If you’ve ever lost track of time clicking through card columns on a slow afternoon, you were probably playing Spider Solitaire. The game has been sitting on Windows computers since 1998, but its roots go back much further — to a 1917 book by American card-game authority Ely Culbertson, who first documented the rules in print.

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Decks Used: 2 · Total Cards: 104 · Tableau Columns: 10 · Foundations: 8 · Objective: King-to-Ace runs in suit

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Spider Solitaire was first recorded in a 1917 book by Ely Culbertson (Free Solitaire)
  • Uses 2 decks (104 cards) dealt into 10 tableau columns (Solitaire Bliss)
  • Microsoft introduced the game in Plus! 98 in 1998, then preinstalled it in Windows XP in 2001 (Spider Palace)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact release date for the original Windows 95 version remains disputed among sources (Ask.com)
  • Precise win-rate statistics for each suit variation not publicly available (Ask.com)
3Timeline signal
  • Patience games documented as early as 1788 in Germany (Spider Palace)
  • Spider Solitaire introduced to broad PC audience via Microsoft Plus! 98 in 1998 (Spider Palace)
4What’s next
  • Free browser-based play remains the most accessible option with no installation required
  • Offline downloads available for desktop play without internet connection
Label Value
Decks 2
Cards 104
Tableau 10 columns
Foundations 8 piles
Suits 1, 2, or 4

What is Spider Solitaire?

Spider Solitaire is a patience card game played with two standard decks shuffled together — 104 cards total. The goal is to build eight complete sequences from King down to Ace, each running in the same suit, and move them to the foundation piles. The name reflects the spider’s eight legs, which correspond to the eight sequences needed to win.

Spider Solitaire was first recorded in the 20th century, in a 1917 book written by the famous American bridge expert Ely Culbertson.
— Free Solitaire Blog (Game History Writer)

Objective

You win by moving all 104 cards into eight foundation piles, each containing a King-to-Ace run in a single suit. Unlike Klondike Solitaire — which builds ascending suits one card at a time to foundations — Spider builds descending same-suit sequences directly on the tableau, using 10 columns instead of Klondike’s seven.

The upshot

Spider rewards patience over speed. Every column you empty gives you a landing spot for blocked cards, and clearing face-down cards early opens more options later in the game.

Setup

Deal all 104 cards into 10 tableau columns. The first four columns receive six cards each, with only the top card face-up. Columns five through ten receive five cards each, with only the top card face-up. This leaves 50 cards in the stockpile. The eight empty foundation piles sit above the tableau, ready to receive completed sequences.

Column Position Total Cards Face-Up Cards
Columns 1–4 6 1 (top card)
Columns 5–10 5 1 (top card)
Stockpile 50 N/A

How do you play Spider Solitaire?

The core mechanic is moving face-up cards and same-suit sequences between tableau columns in descending rank order. Any face-up card or valid sequence can move to an empty column. When no moves remain, draw from the stockpile — one card goes to each column, across all ten columns at once.

Tableau moves

You can move any face-up card onto a card one rank higher. For example, a Queen can stack on a King; a Jack can stack on a Queen. Only complete sequences in the same suit move as a group. Mixed-suit runs must be broken apart card by card.

Why this matters

Partial sequences are tempting to move, but splitting mixed-suit runs too early often creates dead-end columns. Building on higher-ranking cards first — Kings and Queens — keeps options open while you work toward revealing face-down cards.

Foundation building

Once a King-to-Ace sequence in the same suit is complete on the tableau, it automatically moves to a foundation pile. Those eight foundation piles are what you’re building toward. Solitaire Bliss notes that moving a complete sequence to the foundation frees up an entire column for other moves.

Valid sequences

A valid sequence runs King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, Ace — all in the same suit. In 1-Suit Spider, suits don’t matter; any card stacks on any card regardless of suit. In 2-Suit Spider, cards follow color (reds stack with reds, blacks with blacks). In 4-Suit Spider — the standard version — sequences must match exact suits.

Bottom line: Spider rewards revealing face-down cards early. Empty columns are flexible landing spots, but filling them with mixed sequences creates bottlenecks. Build on high cards first, move same-suit runs as units, and touch the stockpile only when all ten columns have been exhausted.

What is Spider Solitaire 2 suits?

Spider Solitaire comes in three suit variations that fundamentally change the difficulty. The suit count determines how strictly sequences must match, which in turn affects how often complete runs are possible.

1 suit vs 2 suits vs 4 suits

In the 1-Suit version (often called “Easy”), all 104 cards are spades only. Sequences form regardless of suit — any card stacks on any card. This version is best for learning the mechanics. The 2-Suit version uses two standard decks, typically spades and hearts or spades and clubs paired. Sequences follow color: red cards stack with red, black with black. The 4-Suit version uses all four standard suits across two decks, requiring exact suit matches for sequences. This is the standard difficulty in Microsoft Spider Solitaire.

Variation Suit Rules Difficulty Best For
1-Suit Any card stacks on any card Easiest Learning mechanics
2-Suit Same color sequences only Medium Balanced challenge
4-Suit Exact suit sequences required Hardest Experienced players

Difficulty levels

Most digital versions of Spider Solitaire let you select the suit count before starting a game. According to 247 Solitaire, 1-Suit is the easiest because it removes the suit-matching constraint entirely. 4-Suit is the hardest because completing a King-to-Ace run requires matching suits across two full decks. 2-Suit sits in the middle, demanding attention to color without the exact-suit precision of 4-Suit.

The trade-off

For beginners, 1-Suit builds intuition about column management and sequencing. But 2-Suit offers a more realistic challenge while remaining solvable for most players who have mastered 1-Suit. Jumping straight to 4-Suit can be frustrating without that intermediate practice.

Where to play Classic Spider Solitaire free online?

Free browser-based play is the easiest way to get started — no account, no download, and instant access from any device with internet connectivity. Several established game sites offer full-featured versions with difficulty selectors and undo functionality.

Top free sites

Major solitaire portals host variations of the game with different feature sets. Spider Palace and Solitaire Bliss both provide detailed rules guides alongside their play interfaces. Solitaired offers comparison guides between Spider and Klondike for players curious about how the two games differ. Most browser versions include full-screen modes and adjustable animation speeds.

No download needed

Playing in-browser means the game runs entirely in the HTML canvas or web-based card engine of your choice. No installation, no storage requirements, and play continues across devices as long as you have browser access. The trade-off is needing an active internet connection — offline play requires a dedicated download.

Bottom line: Browser play suits casual sessions and learning. Seek out a downloaded offline version if you want uninterrupted play during travel or in areas without reliable internet access.

How to get Spider Solitaire free download offline?

Offline versions install directly on your computer or mobile device, letting you play without an internet connection. These downloads appeal to players who want faster load times, no browser lag, and consistent behavior across sessions.

Offline versions

The Microsoft version shipped with Windows through Windows 7, then disappeared after Windows 8. For Windows 10 and 11 users, third-party Spider Solitaire apps fill that gap. Major app stores host free versions with varying feature sets — some include scoring, undo, and hint systems; others strip these down to pure gameplay. Spider Solitaire Online notes that Solitaire Royale in 1989 was the first commercial Solitaire release, though it did not include the Spider variation.

Microsoft edition

The Microsoft Spider Solitaire that shipped with Windows XP and Windows 7 introduced millions of players to the game. It offered 1-Suit and 4-Suit difficulty levels, a scoring system, and undo functionality. According to Spider Palace, Microsoft Plus! 98 in 1998 was the first release to include Spider Solitaire in a consumer Windows product. The Windows XP preinstall in 2001 is widely credited with establishing the game as a default desktop fixture.

Microsoft largely contributed to this specific variety’s success with Plus! 98.
— Spider Palace (Game Site)

The catch

Microsoft removed the preinstalled game starting with Windows 8. Players on Windows 10 and 11 who want the classic experience need to either download a third-party equivalent or access it through Microsoft Store versions. The Store editions maintain the core gameplay but may lack the exact scoring and undo systems of the original.

How to play: Step-by-step

Follow these steps to set up and play a game of Spider Solitaire. Each phase builds toward the goal of completing eight King-to-Ace sequences in suit.

  1. Deal the tableau. Arrange 54 cards across 10 columns as described above: columns 1–4 hold six cards each with one face-up; columns 5–10 hold five cards each with one face-up. Place the remaining 50 cards in the stockpile.
  2. Build descending sequences. Move face-up cards between columns in descending rank order (King, Queen, Jack, 10, and so on). Only same-suit sequences can move as a group.
  3. Move to empty columns. Any face-up card or valid sequence may move to an empty tableau column. Use this flexibility strategically to unblock lower cards.
  4. Reveal face-down cards. Prioritize clearing columns or building on high cards (Kings, Queens) to flip face-down cards. Each revealed card opens new move options.
  5. Draw from the stockpile. When no tableau moves remain, click the stockpile to deal one card to each column. You can do this up to five times per game.
  6. Complete sequences. Once a King-to-Ace run in the same suit forms on the tableau, it auto-moves to the foundation. Repeat until all eight foundations are filled.

Upsides

  • Two-deck setup creates deeper strategy than single-deck solitaire variants
  • Three difficulty levels (1, 2, or 4 suits) accommodate beginners and experts alike
  • Empty columns function as universal landing spots — no restrictions on what can move there
  • Free browser access means zero cost to start playing immediately

Downsides

  • Mixing suits in a column creates dead ends that are difficult to recover from
  • Stockpile deals are irreversible in most versions — use them only when necessary
  • No official win-rate data published for any suit variation, making skill benchmarks unclear
  • The 4-Suit version requires exact suit matches across two full decks, making wins rare for most players

Related reading: Pokemon Games in Order – Release Timeline and Play Guide

Additional sources

spidersolitaire.co.uk, spider-palace.com, spidersolitaireonline.com, 247solitaire.com, solitaired.com, 247spidersolitaire.com, youtube.com, en.wikipedia.org

Players aiming to master Spider Solitaire often study Spider Solitaire rules and strategies alongside practicing 1- to 4-suit variations for better wins.

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Frequently asked questions

Can you redeal in Spider Solitaire?

Most digital versions allow up to 5 redeals from the stockpile, but each redeal distributes one card to each column. Once the stockpile is empty, no further redeals are possible. Some strict rule sets prohibit redealing entirely, but this is uncommon in modern digital implementations.

What happens when no moves are left?

When all tableau moves are exhausted, you draw from the stockpile. If the stockpile is also empty and no moves remain, the game is over. Some versions include an undo function that reverses the last move, giving you a second chance to find an alternative path.

Are empty columns usable in Spider Solitaire?

Yes. Unlike some solitaire variants that restrict what can occupy empty columns, Spider Solitaire allows any face-up card or same-suit sequence to move into an empty space. This flexibility is central to the strategy — emptying a column gives you a landing spot for blocked cards elsewhere.

How many redeals are allowed?

Standard digital versions typically allow 5 redeals from the stockpile. Each redeal sends one card to each of the 10 tableau columns. Once all 50 stockpile cards are distributed, the redeal limit is reached and no further draws are possible.

Does Spider Solitaire scoring exist?

The Microsoft versions included a scoring system that deducted points for time taken and stockpile usage while rewarding completed sequences. However, scoring is not universal across all Spider Solitaire implementations. Many browser-based versions omit scoring entirely, focusing purely on gameplay.

Is undo available in most versions?

Undo functionality varies by platform. Microsoft Spider Solitaire included unlimited undo. Many third-party and browser versions also include undo, sometimes with a limited number of steps. Some strict versions omit undo entirely, treating it as a scoring exploit rather than a legitimate feature.

Can partial sequences move?

Only complete same-suit sequences can move as a unit in Spider Solitaire. A mixed-suit run (for example, King of spades over Queen of hearts) must be broken apart card by card. Some players deliberately avoid stacking mixed suits to prevent this fragmentation from creating dead-end columns.

For anyone that spent afternoons clearing spider columns on a work computer, the game’s endurance makes sense: it’s one of the few Windows mainstays that rewards patience over reflexes. The 1917 origin traces back to Ely Culbertson’s card-game literature, but Microsoft’s decision to preinstall it with Windows XP in 2001 is what turned it into a household habit for an entire generation of desktop users. Whether you prefer the forgiving 1-Suit version or the demanding exact-suit runs of 4-Suit, the game still delivers that same quiet satisfaction — and now you have the rules, the strategy, and the best places to play or download it, all in one place.