Play Spider Solitaire (4 Suits) Online for Free
Play unlimited games of 4-Suit Spider Solitaire online for free. No download or email registration required – test your logic in full screen mode on desktop, tablet, or mobile. Sort the cards by suit in descending order to win!
What is Spider Solitaire 4 Suits?
Spider Solitaire 4 Suits (also known as Spider Patience with 4 suits) is the ultimate test for card game enthusiasts. While the 1-suit and 2-suit versions are relaxing, the spider four suits variant is notoriously difficult and requires intense strategic planning. Played with two full standard decks (104 cards total) across all four suits (Hearts, Spades, Clubs, Diamonds), your objective is to untangle the chaotic tableau and assemble eight perfect descending sequences from King to Ace within the same suit.
Pro Tip: Keyboard Shortcuts
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How to Play Spider Solitaire 4 Suits
Understanding the Playing Area
The board layout of Spider Solitaire 4 Suits features 54 cards distributed across ten columns. As shown in the layout screenshot, all four suits (Hearts, Spades, Clubs, Diamonds) are active on the board, creating a crowded and challenging grid where only the top cards are face-up while the remaining cards are kept face-down in the tableau and stock pile on the top-left.
A game of 4-Suit Spider Solitaire begins with two full standard decks (104 cards total) distributed across ten columns. The first four columns on the left hold six cards each, and the remaining six columns hold five cards each, with only the top card face-up.
Understand the key areas:
- 1. The Stock: The remaining 50 cards are stored face-down in the stock pile in the top-left corner. Deal a new row of 10 cards by clicking this pile when you have no other moves.
- 2. The Tableau: Ten columns where you sort and organise cards to uncover the face-down cards underneath.
Moving Cards in the Tableau
Moving cards in the tableau. As shown in the move illustration, you can stack any card onto another card one rank higher (e.g. placing a Diamonds 4 on a Hearts 5). However, you can only drag multiple cards as a group if they are of the exact same suit and sequence.
If you want to master how to play spider patience, understanding the spider four suits rules for moving cards in the tableau is key:
- Moving Sequences: You can only select and move a group of cards together if they are in descending numerical order AND belong to the exact same suit (for example, you can move a Clubs 6-5-4, but not a mixed Hearts/Diamonds 6-5-4 sequence).
- Valid Placements: You can place any card or valid sequence onto another card that is exactly one rank higher, regardless of suit (e.g., you can stack a 4 of Diamonds on a 5 of Hearts).
- Dealing New Cards: When you are out of moves, deal a new row from the stock. You cannot deal cards if any column is empty.
Clearing the Board
A completed Spades sequence cleared from the board. As shown in the clear illustration, once you arrange a full run of the same suit from King down to Ace, that run is swept away, opening up tableau columns for other moves.
To clear cards from the board, you must build a complete 13-card sequence in the same suit from King down to Ace. Once you place the Ace on the 2, the entire sequence (e.g., King of Spades down to Ace of Spades) is automatically swept from the tableau.
Keep these goals in mind:
- Every cleared sequence gets you closer to winning and frees up a column. Empty columns can hold any card or sequence, allowing you to untangle mixed piles.
- You win the game by successfully assembling and clearing all 8 sequences (104 cards total).
Spider Solitaire 4 Suits vs. Classic Solitaire
To understand how Spider Solitaire 4 Suits compares to Classic Klondike Solitaire, check this comparison table:
| Feature | Spider Solitaire (4 Suits) | Classic Solitaire (Klondike) |
|---|---|---|
| Decks Used | 2 Decks (104 cards) | 1 Deck (52 cards) |
| Suits in Play | 4 Suits (♠️♥️♦️♣️) | 4 Suits (♠️♥️♦️♣️) |
| Layout Structure | 10 Tableau columns | 7 Tableau columns |
| Tableau Building | Descending order (any suit on any suit) | Descending order, alternating colours |
| Moving Sequences | Only same-suit descending groups can be moved | Only alternating colour sequences can be moved |
| Foundation Piles | Built directly on the Tableau, then cleared | Built separately from Ace to King by suit |
| Estimated Win Rate | ~6% with skilled play | ~30% average |
Want to win more often?
Learn the secret strategies that top players use to beat Klondike Patience. From exposing hidden cards to smart stock management, we have you covered.
Learn Winning StrategiesExpert Strategies to Win 4-Suit Spider
Winning 4-Suit Spider Solitaire is an achievement. Here are the top strategies used by experts:
- Avoid “Dirty” Sequences When Possible: Placing a card of a different suit blocks the card beneath it from being moved with it. Only do this if it helps you expose a hidden face-down card.
- Prioritise Empty Columns: An empty column is your most powerful tool. It allows you to temporarily move cards around to “clean up” your dirty sequences into pure, same-suit sequences.
- Don’t Deal Too Early: Dealing from the stock drops a random card onto every single column, often ruining your carefully built sequences. Try to organise the tableau as much as humanly possible before clicking the stock pile.
- Use the Undo Button: Don’t be ashamed to use Undo (
Ctrl+Z). The best players explore different paths (e.g., seeing what card is hidden under two different piles) and undo their moves to choose the optimal path.