Spider Solitaire Strategy: Tips That Win More Games
In this guide
- A quick refresher on the rules
- Build in a single suit whenever you can
- Why an empty column is worth almost anything
- Turn over hidden cards before tidying
- Put off dealing from the stock
- Choose the number of suits honestly
- If you want a gentler card game
- A short checklist for each move
- Frequently asked questions
Spider Solitaire is a game where a few habits make a huge difference. Two players can be dealt the same layout, and one wins while the other ends up with a table full of mismatched cards and no moves. The gap is rarely luck. It is usually the order in which the moves were made.
This guide starts with a quick refresher on the rules, then goes through the habits that win games: same-suit building, empty columns, turning over hidden cards, holding back the deal, and choosing a difficulty that suits you.
A quick refresher on the rules
Spider Solitaire uses two full decks. Most of the cards are dealt face down into columns, with the top card of each column face up. You win by building eight complete runs, each going from King down to Ace in a single suit. When a run is complete, it is removed from the table.
You can place a card on any card that is exactly one rank higher, whatever its suit. The catch is that only a run of cards in the same suit can be moved as a group. A stack of mixed suits stays where it is, and that is where most of the trouble comes from. In Spider Solitaire on IviGames, you also choose how many suits are in play, which sets the difficulty. Details such as when the stock can be dealt can differ slightly between versions, so use the in-game controls as your reference.
Spider Solitaire Two decks, eight runs to complete and a choice of how hard you want it to be. Play Spider Solitaire Build in a single suit whenever you can
If you remember one thing, make it this. When you have a choice between moving a card onto a matching suit and moving it onto a different suit, pick the matching one. A same-suit run can be picked up and moved as a unit. A mixed run has to be taken apart one card at a time, and that often costs you free space you cannot spare.
Mixed-suit placement is not forbidden, and sometimes it is the only way to uncover a card you need. Treat it as a loan. Each time you place a card on the wrong suit, you are creating a tangle that you will need to sort out later, so only do it when the card underneath is worth the trouble.
Why an empty column is worth almost anything
A column with no cards in it is the most valuable thing on the table. It is a parking space for any card or run, which lets you rearrange stacks that would otherwise be stuck. A single empty column can turn a hopeless layout into an easy one.
So when you are choosing between two moves, prefer the one that gets you closer to clearing a column, especially the shortest column. Count how many cards are left in each column and work on the smallest first. Do not rush to fill an empty column once you have it. Use it to shuffle things around, and put a King in it only when that is clearly useful.
Put off dealing from the stock
When you deal from the stock, a new card lands on top of every column. Those cards bury the runs you have been building and can ruin a carefully arranged table. Because of that, deal as late as you can.
Before you deal, check the whole table for any useful move you have missed. Look for cards that can join a run, columns you can shorten and face-down cards you can reveal. Only when you have genuinely run out of useful moves should you deal. In many versions of the game, you are not allowed to deal while a column is empty, so you may need to fill it first. Check how the game you are playing handles this, because it affects how long you can keep an empty column.
Choose the number of suits honestly
The number of suits is the biggest difficulty setting in the game. With one suit, every card of a given rank is interchangeable, so it is easy to build complete runs. With more suits, a card has fewer places to go, and every careless move creates a knot.
If you are new, start with one suit and learn the rhythm of clearing columns and turning cards over. When you win most games at that level, add a suit. Raising the difficulty before you have the habits in place only teaches you to blame the cards.
If you want a gentler card game
Spider Solitaire can be demanding. If you want a softer game for one player, Magic Solitaire plays classic solitaire layouts in a fairy-tale setting, with a fairy helper to show you around. It is a different game with different rules, but the same habit of looking over the whole table before every move applies. You will find more like it in the cards category, and our guide to free card games online is a good place to browse. If you like the slow, plan-ahead feel, Peg Solitaire and Mahjong Earth scratch a similar itch.
Magic Solitaire Classic solitaire dealt in a fairy-tale world, with a fairy helper to show you around. Play Magic Solitaire A short checklist for each move
Run through these questions before you commit to a move.
- Does this move reveal a face-down card? If so, it usually comes first.
- Does it keep my cards in a single suit?
- Does it bring me closer to emptying a column?
- Have I used every useful move before dealing from the stock?
Frequently asked questions
Is Spider Solitaire always winnable?
No. Some deals cannot be won however well you play, especially with more suits. That is why choosing a difficulty you can handle makes the game more fun.
Should I start with one suit or more?
Start with one suit. It lets you learn how clearing columns and turning cards over works without every move being a risk. Add suits once you win regularly.
What should I do with an empty column?
Use it as working space. Park a card or run there to free something underneath, rather than filling it at once. Keep it empty for as long as it is helping you.
