Objective
Build and clear 8 complete same-suit sequences from King down to Ace. When you clear all 8 sequences, you win.
Cards and setup
- This mode uses 104 cards: two standard 52-card decks (all four suits).
- 10 tableau columns are dealt at the start: Columns 1–4 have 6 cards each, Columns 5–10 have 5 cards each.
- Only the top card of each tableau column starts face-up.
- The remaining cards form the Stock. There is no Waste pile.
Piles (what each area is)
- Tableau: 10 columns where you build descending runs.
- Stock: the remaining cards used to deal new rows to the tableau.
- Completed: cleared King→Ace same-suit sequences (0/8 to 8/8).
Tableau rules and allowed moves
- Build down by rank: you can place a card (or a stack) onto a card that is one rank higher (example: 8 on 9). Suit does not matter for placing.
- Empty columns accept any card or stack.
- In Solitarium.io, you can move any face-up descending sequence as a stack, even if it mixes suits. Some classic rule references only allow same-suit stacks to move, so this page describes the more permissive rule implemented here.
- After you move cards away from a column, if the new top card is face-down it flips face-up automatically.
Completing sequences (important)
- A sequence is only cleared when the top of a tableau column contains a complete King→Ace run in a single suit (all Spades, all Hearts, all Diamonds, or all Clubs).
- In other words: suit does not matter for most moves, but suit matters for clearing completed sequences.
Dealing from Stock
- Click Stock to deal one new row: 10 cards, one face-up card added to each tableau column.
- You can only deal a row when all 10 tableau columns are non-empty.
Controls and helpers
- Drag and drop: drag a face-up card or valid descending stack between columns.
- Undo / redo: Undo is available in the HUD and via Cmd/Ctrl+Z; Redo via Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+Z (or Ctrl+Y on Windows).
- Hint: suggests a legal move when one exists.
Saving and sharing
- Your progress auto-saves locally in the browser and restores if you refresh or reopen the tab.
- Use Share to copy a short link that recreates the same starting deal (seed-based).
Why is it called Spider Solitaire?
Spider is part of the patience, or solitaire, family of one-player card games. Unlike Klondike, Spider does most of its building inside the tableau: a completed King-to-Ace same-suit run is removed only after the full sequence is assembled.
The name is commonly linked to the eight completed sequences, which are often compared with a spider's eight legs. The 4-suit version keeps that same structure but adds the full suit-management challenge.
Strategy tips for 4-suit Spider
- Prioritize same-suit building from the start. Mixed stacks can be moved but never clear. Choose same-suit placements whenever you have the option.
- Track which suits are buried. If all cards of one suit are deep under others, that suit becomes a blocker. Uncover buried suits before dealing more rows.
- Empty columns are your most valuable resource. Use them to break apart mixed stacks and rebuild them in a single suit — not just as temporary parking spots.
- Think twice before dealing from stock. Each new row can bury sequences you are building. Try every available move first.
- Accept that some deals are very hard. 4-suit Spider has a low win rate even with strong play. If the position seems unworkable after several stock deals, starting a new game may be the better choice.
What makes 4-suit Spider harder than 1-suit?
In 4-suit Spider you must build same-suit sequences to clear them, but you can mix suits when moving stacks. This creates situations where you have many legal moves but none that actually improve your position — you are reorganizing without scoring. Managing four suits simultaneously across ten columns is the core challenge.
What is 4-suit's place among Spider variants?
4-suit is the hardest of the three common Spider modes — 1-suit, 2-suit, and 4-suit — all using the same 104-card structure and the same goal of clearing 8 King-to-Ace sequences.
The defining challenge in 4-suit is the asymmetry between moving and clearing: you can move any descending run freely regardless of suit, but a sequence only clears when all 13 cards share a single suit. That gap creates positions where dozens of moves are legal but none actually score. Every stock deal risks burying a suit you are assembling. 2-suit is the middle ground; 1-suit is the beginner version where clearing is automatic because every card already matches.
Can I move a stack that mixes suits?
Yes. Any face-up descending run can be moved as a stack, even if it contains multiple suits. The catch: that stack will never clear on its own. You need to eventually separate it into same-suit runs to score.
What is the win rate for 4-suit Spider?
4-suit Spider is one of the hardest common solitaire variants. Experienced players can win difficult deals with careful play, but beginners should expect a low win rate until same-suit building, empty-column management, and stock timing become instinctive.
Win-rate numbers depend heavily on the rule implementation and the player group being measured. For this page, the important comparison is qualitative: 4-suit is much harder than 1-suit because mixed-suit stacks block movement until they are untangled into same-suit runs.
Can I undo in 4-suit Spider?
Yes. Unlimited undo including stock deals. 4-suit Spider heavily rewards undoing a stock deal that made things worse — do not hesitate to use it.
Sources and further reading
These references informed the rules, variant, and difficulty notes on this page.