How to play Spider
A practical guide to the objective, legal flow, and decisions that matter in this playable version.
Objective
Spider Solitaire clears the table by assembling complete King-to-Ace sequences in the same suit. Tableau cards may be placed on the next higher rank, but only a fully suited descending run moves together as a unit.
How a turn works
Move an exposed card or suited run onto a card one rank higher. Empty columns accept any card or legal run. When every column contains at least one card, deal a new row from the stock. A completed same-suit sequence is removed automatically.
Strategy that changes the outcome
Same-suit construction is far more valuable than a mixed descending stack because it preserves mobility. Empty a column before dealing whenever possible, use it to reorder broken runs, and inspect how a move changes access to face-down cards. Delay the next row until useful reorganisation is exhausted.
First decision: Build in suit whenever possible and avoid dealing a fresh row while any tableau column is empty.
A common mistake to avoid
A mixed-suit descending stack looks organised but cannot move as one block. Building too many mixed runs can lock the tableau even when every adjacent rank appears correct.
Three useful table habits
- Build in suit whenever two legal destinations are available.
- Use empty columns as working space, not permanent storage.
- Never deal a row while a column is empty.
A question players ask
Why can I move one Spider card but not the whole run?
A group moves together only when every card in that group descends by one rank and shares the same suit. Mixed suits may stack for temporary access, but they must be separated before the run can move.
About this guide
We compare the rules shown in the game with the implemented legal moves, complete representative deals, and review desktop and mobile presentation. If a house rule changes play, the in-game How to play panel takes precedence. Read How games are researched and tested.