Spider Solitaire is a challenging version of the classic card game, Klondike Solitaire. It is a variant that requires patience, strategy, and a sharp mind. Whether you’re a beginner just learning the ropes or a seasoned player looking to boost your win rate, knowing how to evaluate your moves can significantly improve your game. Played with a few rules tweaks, Spider Solitaire is considered the more difficult version of the game, so our guide will walk you through different strategies, tips, and tricks to help you play smarter and master Spider Solitaire.

Spider Solitaire Basics

Before going deeper into strategy, it’s important to reiterate the core objective, which is to build complete sequences of cards in descending order from King to Ace of the same suit. Once a complete sequence is made, it is removed from the board. The game is won when all cards are organized into these complete sequences. If you want to learn how to set up a game of Spider Solitaire yourself, read this handy guide.

Spider Solitaire typically comes in three difficulty levels:

One Suit	Easiest version
Two Suits	Mid-level version
Four Suits	Most challenging version

5 General Strategies in Spider Solitaire

1. Uncover Face-Down Cards Early: Your top priority should be to reveal and flip face-down cards. The more cards you have face-up, the more moves and options you have available.
2. Build in Descending Order Within the Same Suit: Although you can temporarily build on any descending sequence (for example, a 9 of clubs over a 10 of hearts), real progress is only made when you build within the same suit. Always aim for creating pure sequences whenever possible.
3. Empty Columns Are Golden: Empty columns give you the flexibility to move entire sequences or long stacks. Try to free up at least one column early and maintain it for this use. Then, use it as needed to rearrange other columns and create full sequences.
4. Don’t Deal Too Soon: Avoid dealing new cards unless you’ve exhausted all possible moves. Dealing adds a new row of cards across all columns, which can ruin your already organized sequences.
5. Think Several Moves Ahead: Like Chess, or indeed Klondike Solitaire, a successful Spider Solitaire game involves thinking ahead. Consider how your move affects the next few turns, especially when breaking up a sequence or moving a card to an empty column.

4 Intermediate Tips

1. Use Undo Wisely: If you’re playing digitally, the undo button is your best friend. Use it not just to correct mistakes, but to test different outcomes and find optimal paths forward.
2. Prioritize Building in Lower Columns: If you have to choose between moving cards in different columns, prioritize those with fewer cards. This speeds up your chances of freeing a column.
3. Avoid Splitting Sequences Without a Plan: Only split a sequence if it directly helps you reveal a hidden card or reorganize a suit into a full sequence.
4. Watch the Suits When Moving Cards: Be cautious when stacking cards of different suits. It may trap useful cards underneath, making it harder to form complete suited sequences later.

Always remember that the core objective of the game is to build complete sequences of cards of the same suit in descending order – from King to Ace.

4 Advanced Tricks for Experienced Players

1. Temporary “Wrong Suit” Builds: Occasionally, it’s beneficial to build temporarily with mixed suits to access face-down cards or empty a column. However, do so only if you can eventually reverse the move or rebuild correctly.
2. Create a “Recycling Column”: Use one column to repeatedly reorganize stacks. This method allows you to refine sequences until they can be properly placed.
3. Clear High Cards First: Kings and Queens are more likely to clog up spaces since nothing can go above them. Make sure to find ways to clear them (especially by planning ahead) when they block other valuable cards.
4. Recognize Deadlocks Early: Learn to recognize when a sequence is likely to become stuck. Avoid placing cards where they will block further useful moves.

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After learning more tips to win at Spider Solitaire, you might fancy trying other games too. Check out 1号FRVR Mahjong and 1号FRVR Klondike Solitaire as well.