How a game of Spider works
The deal fills ten columns, with only the top card of each face up, and leaves fifty cards in the stock. Any card can go on a card one rank higher, but a group of cards moves together only if it is a descending run in one suit. A full run from king to ace in one suit is removed, and clearing eight runs wins. Dealing from the stock adds one card to every column, and you cannot deal while a column is empty.
One suit: learn the rhythm
With only spades, every run you build can move as a unit, so the challenge is ordering cards and freeing face-down ones. It is the mode to learn the deal rule and the value of an empty column without being punished for every loose card.
Two suits: keep colours apart
Hearts and spades together mean a run broken by the wrong suit stops moving. Prefer moves that keep suits together even when a mixed move uncovers a card, and use empty columns to untangle mixed stacks.
Four suits: plan before you move
With all four suits most building is temporary, so look several moves ahead, uncover face-down cards early and treat every empty column as precious. Undo is a planning tool here: try a line, and back up if it buries something you need.
Habits that help in every mode
Turn over face-down cards before rearranging face-up ones, avoid dealing while useful moves remain, empty a column when you can, and build same-suit runs whenever there is a choice. Hints show the next sensible move if you stall.
Questions about spider solitaire suits
Is four-suit Spider Solitaire always winnable?
No. Some four-suit deals cannot be won however well you play, so treat a loss as information and try a new deal.
Why can I not deal more cards in Spider Solitaire?
The classic rule says every column must hold at least one card before you deal. Fill the empty column first, then deal.
Further reading
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