What is the difference between 1-suit and 4-suit Spider Solitaire?

In 1-suit Spider, all 104 cards are Spades: any descending sequence moves freely regardless of suit. In 4-suit Spider, all four suits are used and groups of cards can only be moved as a unit if they're all the same suit in sequence. 4-suit Spider is dramatically harder.

Can you move groups of cards in Spider Solitaire?

Yes: in 1-suit and 2-suit modes, any descending sequence (regardless of suit) can be moved as a group. In 4-suit mode, only groups of the same suit in descending order can be moved together.

What happens when you run out of moves in Spider Solitaire?

Deal from the stock: flip one card face-up to each column. You can't deal if any column is empty. You have 5 total deals (50 stock cards ÷ 10 columns). If you run out of deals and moves, the game is lost.

Spider Solitaire Rules: How to Play

1 Setup

Spider uses two standard decks (104 cards total). Deal 10 columns:

Columns 1–4: 6 cards each (top card face-up, rest face-down)
Columns 5–10: 5 cards each (top card face-up, rest face-down)

The remaining 50 cards form the stock. Foundation area holds 8 slots (for 8 completed suit sequences).

2 Gameplay

Move face-up cards between columns to build sequences. Rules:

Any face-up card (or group of cards) may be moved onto a card of one rank higher
In 4-suit mode: Groups may only be moved if all cards in the group are the same suit in sequence (e.g., 7♠ 6♠ 5♠ can move as a unit)
In 1-suit or 2-suit mode: Groups can be moved regardless of suit as long as ranks are in descending sequence
When you uncover a face-down card by moving all face-up cards off it, flip it face-up
An empty column can be filled with any card or valid group

3 Completing Suits

When you build a complete sequence from King down to Ace all in the same suit, it is automatically removed to the foundation. This is true in all difficulty modes, even 1-suit mode requires the final sequence to be in one suit to remove it.

You need to complete 8 such sequences (one per suit per deck) to win.

4 The Stock

When no useful moves remain, deal from the stock, one card face-up to each of the 10 columns. You cannot deal if any column is empty. You have 5 deals available (50 cards ÷ 10 columns = 5 deals).

5 Difficulty Modes

Mode	Suits Used	Group Move Rule	Win Rate
1 Suit (Easy)	Spades only	Any descending sequence moves freely	~60–70%
2 Suit (Medium)	Spades + Hearts	Same rules as 1-suit	~30–40%
4 Suit (Hard)	Full two decks	Groups must be same suit to move	~5–10%

6 Strategy

Empty Columns Are Gold

Empty columns act as free temporary storage, you can move any card or group there. Create empty columns as early as possible by clearing one column's cards and moving them strategically.

Build in Suit When Possible

Even in 1-suit mode, organizing by suit whenever you can makes it easier to build completable sequences. In 4-suit mode, mixing suits creates unmovable blocks that clog the board.

Don't Fill Empty Columns Recklessly

An empty column is precious, don't fill it with a King that has no sequence attached. Use empty columns as way-stations to reorganize other columns, not as permanent homes.

Think Before Dealing

Each deal adds 10 cards on top of existing columns. Before dealing, try to clear as many columns as possible and sort what's there, new cards landing on organized sequences are much easier to work with.

Spider Solitaire Layout Diagram

1-Suit, 2-Suit, and 4-Suit Rules

Variant	Decks Used	Moves Allowed	Difficulty	Win Rate
1-Suit	2 decks, only Spades used	Move any sequence regardless of suit	Easy ⭐	~99%
2-Suit	2 decks, Spades + Hearts	Move same-suit sequences only	Medium ⭐⭐⭐	~50%
4-Suit	2 full standard decks	Move same-suit sequences only	Expert ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	~1%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you move mixed-suit sequences in Spider Solitaire?

In 1-suit mode, yes — you can move any descending sequence regardless of suit. In 2-suit and 4-suit modes, you can only move a sequence as a unit if all cards are the same suit. You can still stack cards of mixed suits in descending order, but they can only be moved one card at a time (not as a group).

When should you deal from the stock in Spider?

Delay dealing from the stock as long as possible. Before dealing, try to empty at least one column (creating a free space) or expose as many face-down cards as possible. Each deal from the stock places one card on every column, and dealing into a bad board state can bury good sequences. A key mistake is dealing too early when columns are messy.

What is the best starting strategy for 4-suit Spider?

Focus on uncovering face-down cards in the fullest columns first. Try to consolidate suits rather than building long mixed-suit chains. Maintain at least one empty column whenever possible — empty columns let you temporarily store sequences during reorganization. Completing one full suit early opens up significant board space.

How many cards are in Spider Solitaire?

Spider uses two standard 52-card decks, for 104 cards total. 54 cards are dealt to the 10 tableau columns at the start, and the remaining 50 cards form the stock, dealt in 5 rounds of 10 cards each. You need to complete 8 suits (each Ace-through-King sequence) to win.

Is Spider Solitaire always winnable?

No — Spider Solitaire is not always winnable, especially in 4-suit mode. Luck of the initial deal matters significantly. Even with perfect play, some deals are mathematically unwinnable. Win rates: ~99% for 1-suit, ~50% for 2-suit, and roughly 1 in 3 for 4-suit with expert play.

What is the origin of Spider Solitaire?

Spider Solitaire was introduced to a mass audience when Microsoft included it with Windows 98 Plus! and later made it a standard Windows XP game. The name comes from the 8 foundations needed to win, referencing a spider's 8 legs. The game's roots trace back to early 20th-century patience card games.

🎲 House Rules

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Spider Solitaire