How to Play Spider Solitaire
Spider Solitaire uses two decks (104 cards). Deal 54 cards into ten columns, six in each of the first four and five in the other six, with only the top card face up; the other 50 form the stock. Build down in rank on any suit, but only same-suit runs move together. A full run from King to Ace in one suit leaves the table, and clearing all eight runs wins.
What you need
Spider is played with two standard 52-card decks shuffled together, no jokers. The game comes in three versions, named after how many suits are in play:
- 1 suit: all 104 cards are spades (eight sets of Ace to King). The easiest version.
- 2 suits: spades and hearts, four sets of each.
- 4 suits: two full decks, two sets of every suit. The classic, and much harder.
With real cards you'll almost always play 4 suits, since the other versions need eight sets of spades. On a screen you can pick any of them: on GameLake, Easy is 1 suit, Medium 2 suits and Hard 4 suits.
How to set up Spider Solitaire
- Shuffle both decks together well.
- Deal ten columns from left to right, all face down, going round the row again and again until you've dealt 54 cards. The first four columns end up with 6 cards and the other six with 5.
- Turn the top card of each column face up.
- Put the remaining 50 cards face down as the stock. They'll be dealt in five rounds of ten, one card onto each column.
- Leave space for the finished runs. There are no foundations to build up: complete King-to-Ace runs simply leave the table.
Quick check: 4 × 6 + 6 × 5 = 54 on the table, and 104 − 54 = 50 in the stock. If your stock isn't 50, a column is short.
The rules
Building down
You can put a face-up card on any card one rank higher, whatever its suit or colour: a 7 of hearts on an 8 of spades is fine. Nothing goes on an Ace, and a King can only go into an empty column.
Moving runs: same suit only
This is the rule that makes Spider different. You can pick up a group of cards and move it in one go, but only if it's a run in one suit, like 8♠ 7♠ 6♠. A mixed run such as 9♥ 8♠ can sit in a column, but it can't be moved as a group: you'd have to move the 8♠ first.
Turning cards and empty columns
When you move the last face-up card off a column, the face-down card under it turns over. When a column is completely empty, any card or same-suit run can go into it, not just a King as in classic Solitaire. Empty columns are the most useful thing in the game.
Dealing from the stock
When you're out of useful moves, deal ten cards from the stock, one face up onto every column. You can't deal while any column is empty, so fill gaps first. (The only exception, on GameLake, is near the very end when fewer than ten cards are left on the table.) Five deals and the stock is gone.
Completing a run
As soon as a column ends in all thirteen cards of one suit, King down to Ace, that run leaves the table. On GameLake it flies off by itself. Do it eight times (8 × 13 = 104 cards) and you've won.
1, 2 or 4 suits: which should you play?
| Suits | On GameLake | What it's like |
|---|---|---|
| 1 suit | Easy | Every run is the same suit, so every run can move. The best place to learn the moves. |
| 2 suits | Medium and the Daily | You have to keep spades and hearts apart to move long runs. The step most players find most satisfying. |
| 4 suits | Hard | Long same-suit runs are rare, so empty columns and Undo matter a lot. Many deals are lost even with careful play. |
Spider has been played with real cards since at least the middle of the 20th century, and became hugely popular once Microsoft shipped it for Windows (first in the Plus! 98 pack), with the same 1, 2 and 4 suit levels. If you're new, start on 1 suit: the rules are the same, there's just less to untangle.
How the game ends
- You win when all eight runs have left the table.
- You're stuck when the stock is empty and no move helps. With real cards that's the end; on GameLake you can Undo up to 40 moves and try another line.
On GameLake, tap a card to send it to the best spot (a same-suit card first), or drag it. Teach me has Hop highlight a good move and say why, for example that it turns over a hidden card or empties a column. You can also switch on the Classic look for a green felt table. Once you know the rules, read Spider Solitaire strategy to win more games.
Frequently asked questions
How do you set up Spider Solitaire?
Shuffle two decks together and deal 54 cards into ten columns: 6 cards in each of the first four, 5 in the other six. Turn the top card of each column face up and keep the other 50 cards as the stock, to be dealt ten at a time.
Can you move any run in Spider Solitaire?
No. You can put any card on a card one rank higher, but only runs of the same suit can be moved together. Mixed-suit runs have to be taken apart one card at a time.
What can go in an empty column in Spider?
Any card or same-suit run. Unlike classic Solitaire, it doesn't have to be a King.
Why can't I deal new cards in Spider Solitaire?
Every column needs at least one card before you deal. Move a card or run into the empty column first, then deal.
Is Spider Solitaire harder than regular Solitaire?
With 1 suit it's often easier. With 2 or 4 suits it's harder, because only same-suit runs move together and you can't see what the five deals will bring.