Spider Solitaire: how to play

Spider Solitaire, rebuilt by Mogi. Build runs from king down to ace in one suit and each finished run flies home by itself. The deals grow through five levels, from a small one-suit table with every card on it face up to the full 104-card game and a four-suit Glitch Zone. Every deal is checked by a solver, so it can always be won.

How to play

• Put a card on any card one rank higher, in any suit. A run of cards in order and in one suit moves together.
• When a column holds a full run from king down to ace in one suit, it goes home on its own.
• Tap a card to send it, and the run on top of it, to the best spot: its own suit first. Or drag it yourself.
• Press DEAL 10, tap the deck, or press Space to deal one new card onto every column. You can only deal when no column is empty.
• Keys 1–9 and 0 move the run from that column. Restart with the RESTART button or R, pressed twice.
• Getting stuck, going round in circles (many moves that don't help) or restarting costs one of your three hearts. If you have hearts left, the same deal starts again.

The five levels

1. Neon City: one suit, 52 cards, every card on the table face up
2. Rooftops: one suit, 78 cards, most face down
3. Sewer: two suits: only one suit moves together
4. Robot Factory: the full table: 104 cards, two suits
5. Glitch Zone: four suits, 52 cards

Clear the Glitch Zone and the five levels come round again with new deals, and every run you send home scores more. You have three hearts for the whole run, and the game is the same for everyone each day, so you can compare scores. Press M to turn the sound off or on.

Tips

• Turn over face-down cards whenever you can: the cards you need are usually under them.
• An empty column is the most useful space on the table. Fill it with a long run, not a single low card.
• Join cards of the same suit when you have the choice. Mixed runs can't move together.
• Deal only when you have no better move: every deal covers all ten columns.

Questions

Is every Spider Solitaire deal winnable?

Yes. Each deal is checked by a solver before you play it, so there is always a way to win.

How many suits are there?

One suit in the first two levels, two suits in the next two, and four suits in the Glitch Zone.

Why can't I deal?

You can only deal when every column has at least one card. Move something into the empty column first.

Is it free?

Yes. Spider Solitaire is free in your browser on phones, tablets and computers, with no download.