About

Spider Solitaire is a more complex and satisfying cousin of classic Klondike. Instead of building to foundations immediately, you build complete descending sequences of the same suit right in the tableau — then they lift off automatically. The full 4-suit version is one of the most challenging solitaire games ever devised.

The game is played with two decks of cards (104 total) spread across 10 columns. Building sequences across suits is allowed but inefficient — only same-suit sequences can be moved as a group, and only same-suit sequences score. This creates a constant tension between making short-term progress and building toward clean, movable structures.

A well-executed Spider game feels like watching dominoes fall — suddenly the board unlocks and cards cascade to the foundation. Getting there requires patience, planning, and a willingness to backtrack. It's deeply rewarding.

How to Play

• Arrange cards in descending order (King to Ace) on the 10 tableau columns.
• Any card can be placed on any next-higher card, but only same-suit sequences move together.
• When you build a complete K-to-A same-suit sequence, it's automatically removed.
• Draw from the stock to add a new row to all columns when stuck.
• Clear all 8 complete sequences to win.

Tips

• Prioritize building same-suit sequences even if it means slower progress overall.
• Empty columns are extremely valuable — protect them and use them to maneuver sequences.
• Avoid drawing from the stock until you've exhausted all possible moves.

History

Spider Solitaire was first documented in 1949 and gained mass popularity when Microsoft included it in Windows 98 as part of the Plus! Pack, then bundled it with Windows XP. The 1-suit version (all spades) is winnable by almost any player; the 4-suit version is estimated to be winnable by a skilled player about 50% of the time. Its name comes from the eight foundations needed — like a spider's eight legs.