Spider Solitaire Strategies & Tips: Improve Your Game
Anna | February 8, 2025
There's a reason why Spider Solitaire is one of the most popular card games around. It’s challenging, rewarding and a great way to sharpen your mind. It doesn’t matter if you've just started playing the game or if you are trying to master the very hard to solve 4-suit level, I have got some tips and strategies that can help you play smarter and win more games. Let’s get started!
Using the Hotkeys
Hotkeys are a quick and easy way to save time and stay focused on winning, here are the ones you can use:
- U key or CTRL + Z: Undo your last move(s)
- D key or Space Bar: Deal new cards from the stockpile
- H key: Gives a quick hint for your next move
- R key: Start a new game instantly
Give these shortcuts a try and see how much smoother your game gets!
Create Empty Columns Early
Empty columns give you a space to temporarily move cards, helping you uncover hidden ones and organize your sequences. Unlike the usual sequence building rules where cards must stack in order, you can place any card or sequence on an empty column, giving you much more flexibility in your strategy. An empty column can be a game changer if you choose the right cards to place there!
Avoid These Mistakes When Filling Empty Columns
Empty columns are only as useful as the cards you place in them. The wrong choice can limit your options so think carefully before filling one.
Here are cards you should avoid placing in empty columns:
- Twos or Threes: These lower ranking cards leave little room for building sequences. For example, a 3 can only hold a 2 and an Ace, limiting your flexibility.
- Aces: Aces are the worst choice since they can’t hold any cards at all, making this a completely wasted move.
- Kings: While Kings offer plenty of space to start a long sequence, they lock the column because they can only move to another empty space.
Always think before filling an empty column to make sure it helps you.
Testing Moves with the Undo Button
The undo button is the most useful tool in Spider Solitaire. It lets you reverse moves, correct mistakes and test different strategies to find the best outcome, even allowing you to roll back to the start of the game if needed.
In Figure 1, the only playable options are the Jack on column 2 to the Queen on column 4, or the Jack from column 6 to that same Queen. I first moved the Jack from column 2 to see what was underneath... it was an Ace. Unfortunately this was not very helpful and the game was locked with no possible moves left except dealing new cards from the stock. So I hit the undo button and tried the other Jack instead. And guess what? Under the Jack was a 6 hiding and the 5 from column 8 could go perfectly onto it, as shown in Figure 2.
These moves opened up the game again! I turned a dead end into a winning position with just one simple click on the undo button.
Quick Tip: if you’re chasing a high score remember that every move, including undo, will cost you 1 point.
Plan Your Moves and Think Ahead
Spider Solitaire rewards players that plan ahead. Before making a move, think about what it will uncover and how it might help you with future plays. And don’t forget, as I mentioned before: if you’re unsure what to do the undo button can be your best friend.
Sometimes the best move isn’t the fastest one. Taking a few extra steps to uncover hidden cards can trigger a chain reaction, opening up new moves. By planning ahead, testing your moves and looking for these chain reactions, you’ll avoid dead ends and make smarter decisions every time you play.
Use the Stockpile Wisely
You only get 5 deals of 10 cards each in Spider Solitaire so every deal matters. Drawing too soon can bury important cards under new layers making them harder to reach. Always make ALL possible moves on the tableau before turning to the stockpile, it is your last resort when no other moves are available.
Here’s a handy trick I always use: when I think that I’m completely out of moves, I hit the yellow hint button in the top right corner. It doesn’t cost you any points and let’s be honest... the game is way better at spotting moves than any human. I mean, that’s literally what it was programmed to do.
Focus on Same Suit Sequences
According to the rules of Spider Solitaire, only same suit sequences (from King to Ace) can be moved to the foundation. While you can stack descending cards of different suits temporarily, your ultimate goal is to create same suit sequences, no matter what level you are playing. In 1-suit games this is simple since all the cards are the same suit, but in 2-suit or 4-suit games, you need to plan carefully to avoid getting stuck.
As you can see in Figure 3, I have a mixed suit sequence in column 1: Q, J, 10 and 9. The bottom 3 cards (J, 10 and 9) are Hearts but the Queen is a Spade, making it an unmovable sequence. However, there’s a Queen of Hearts open in column 3. By moving the J, 10 and 9 of Hearts onto the Queen of Hearts, it becomes a movable sequence of 4 cards.
When creating mixed suit sequences, always start with the highest-ranking card you can. For example, placing a red Jack on a black Queen gives you more room to build than stacking a black 3 on a red 4. However, mixed stacks can block your progress if left for too long so keep them manageable and reorganize them into same suit sequences whenever possible.
Use a few Columns for Mixed-Suit Stacks
Since mixed-suit sequences can’t be moved, it’s helpful to dedicate 1 or 2 columns as temporary storage. Think of these columns as flexible spaces to move cards in and out while organizing the tableau by suit. These holding areas make it easier to uncover hidden cards and build same suit sequences. Just keep them tidy and manageable so you can draw cards when needed to keep the game moving.
Spider Solitaire is all about patience, strategy and making smart moves. Not every game is winnable but with persistence and practice, you’ll sharpen your skills and enjoy the challenge even more. Stick with it and those satisfying victories will keep coming. Good luck and have fun!
