Spider

How to play Spider Solitaire

Spider deals two full decks across ten columns — 54 cards down, only the front card of each column showing, with the remaining 50 waiting in the stock. Build downward on the columns in any suit, and try to assemble complete King-to-Ace runs in a single suit; a finished run flies off the table on its own. Clear all eight runs to win. This page plays the one-suit game — the friendliest way to learn the rhythm; step up to two suits or four suits when it stops putting up a fight.

When you run out of useful moves, tap the stock (top right) to deal one fresh card onto every column — but only when no column is empty. Drag runs between columns, or tap a card to send it somewhere sensible automatically. Undo is unlimited.

Strategy tips

• Turn face-down cards over before anything else. Every flip is new information and new options; a pretty run built on top of buried cards is progress you'll have to unbuild later.
• Work toward an empty column, then guard it. An empty column is a parking space that lets you rearrange almost anything — spending it carelessly is the most common way to lose a winnable game.
• Deal from the stock as late as possible. Each deal buries every column under one more card, so squeeze out all the useful moves first — and never deal while a King sits on top of a short column if you can help it.
• Kings are roadblocks: a King can't be placed on any other card, so once it surfaces it only ever moves to an empty column. Avoid piling cards you still need on top of one.

Frequently asked questions

How do you win Spider Solitaire?

Assemble eight complete runs from King down to Ace, each in a single suit. A finished run lifts itself off the table automatically. Spider is played with two full decks (104 cards), so there are exactly eight runs to build — when the last one clears, you win.

Why can't I deal new cards from the stock?

The classic rule: every column must hold at least one card before a deal. Each tap of the stock drops one card on all ten columns, and dealing across a gap would waste the most valuable thing on the table — an empty column. Fill the gap first, then deal.

Which groups of cards can I move together?

Only a run that is descending and all one suit, like 9-8-7 of spades. You may place any card on any card one rank higher regardless of suit, but a mixed-suit stack is frozen — you would have to take it apart one card at a time. This version deals one suit, so every descending run you build stays movable.

Do I need an account to save my stats?

No. Games played, win rate, streaks and best times are stored in your browser on this device. Nothing is uploaded and there is nothing to sign up for.