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Spider Solitaire: Rules, Strategy, and the Eight-Foundation Challenge

By Sunil Belvai

Last Updated: October 3, 2026 | Reading Time: 13 minutes

Spider Solitaire is the two-deck patience that ships with every modern Windows release. 104 cards, ten tableau columns, eight foundations, and three suit-count modes (1, 2, and 4) that span almost the entire difficulty range of mainstream solitaire. This guide covers the rules, the difficulty ladder, six strategies that actually move your win rate, and where the cited win-rate ranges come from.

🕷️ Play Free Spider Solitaire Now

📖 Quick Navigation

• What is Spider Solitaire?
• Complete Rules & How to Play
• Difficulty Levels (1, 2, & 4 Suit)
• Scoring System
• 11 Winning Strategies
• Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Using the Hint
• Spider vs. Klondike
• FAQ

What is Spider Solitaire?

Spider Solitaire is a two-deck solitaire card game where you build sequences of cards in descending order. The name "Spider" comes from the game's eight foundation piles (like a spider's eight legs) where you need to build eight complete sequences from King to Ace.

How to Play Spider Solitaire: Complete Rules

Game Objective

Remove all 104 cards from the tableau by creating eight complete sequences of King through Ace in the same suit. When a complete suited sequence (K-Q-J-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-A) is formed, it's automatically removed to the foundation.

Initial Setup

• 10 tableau columns:
  • First 4 columns: 6 cards each (top card face-up)
  • Last 6 columns: 5 cards each (top card face-up)
  • Total: 54 cards dealt
• Stock pile: Remaining 50 cards (dealt 10 at a time)
• Foundation area: Space for 8 completed sequences

Core Gameplay Rules

1. Building Sequences

• Stack cards in descending order (K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, A)
• You can build on any suit, but mixing suits creates problems
• Example: You can place a 7 of Hearts on an 8 of Spades, but it's not ideal

2. Moving Cards

• Single cards: Can be moved to any valid position
• Sequences: Only same-suit sequences can be moved together as a unit
• Mixed-suit sequences are "locked" and cards must be moved one at a time

3. Empty Columns

• Any card or valid sequence can fill an empty column
• Empty columns are extremely valuable for maneuvering
• Try to create and maintain at least one empty column

4. Stock Pile

• When stuck, deal 10 new cards (one to each column)
• In this version: You can deal even when a column is empty. Many classic rule sets forbid that, so filling empty columns first is still good practice
• 5 deals available (50 cards ÷ 10 cards per deal)
• Each deal makes the game harder—use only when necessary

5. Winning the Game

• When you complete a same-suit K-A sequence, it's removed automatically
• Win by removing all 8 sequences (all 104 cards)
• If you run out of moves with cards remaining, you lose

Difficulty Levels: 1, 2, or 4 Suits?

Spider Solitaire offers three difficulty levels based on the number of suits used:

Level	Suits Used	Difficulty	Best For
1 Suit	♠ Spades only (8 decks)	Easy	Beginners learning the game
2 Suits	♠ Spades & ♥ Hearts (4 decks each)	Hard	Intermediate players, best balance
4 Suits	All suits (2 complete decks)	Expert	Advanced players seeking maximum challenge

Each difficulty has its own dedicated page with rules and tips: see Spider Solitaire with 2 suits and Spider Solitaire with 4 suits. For the actual win-rate numbers behind this table, see Spider Solitaire win rates by suit count.

A note on our numbers: until 3 October 2026, our 2- and 4-suit games let a run of mixed suits move as one unit, which the standard rules do not allow. Our August 2026 figures for those modes come from that easier game. The game now follows the standard rule, so it is harder than those figures suggest.

Scoring System (Standard Spider Scoring)

Our version uses traditional Spider scoring to help you track your performance:

Example Score: If you complete a 1-suit Spider game in 120 moves: 500 - 120 + (8 × 100) + 200 = 500 - 120 + 800 + 200 = 1,380 points

The fewer moves you use, the higher your score! Your best score is saved in your statistics. Challenge yourself to improve your efficiency and maximize your points.

11 Proven Strategies to Win Spider Solitaire

Strategy #1: Build in Suit Whenever Possible

The Golden Rule of Spider. Always prefer same-suit builds over mixed-suit builds. A 7♠ on 8♠ is infinitely better than 7♥ on 8♠, even if both are legal moves.

Why it matters: Same-suit sequences can be moved as a unit, giving you mobility. Mixed sequences lock cards together, severely limiting your options.

Strategy #2: Expose Hidden Cards as Priority #1

Your primary goal should always be revealing face-down cards. Each hidden card you expose:

• Gives you a new card to work with
• Opens up potential moves
• Helps you plan future sequences

Pro tip: Prioritize columns with the most face-down cards first.

Strategy #3: Create and Preserve Empty Columns

Empty columns are your most powerful tool. They allow you to:

• Temporarily store cards while rearranging
• Break up mixed sequences
• Move long sequences of cards
• Create space for strategic plays

Strategy #4: Don't Deal from Stock Too Early

Before dealing new cards from the stock:

1. Exhaust ALL possible moves in the tableau
2. Try to create at least one empty column
3. Organize your sequences as much as possible
4. Plan where the new cards will go

Remember: Each deal makes the game 10 cards harder. Use stock as a last resort.

Strategy #5: Build Downward from Kings

When you get a King, try to build a complete sequence under it immediately. Kings can't be moved onto other cards, so:

• Place Kings in empty columns when possible
• Start building K→Q→J sequences right away
• Protect King-started sequences—they're your path to victory

Strategy #6: Plan Multiple Moves Ahead

Spider rewards forward-thinking. Before each move, ask yourself:

• "What will this expose?"
• "Does this help build a complete sequence?"
• "Am I creating or breaking suit runs?"
• "Will this move block future options?"

Strategy #7: Avoid Breaking Suited Runs

Once you've built a same-suit sequence, protect it! Breaking a 9♠-8♠-7♠ run to make a different move is usually a mistake unless:

• It exposes multiple face-down cards
• It creates an empty column
• It completes a different sequence

Strategy #8: Know When to Build Mixed Suits

Sometimes you must build mixed suits. It's acceptable when:

• You're exposing a face-down card
• It's a temporary move you can undo later
• You have an empty column to help fix it
• NEVER do it just to "organize" cards

Strategy #9: The "Remove Complete Sequences ASAP" Principle

Unlike Klondike where you might delay moving cards to foundations, in Spider you want to complete and remove sequences as fast as possible. Each removed sequence:

• Frees up 13 card spaces
• Reduces visual clutter
• Makes the game more manageable
• Gets you closer to victory!

Strategy #10: Work on Multiple Sequences Simultaneously

Don't fixate on completing just one sequence. Spread your effort across multiple partial sequences. This gives you more flexibility and options.

Strategy #11: Learn Common Patterns

With practice, you'll recognize winning patterns:

• The "Staircase": Building sequences that step down across columns
• The "Tunnel": Creating a clear path to expose buried cards
• The "Swap": Using empty columns to reorganize mixed sequences into suited ones

5 Common Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Mistake #1: Building Mixed Suits Carelessly

The problem: New players build any descending sequence without considering suit.

The fix: Ask "Is this same-suit?" before every build. If not, only proceed if it exposes cards or is easily reversible.

Mistake #2: Filling Empty Columns Thoughtlessly

The problem: Players fill empty columns with whatever card is convenient.

The fix: Only fill empty columns with Kings or when absolutely necessary for another move. Empty columns are gold—don't waste them!

Mistake #3: Dealing from Stock Too Quickly

The problem: Running to the stock pile when moves are still available.

The fix: Triple-check for moves before dealing. Even one missed move can be the difference between winning and losing.

Mistake #4: Ignoring Column Balance

The problem: Creating very tall columns while others remain short.

The fix: Try to keep columns roughly even. Extremely tall columns become unmanageable.

Mistake #5: Not Planning Ahead

The problem: Making moves without considering consequences.

The fix: Think 2-3 moves ahead. Spider punishes impulsive decisions!

Using the Hint

Press Hint, or the H key, when you are stuck. The game rings the card to move in gold and its destination in blue, draws an arrow, and says in one sentence why the move helps: it turns over a hidden card, builds a run of one suit, empties a column, or completes a suit.

The hint looks ahead with a solver that can see the face-down cards and the order of the stock. When the solver finds a win, the hint follows it, move by move. When it does not, the hint picks a move toward the best position it found. In Spider, a search that finds no win proves nothing, so the hint never tells you a game is lost. When no useful move is left, a panel offers Undo Last Move, Restart, New Game and Show a Move Anyway. A hint costs no points.

Spider vs. Klondike: Which is Better?

Aspect	Spider Solitaire	Klondike Solitaire
Decks Used	2 decks (104 cards)	1 deck (52 cards)
Difficulty	Harder, more strategic	Moderate, good for beginners
Average Game Time	15-30 minutes	5-15 minutes
Our players, Aug 2026	33.0% (2-suit, before the October 2026 rule fix)	35.3% (Draw 1)
Best For	Strategy lovers, patient players	Quick games, casual play

Bottom line: Spider is deeper and more rewarding, but requires more time and patience. Klondike is perfect for quick, casual sessions. Try both!

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best difficulty level for Spider Solitaire?

2-suit Spider is widely considered the best balance of challenge and fairness. 1-suit is too easy for most players, while 4-suit is brutally difficult. Start with 1-suit to learn, then graduate to 2-suit.

Can every Spider Solitaire game be won?

No. Some deals cannot be won, and no published solver study gives a figure for how many. In August 2026, TrySolitaire players won 33.0% of the 2-suit games they started and 24.2% of the 4-suit games, counting unfinished games as not won. Those games still let a run of mixed suits move as one unit, a rule we corrected in October 2026.

How many moves does it take to win Spider Solitaire?

Expert players can win 2-suit Spider in 100-120 moves. Average players typically use 150-200+ moves. The fewer moves, the better your strategy!

Should I always build in suit?

Ideally, yes. But sometimes you must build mixed suits to expose hidden cards or create necessary moves. The key is minimizing mixed-suit builds and fixing them when possible.

What's the hardest part of Spider Solitaire?

Managing the middle game—after the first few deals but before sequences start completing. This is where most games are won or lost. Focus on: (1) maintaining empty columns, (2) building suited runs, and (3) exposing cards efficiently.

Is Spider Solitaire good for your brain?

Yes! Spider Solitaire is excellent for cognitive development. It improves planning skills, pattern recognition, working memory, and strategic thinking. Many players find it more mentally stimulating than Klondike.

Ready to Become a Spider Master?

Spider Solitaire is challenging, but incredibly rewarding. Each victory feels earned, not lucky. Our free version includes:

• All three difficulty levels (1, 2, and 4 suits)
• Unlimited undo/redo for learning
• Hints that say why each move helps
• Move counter and timer
• Beautiful card designs
• Statistics tracking
• Works on all devices
• 100% free, no downloads

🕷️ Play Free Spider Solitaire Now

Explore More Solitaire Games

• Klondike Solitaire – The classic everyone knows
• FreeCell – a solver found almost every deal winnable (Blake & Gent, 2026)
• TriPeaks – Fast-paced pyramid clearing
• Pyramid – Math-based pairing game
• Golf – Clear the tableau in fewest moves

References & Sources

1. TrySolitaire. "TrySolitaire August 2026: What 147,673 Games Tell Us." Published September 1, 2026. Source for the win rates on this page: wins divided by all games started in August 2026, with unfinished games counted as not won. We know of no solver study with a figure for Spider.
2. Microsoft. Microsoft Solitaire Collection. Microsoft Solitaire. Source for the modern 1-suit / 2-suit / 4-suit Spider modes (Beginner / Intermediate / Expert) and the de facto reference implementation. Spider Solitaire was first bundled with the Windows 98 Plus! Pack (1998).
3. Parlett, David. The Penguin Book of Patience. Penguin, 1979. Standard reference for Spider's rule history and family relationships to other patience games.
4. Hoyle, Edmond. The Official Rules of Card Games (multiple editions). Includes Spider rules and standard variants for the U.S. card-game tradition.

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Last Updated: October 3, 2026 | TrySolitaire – Free solitaire games online