How to play Spider Solitaire
Spider is played with two decks across ten columns. Your goal is to build eight complete King-to-Ace runs, each in a single suit — every completed run is removed from the board.
The layout
- Ten columns hold 54 cards to start; only the bottom card of each is face up.
- Stock (top right) holds 50 more cards, dealt ten at a time.
- Completed runs are collected at the top left — eight of them wins.
The rules
- Build columns down by rank: any card can go on a card one rank higher, regardless of suit.
- You can move a group of cards only if they form a same-suit run in order.
- A full King → Ace run of one suit is removed automatically.
- Any card may move onto an empty column.
- You may deal a new row only when no column is empty.
Controls
- Drag a card or same-suit run to place it.
- Tap a card to auto-move it to the best column.
- Tap the deck to deal one card to every column.
- Undo reverses your last move.
Winning strategy
- Build in suit whenever you can. A run is only movable if it's one suit, so same-suit sequences keep your options open.
- Expose face-down cards first. Clearing the top card flips the one beneath — that's your main source of new moves.
- Fight for an empty column. Empty columns let you reorder cards and stash mixed-suit blocks out of the way.
- Don't deal too soon. Each deal drops a card on every column, often burying neat runs — tidy up before you tap the stock.
- Start with one suit. Learn the flow in the easy mode, then step up to two and four suits.
Common mistakes
- Mixing suits in a build. You can stack any card on one a rank higher, but only a same-suit run moves as a group. Build in suit whenever possible or you'll strand long sequences you can't lift.
- Dealing with tidy runs exposed. A deal drops a card on every column and often buries a clean run. Consolidate first; deal only when you're truly stuck.
- Wasting an empty column. Empty columns are your most valuable resource for re-sorting mixed blocks — don't fill one casually when you could use it to untangle a tableau.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the difference between 1, 2 and 4 suits?
- Fewer suits = easier, because more cards share a suit and form movable runs. One suit is a gentle warm-up; four suits is the full challenge.
- When can I deal a new row?
- Only when no column is empty — Spider requires every column to hold at least one card before you tap the stock.
- Is it free and unlimited?
- Yes — free, no login, unlimited games plus a Daily Challenge.
Know the rules already? Our Spider Solitaire strategy guide covers the habits that actually raise your win rate.