How to play Spider Solitaire
Build complete king-to-ace runs and clear all eight sequences from the table.
- Variants
- 1, 2, or 4 suits
- Cards
- 104
- Columns
- 10
- Goal
- Clear 8 runs
Setup and objective
Choose 1, 2, or 4 suits in game setup. One suit uses eight copies of every spade rank; two suits use four copies each of spades and hearts; four suits use two copies of all four suits. Ten columns receive 54 cards with only their top cards face up, and the stock holds five more ten-card deals. Clear eight complete king-to-ace runs.
Moving cards
Move a face-up descending run of one suit onto an empty column or onto a face-up card exactly one rank higher, regardless of the destination card's suit. Mixed-suit sequences cannot move together. Exposed facedown cards flip automatically.
Stock deals and clearing
A stock deal places one face-up card on every column and is allowed only when no column is empty. A complete face-up K–A run at the top of a column clears automatically.
Progress and end
The table shows moves, cleared cards, and deals remaining rather than a point score. Clearing all eight runs wins. Beginning a new deal while unfinished records a resignation.
Beginner strategy
- Uncover facedown cards before polishing already-open runs.
- Consolidate descending cards to free columns.
- Treat empty columns as powerful temporary storage.
- Make every useful move before dealing a stock row.
- Do not bury a nearly complete K–A run with a new deal.