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Spider Solitaire is played with 104 cards across 10 columns. In this 1 Suit version, every card is a club. Because every card shares the same suit, any run you build in order can move together, and you never have to untangle mixed suits. That makes it the simplest version of Spider, so you can focus on learning how to build runs and manage the stockpile before adding more layers of complexity.

Spider Solitaire Objective

Win Spider Solitaire by building eight complete runs from King down to Ace in the tableau. Each finished run moves to a foundation pile automatically, and you win once all eight are cleared.

At setup, the first four columns get six cards each and the last six columns get five, for 54 cards in the tableau. Only the top card of each column starts face up. The remaining 50 cards make up the stockpile.

Spider Solitaire Rules

The rules of Spider Solitaire are easy to learn, but with 10 columns and two decks of cards, it takes planning to keep your momentum and avoid blocking useful cards.

• Build down in descending order. Any card can go on a card one rank higher. For example, a 7♣ can go on an 8♣.
• Move single cards or whole runs. You can move one card, or a run of cards in descending order of the same suit, to another column. For example, a 9♣, 8♣, 7♣ run can move onto a 10♣.
• Fill empty columns with any card or run. Unlike Klondike, an empty column doesn’t need a King.
• Deal from the stockpile when you get stuck. Each click on the stockpile deals one new card face up onto every column. Every column must have at least one card before you can deal. With 50 cards in the stockpile, you can use it five times.

Once you complete a run from King to Ace, it moves to a foundation pile on its own. You win once all eight foundation piles are complete. If the stockpile is empty and you have no moves left, the game is over. Replay the deal with Restart to try a different approach, or try a new deal with New Game.

Click-to-move is on by default, so you can move a card or run by clicking it instead of dragging it. You can turn it off in Options > Settings > Game Options.

Spider Solitaire 1 Suit vs. 2 Suits vs. 4 Suits

All three versions of Spider Solitaire use the same layout and rules. The only difference is how many suits are mixed into the 104 cards. More suits means more cards that can stack on each other but can’t move together as a run, so the game gets harder.

Start with 1 Suit to learn how runs and the stockpile work. Once you’re winning regularly, move up to Spider Solitaire 2 Suits, then take on the classic Spider Solitaire 4 Suits.

Tips and Strategies to Win Spider Solitaire

With only one suit, every card you stack is part of a run you can move later. These Spider Solitaire strategies will help you clear the tableau faster and win more often.

• Uncover face-down cards first. When you have more than one move, choose the one that flips a face-down card. Each card you reveal gives you more ways to build.
• Work on your shortest columns. Columns with only a few cards are the quickest to clear. An empty column lets you park a run or rearrange cards, which makes every other move easier.
• Build onto your longest runs. If a 6 could go on either of two 7s, choose the 7 that sits in a longer run. Keeping your runs long now means fewer moves to finish them later.
• Make every move you can before dealing. Each deal drops a new card on every column and can cover cards you were about to play. Only use the stockpile when you’re out of useful moves.
• Make the most of empty columns before you deal. You can only deal when every column has at least one card, so use an open column to rearrange cards and extend your runs first. Then fill it before you click the stockpile.
• Start empty columns with high cards. Unless you need an empty column to rearrange cards, fill it with a high card, ideally a King. A King can’t go on any other card, and every complete run starts with one, so it gives you room to build a full run from the top down.