Rules
How to play Spider Solitaire
Build same-suit king-to-ace runs across ten columns using two complete decks.
Build tableau cards downward by rank, regardless of suit.
Move a multi-card sequence only when every card in it is descending and the same suit.
Any movable card or packed run may enter an empty column.
Deal one card to every nonempty column from stock.
A complete same-suit king-through-ace run leaves the tableau automatically.
How to win
Remove eight complete same-suit sequences from the tableau.
Physical deck
Set up the table
Use the steps below to play this rules version with ordinary cards and no screen.
- Shuffle two standard decks together.
- Deal 54 cards into ten columns: six cards in the first four and five in the remaining six.
- Turn only each column's top card face up and keep the other 50 cards as five stock deals.
Spider Solitaire opening deal
These counts summarize the opening table; follow the numbered steps above for exact placement and overlap.
- Five stock deals
- 1 pile50 cards · 0 face up
- Ten tableau columns
- 10 piles54 cards · 10 face up
Strategy
Strategy for Spider Solitaire
Prefer same-suit builds even when an off-suit move is legal.
Create an empty column before spending another stock row.
Expose face-down cards before polishing already-open columns.
Common mistakes
- Mixing suits into a sequence that you soon need to move.
- Dealing while a column is empty.
- Using empty columns for short-term moves without an exit.
Sources & variant
The chosen rules, documented
This playable beta uses rules version 1.0.0. The references below support this version; other tables may use different redeal, wrapping, movement, or scoring rules. A saved deal always keeps the rules it began with.