Spider

The expert Spider

This is Spider at full strength: two complete decks, all four suits, ten columns, eight King-to-Ace runs to assemble one suit at a time. The rules are exactly those of one-suit and two-suit Spider — build down in any suit, move only same-suit runs as a group, deal from the stock when no column is empty — but with four suits in the shuffle, nearly every convenient placement is off-suit, and the game becomes an exercise in restraint.

Expect to lose deals: not every 4-suit layout is winnable even in principle. Unlimited undo lets you back out of a failed line, and "Restart deal" replays the same shuffle when you want revenge on a specific one. Share a deal link to challenge someone to the exact same game.

Strategy tips

• Value moves in this order: flip a face-down card, empty a column, extend an in-suit run, everything else. An off-suit placement that buys none of the first three is usually just a slower loss.
• Treat each empty column as a surgical tool: use it to transplant the off-suit segment out of a mixed stack and rebuild the run pure, then empty it again before the next stock deal.
• Don't complete a run at any cost. Stripping a column bare to finish a run can be right — but if it wrecks your working space just before a stock deal, the eight cards you removed cost more than they paid.
• Count the suits you're committing to. Fights over the same rank in two suits at once usually stall; it's often better to feed one suit's run to completion and recycle the space it frees.

Frequently asked questions

How hard is 4-suit Spider Solitaire?

It's widely considered one of the hardest popular solitaires. All four suits are in play — two full decks — so almost every placement decision trades immediate progress against future mobility. Even strong players lose most deals without undo; win rates in the low double digits are respectable.

Are all 4-suit Spider deals winnable?

No. Unlike FreeCell, where nearly every deal has a solution, a meaningful share of random 4-suit Spider deals cannot be won no matter how well you play. Unlimited undo helps you explore lines, and the restart button replays the same deal from the top if you want another attempt at it.

What is the most important habit in 4-suit Spider?

Keeping runs pure. Any card can legally go on any card one rank higher, but only same-suit sequences move as a group — with four suits on the table, each careless off-suit placement compounds until whole columns freeze. Choose moves that flip face-down cards or empty a column, and keep off-suit stacking to a deliberate minimum.

Should I learn on an easier version first?

Yes — the rules are identical across difficulties, so time spent on the 1-suit and 2-suit games transfers completely. Move up once two-suit wins feel routine; four suits will still be a wall at first, and that's normal.