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Game Rules Index

How to play Spider Solitaire

2 decks. Average. No redeal.

Spider Solitaire
Spider Solitaire
Click to enlarge

Set Up

Spider Solitaire uses two decks (104 cards). You have 10 tableau piles. 54 cards are dealt to these piles (6 cards are dealt to first four piles and 5 cards to the remaining ones). The top card of each pile is face up.

The object of the game
To build 8 sequences down in suit within the tableau (each running from King to Ace) and then move them to 8 foundations.

The rules
The top cards of tableau piles are available to play. You may build tableau piles down regardless of suit, ending at the Ace. You cannot build a King on an Ace. One card at a time can be moved from pile to pile. Groups of cards in sequence of the same suit may be moved as a unit.

When any tableaus are empty you can fill the space with any card or group of cards.

When you have made all the moves initially available, click on the stock pile to deal one card onto each tableau pile. All gaps (empty spaces) in the tableau have to be filled before the deal.

There is no redeal.

History

Ely Culbertson mentioned this game for the first time in his book “Culbertsons Card Game Complete with Official rules” in 1917. It is not quite clear whether he was the inventor of Spider Solitaire. The game got its name because a spider has 8 legs and you have to build eight complete sequences to win the game.

Spider Solitaire strategy tips

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