How to Play Spider Solitaire (2 Suits)

If you enjoy Spider Solitaire but want more of a challenge, you’re ready for Spider Solitaire (2 Suits). Well-suited for intermediate players, Spider Solitaire (2 Suits) uses 104 cards—1 deck of Hearts and 1 deck of Spades.

Objective

Clear all the cards by building sequences within the tableau, separated by suit and arranged in descending order from King (high) to Ace (low). These sequences get transferred to the 8 separate foundation piles.

Spider Solitaire (2 Suits) Setup

Using two decks of two different suits, you arrange your game space into three key parts:

• The tableau: Like any Solitaire game, the tableau is the main area for play. You deal out 54 cards from left to right in 10 columns, with 6 cards in the first 4 columns and 5 cards in the last 6 columns. All cards are face-down except the last card of each column, which is face-up. You’ll arrange cards in the tableau in descending order instead of building on active foundation piles.
• The stock pile: The remaining 50 cards are placed at the top left of your space, face-down, for the stock pile. When you are stuck and can’t make any more moves, you deal 1 card face-up to each column from the stock pile until the stock pile runs out. If the stock pile runs out and you can’t make any more moves, you have lost the game.
• The Foundation piles: Like classic Solitaire, you leave room at the top for foundation piles, but you need 8 spaces instead of 4. Additionally, you don’t build on those spaces during the game. Instead, you create the entire sequence in the tableau and then transfer it to a foundation pile when it is complete.
• The waste pile: Unlike Solitaire, you don’t use a waste pile because the stockpile cards are dealt directly onto columns in the tableau.

Spider Solitaire (2 Suits) Rules

These rules help you understand how to play Spider Solitaire (2 Suits):

• Move face-up cards only. The only cards you can move are the face-up cards in the columns of the tableau. You begin with only 10 face-up cards, but you can free face-down cards by removing a face-up card from on top of it. When you deal from the stock pile, you will be dealt 1 face-up card on each column, overlapping the cards already present.
• Move individual cards by rank, regardless of suit. To arrange individual cards, you just move them on top of a card that is 1 rank higher—even if it’s not the same suit. For example, if you’re playing with Clubs and Diamonds, a 6 of Clubs can be placed on top of a 7 of Clubs or a 7 of whatever the second suit is (Diamonds, Hearts, or Spades).
• Move columns of cards if they are the same suit. If you want to move an entire sequence or column of cards, the sequence or column must be of the same suit, and you can place it on a card that is 1 rank higher but of either suit. For example, if you’re playing with Spades and Hearts and have a 6 of Hearts, 5 of Hearts, and a 4 Hearts, you can move that whole set on top of a 7 of Hearts or a 7 of Spades. If, however, the sequence includes a 6 of Hearts, 5 of Spades, and 4 Hearts, you cannot move that sequence.
• Build descending sequences. Instead of building on separate foundation piles, like in Solitaire, you build descending sequences within the tableau. Once you have a sequence that descends from king to ace of the same suit, it will immediately be placed into a foundation pile and removed from play.
• Place any card into empty columns. In Klondike Solitaire, only kings can move into empty spaces, but in Spider, any card can move into the empty space. You can also move a column of cards as long as the entire column is the same suit. Filling empty spaces helps reveal other cards in your tableau.
• Use the stockpile if you run out of moves. When you’re unable to move any more cards, you can click the stock pile, which will deal out 10 face-up cards, 1 to each column. However, you need a card in every column to do so. So move cards into the empty spaces before using the stockpile.

Learn more with our guide on how to play Spider Solitaire, or watch our instructional video.

Strategies to Win Spider Solitaire (2 Suits)

While Spider Solitaire (2 Suits) is more advanced than the 1 suit version, these strategies can give you an edge:

• Anticipate plays before moving cards. Although you’re ready to play, sequencing the first cards you see may not always be the best move. While you can sequence cards regardless of suit, you can only move a column or create a sequence for the foundation pile if it’s all the same suit. So look ahead a few moves and see what cards get freed up before you arrange the tableau.
• Place higher-ranking cards or higher-ranking columns of cards in empty spaces. Sequences that go to the foundation pile descend from the King to the Ace. So when you get an empty space, place a card there that you can place a lot of cards on—the higher the rank, the more cards you can move from the tableau to this sequence. So choose face cards, like Kings, Queens, and Jacks, over lower-ranking cards, such as 3s, 4s, and 5s.
• Prioritize same-suit sequences. Although you can build a sequence that descends with mixed suits, you can’t move that sequence to other spots in the tableau. This means you could be blocking yourself from accessing crucial cards underneath. So when possible, sequence with the same suit to give you the most options for movement in the tableau.
• Reveal as many face-down cards as possible. You can only play face-up cards, so not only do you want to flip face-down cards so that they’re playable, you also want to know what cards you’re dealing with, which can inform what’s still hidden in the stockpile or other columns.
• Use the stockpile sparingly. Since the stockpile deals a face-up card onto each column, using it means you block yourself from plays on sequences you just worked hard to create. So while you need to use it sometimes, use the stockpile as little as possible so you don’t end up with layers of unsequenced face-up cards in your columns.
• Use the buttons to help your gameplay. You can use the “undo” button to reverse a move or several moves until you get back to a certain point, and if you’re stuck and aren’t sure what to move, use the “hint” button to have a move highlighted for you.

How Difficult is Spider Solitaire (2 Suits)?

Spider Solitaire (2 Suits) is considered medium in difficulty. When looking at 1,475,967 games played, 244,733 (16.58%) were won. In comparison, 52.29% of Spider Solitaire (1 Suit) games were won, and 6.08% of Spider Solitaire (4 Suit) games were won.

Other Games like FreeCell or Pyramid You’ll Enjoy

If you like games that require you to match and pair cards, you can find other fun and challenging choices in our collection of Solitaire games.

• Spider Solitaire (Four Suits):This version is even more difficult than Spider Solitaire (2 Suits) as it is played with four decks.
• Canfield Solitaire: This variation is similar to Klondike Solitaire, but each foundation pile starts with a unique card.
• Crescent Solitaire: You must fill 8 foundation piles, 4 that start with Aces and 4 that start with Kings.
• FreeCell: Use 4 open cells to place any playable card and help you solve the game.
• Pyramid Solitaire: Clear the cards from a pyramid tableau by matching cards that add to 13.
• TriPeaks Solitaire: Clear cards from a tableau shaped as 3 triangles by matching cards that are 1 rank above or below the card in the waste pile.
• Golf Solitaire: Remove cards from the tableau by choosing a card valued either 1 rank above or below the last card removed.
• Yukon Solitaire: Move groups of cards that are not sequenced as you try to move cards to the foundation.
• Scorpion Solitaire: Similar to Spider Solitaire, you must complete sorted sequences to move them to the foundation pile.
• Forty Thieves Solitaire: This variation also uses 104 cards and has eight foundation piles. Clear the tableau to win.