Spider Solitaire: Master the Game with Tips and Tricks

Spider Solitaire: A Fun and Challenging Card Game

If you love card games, you might have heard of spider solitaire. It's a popular solitaire game that requires skill, strategy, and patience. It can be played with one, two, or four suits of cards, making it suitable for different levels of difficulty. In this article, we'll explain what spider solitaire is, how to play it, and some tips and tricks to master it. We'll also introduce some variations and challenges that you can try if you want more fun and excitement.

spider solitaire

What is Spider Solitaire?

Spider solitaire is a type of patience game that is played with two decks of cards (104 cards in total). The goal of the game is to remove all the cards from the table by arranging them in descending sequences from king to ace of the same suit. Once a complete sequence of 13 cards of the same suit is formed, it is moved to a foundation pile and removed from play. The game is won when all eight foundation piles are filled with one suit each.

The origin and history of Spider Solitaire

The exact origin of spider solitaire is unknown, but it is believed that it was invented in 1949 by an anonymous person. The name of the game comes from the spider's eight legs, which correspond to the eight foundation piles that must be filled to win the game. Spider solitaire became more popular after it was included in Microsoft Windows as a computer game in 1998. Since then, it has been featured in many versions of Windows and other platforms.

The rules and objectives of Spider Solitaire

The rules of spider solitaire are simple but challenging. The game starts with 54 cards dealt face down in 10 columns on the table. The first four columns have six cards each, and the remaining six columns have five cards each. The top card of each column is turned face up, forming the tableau. The remaining 50 cards are placed face down in a stock pile at the bottom right corner of the screen.

The objective of spider solitaire is to move all the cards from the tableau to the foundation piles by following these rules:

• You can move any face-up card or a group of cards in descending order and same suit onto another face-up card with one higher rank. For example, you can move a 9 of spades onto a 10 of spades, or a Q-J-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-A of hearts onto a K of hearts.

• You can move any face-up card or a group of cards to an empty column.

• You can turn over a face-down card when it becomes exposed.

• You can deal one card from the stock pile onto each column when there are no more moves available on the tableau. You can only do this when there are no empty columns.

• You can remove a complete sequence of 13 cards of the same suit from king to ace from the tableau and place it on a foundation pile.

You win the game when you have to an empty column. This can create more space and flexibility on the tableau. For example, you can move a 6 to an empty column, or a 5-4-3-2 to another empty column.

You can also turn over a face-down card when it becomes exposed. This can reveal new cards and possibilities on the tableau. For example, you can turn over the X under the 6 after you move it to an empty column.

Here is an example of how the tableau might look after some moves:

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9 4 Q 7 K A 8 X X X X J X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 10 X X X 9-8-7 6 5-4-3-2

How to use the stock and turn over hidden cards

Sometimes, you might run out of moves on the tableau and need to deal more cards from the stock pile. You can do this by clicking on the stock pile or pressing the deal button. This will deal one card from the stock pile onto each column on the tableau. You can only do this when there are no empty columns on the tableau.

Dealing more cards from the stock pile can create new opportunities or challenges on the tableau. You might find new cards that can help you form sequences or complete suits, or you might find cards that block your progress or create more disorder. You should try to use the stock pile wisely and sparingly, as you only have five deals in total.

Here is an example of how the tableau might look after one deal from the stock pile:

6 9 4 Q 7 J K A 5 8 2 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Q A J K X Q A J K 10 X J 9-8-7

How to complete suits and win the game

The final step is to complete suits of cards from king to ace of the same suit and move them to the foundation piles. You can do this by moving a complete sequence of 13 cards of the same suit onto another card with one higher rank and same suit, or onto an empty foundation pile. For example, you can move a K-Q-J-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-A of spades onto another spade card, or onto an empty foundation pile.

Once you complete a suit of cards, it is removed from play and placed on a foundation pile. You win the game when you have filled all eight foundation piles with one suit each.

Here is an example of how the tableau might look after completing one suit of spades:

Q J A K 2 K A J X Q J X A Q J

Tips and Strategies for Spider Solitaire

Spider solitaire is a game that requires skill, strategy, and patience. It is not always possible to win every game, but there are some tips and tricks that can help you improve your chances and enjoy the game more. Here are some of them:

When to choose the most hidden card or the most ordered column

One of the key decisions in spider solitaire is which card or column to move next. There are two main factors to consider: how many hidden cards are under a card or column, and how ordered or disordered a card or column is.

In general, you should try to choose the card or column that has the most hidden cards under it, as this can reveal more cards and create more possibilities on the tableau. For example, if you have a choice between moving a 9 with four hidden cards under it or a 9 with two hidden cards under it, you should choose the 9.

However, sometimes you might want to choose the card or column that is more ordered or less disordered, as this can make it easier to form sequences and complete suits. For example, if you have a choice between moving a 9-8-7 with four hidden cards under it or a 9-8-7 with two hidden cards under it, you might want to choose the 9-8-7, as it is more likely to match with another card or column.

Therefore, you should balance these two factors and choose the card or column that gives you the best advantage in the long run.

When to add order or disorder to the game state

Another important decision in spider solitaire is whether to add order or disorder to the game state. Order means having more cards or columns in descending order and same suit, while disorder means having more cards or columns in mixed order and suit.

In general, you should try to add order to the game state, as this can help you form sequences and complete suits faster. For example, if you have a choice between moving a 9 onto a 10 or a 10, you should choose the 10, as this creates more order on the tableau.

However, sometimes you might want to add disorder to the game state, as this can create more space and flexibility on the tableau. For example, if you have a choice between moving a 9 onto a 10 or an empty column, you might want to choose the empty column, as this creates more disorder on the tableau but also gives you an extra space to work with.

Therefore, you should balance these two factors and choose the move that gives you the best advantage in the long run.

When to use empty columns and spaces wisely

One of the most valuable resources in spider solitaire is empty columns and spaces. They