What is Spider Solitaire?
Spider Solitaire is a two-deck solitaire variant built around making long descending sequences in the tableau. Instead of moving cards to four foundations as soon as possible, you clear the board by completing full King-to-Ace runs. A finished same-suit run leaves the tableau, opening space for the next sequence.
The game is popular because it feels more tactical than classic Klondike. You can often see many possible moves, but every move changes the future shape of the tableau. Good Spider play is less about one lucky stock card and more about keeping columns flexible.
Spider Solitaire setup and rules
Spider usually uses two standard decks. Ten tableau columns are dealt, with the remaining cards kept in the stock. You build cards downward by rank, and same-suit sequences are the most valuable because only a complete same-suit run can be removed.
- Build descending sequences from King down to Ace.
- Move ordered groups when the sequence is legal.
- Fill empty columns with any card or valid sequence.
- Deal a new row from the stock when every tableau column has at least one card.
- Clear all completed King-to-Ace suit runs to win.
Spider vs Klondike Solitaire
Classic Klondike Solitaire uses one deck, foundations, a stock, and seven tableau columns. Spider uses more tableau space and usually two decks. If Klondike is about uncovering hidden cards and timing foundation moves, Spider is about building flexible columns and avoiding blocked suit runs.
Try the Solitaire game variants guide if you want to compare Spider with FreeCell, Pyramid, TriPeaks, and other patience games. If you want to play right now on vSolitaire, start a free Klondike game and use the strategy guide to improve your move order.