games
Ready for a different Solitaire experience? Try one of our other free variants:
- Classic Solitaire – The timeless Klondike game on our homepage
- Klondike Solitaire – The world’s most popular Solitaire variant
- FreeCell Solitaire – Pure strategy with all cards visible
- Pyramid Solitaire – Math-based card pairing to 13
- TriPeaks Solitaire – Fast-paced peak clearing
- Yukon Solitaire – Open tableau with flexible card movement