Spider Solitaire
Solitaire card game using 2 STANDARD DECKS (104 cards). Build 8 complete runs (K→A) same suit to win. 3 difficulty levels: 1 suit (easy), 2 suits (medium), 4 suits (hard). Popularized by MICROSOFT WINDOWS 98 as SPIDER SOLITAIRE. More complex than Klondike; medium-hard win rates.
What is Spider Solitaire?
Spider Solitaire is SOLITAIRE CARD GAME using 2 STANDARD DECKS (104 cards). Considered one of the MOST POPULAR SOLITAIRE VARIANTS after Klondike + FreeCell. Origins uncertain (likely 19th century); popularized globally by MICROSOFT WINDOWS 98 SPIDER SOLITAIRE (bundled). GOAL: Build 8 COMPLETE RUNS (K→Q→J→10→9→8→7→6→5→4→3→2→A) SAME SUIT — completed run automatically removed. 3 DIFFICULTY LEVELS: (1) 1 SUIT (spades × 8, ~90% win rate — easy). (2) 2 SUITS (spades + hearts × 4 each, ~50% win rate). (3) 4 SUITS (13 of each, ~30% win rate — hard). SETUP: 10 TABLEAU COLUMNS (54 cards face-down; top card face-up); 50 CARDS remain as STOCK. Play tableau builds DOWN by rank (any suit); COMPLETED SAME-SUIT RUNS auto-removed. When stuck, deal 10 more cards from stock (1 to each column). All columns must have at least 1 card for stock deal. WIN = all 8 same-suit runs collected. Harder than Klondike + more strategic. Cult classic + universally installed via Windows.
Quick facts
Category
Card Games
Type
Individual
Players
1–1
Duration
~20 min
Where played
indoor
Field / court
table + card layout
Country of origin
🇺🇸 United States
Estimated origin
Uncertain 19th century origins; Microsoft Windows 98 Spider Solitaire 1998 for global popularization
Olympic
No
Popularity
global
How it works
Objective
Build 8 complete K→A runs same suit; runs auto-removed upon completion.
Rules
Basic rules
Setup: 10 tableau columns (4 with 6 cards + 6 with 5 cards, all face-down; top face-up)
50 cards remain as stock; dealt 10 more when stuck.
Tableau built DOWN by rank (any suit)
Red 7 on Black 8 legal; Red 7 on Red 8 also legal (unlike Klondike).
Move sequences of SAME-SUIT descending runs together
Multi-card moves allowed for same-suit sequences.
Empty column can hold any card
No King restriction.
COMPLETED SAME-SUIT K→A run auto-removed
13 cards; goal 8 total (8 × 13 = 104 cards).
Stock deal: 10 cards (1 per column); all columns need card
5 stock deals available (50 stock cards ÷ 10).
Scoring
Win/lose. Windows tracks games won + moves + time.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Suit sequence completed | Progress toward win (8 needed) |
| Windows scoring | 500 pts start - 1 per move + 100 per suit completed |
| Time bonus | Faster wins score higher |
Win condition · All 8 same-suit K→A runs completed + removed.
Playing area
Called
table + card layout
Dimensions
10 columns needing ~3ft × 1.5ft space
10 tableau columns + stock pile.
Equipment
2 standard 52-card decks (104 cards total)
€5-15
Or digital app (Microsoft Solitaire Collection, Spider Solitaire.app)
Free
Strategies
Prioritize same-suit sequences
Mixed sequences can't complete runs; build same-suit whenever possible.
Keep empty columns for maneuvering
Empty columns allow moving mixed-suit stacks apart.
Delay stock deals when possible
Only 5 stock deals; save until truly stuck.
Watch for buried Kings
Kings needed at bottom of runs; extract early.
Terminology
- Suit run
- K→A complete run in single suit; auto-removed.
- Tableau
- 10 columns of cards.
- Stock
- Remaining cards dealt 10 at time when stuck.
- Suit level
- 1/2/4 = number of distinct suits in play.
- Foundation
- Off-play area for completed runs (auto-managed).
Major competitions
Microsoft Solitaire Collection Star Club
ongoing · worldwide · since 2016
Spider Solitaire online rankings
ongoing · worldwide · since 1998
Where it is played
Governing bodies
No official governing body
n/a
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Universal cardless solitaire; no famous players
Learn this sport
beginner
- 1
Play Microsoft Solitaire Collection Spider (free Windows)
Start 1-suit easy.
- 2
Progress to 2-suit medium after 20-30 wins
Learn tactics.
intermediate
- 1
4-suit spider (hard)
Requires deep planning.
advanced
- 1
Speed solving + win rate improvement
Track statistics in Microsoft app.
Frequently asked
What is Spider Solitaire?+
SOLITAIRE CARD GAME using 2 STANDARD DECKS (104 cards). Build 8 COMPLETE RUNS (K→A) SAME SUIT to win — completed run auto-removed. 3 DIFFICULTY LEVELS: 1 SUIT (~90% win rate easy), 2 SUITS (~50% medium), 4 SUITS (~30% hard). 10 tableau columns + stock deals. Popularized by MICROSOFT WINDOWS 98 SPIDER SOLITAIRE. More complex + strategic than Klondike.
How hard is 4-suit Spider Solitaire?+
HARDEST STANDARD SPIDER VARIANT. Win rate WITH PERFECT PLAY: ~30% (analysis by computer solvers). Average human ~5-15% wins. Requires DEEP PLANNING (5-10 moves ahead) + optimal same-suit sequence building + stock deal timing. Compare: 1-suit ~90% win; 2-suit ~50%; 4-suit ~30%. Considered TEST OF SOLITAIRE MASTERY. 4-SUIT MICROSOFT SPIDER STATUS SYMBOL for card game hobbyists — 100+ streak achievement notable.
How is Spider different from Klondike?+
SPIDER = 2 DECKS (104 cards), 10 COLUMNS, BUILD SAME-SUIT RUNS K→A, foundations auto-managed. KLONDIKE = 1 DECK (52 cards), 7 COLUMNS, BUILD FOUNDATIONS A→K BY SUIT, tableau built DOWN ALTERNATING COLOR. Spider more strategic + longer games; Klondike shorter + more luck-based. Both universally popular via Microsoft Windows bundles.
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Spider (solitaire)— Wikipedia