Spider solitaire, 4 suits
The hardest way to play Spider: two decks in all four suits, so runs only move when they are one suit. Every deal here was won by a solver before it was added.
Spider solitaire on Solitaire Club →
Playing Spider with four suits
Why four suits is so much harder
You may still put any card on a card one rank higher, but a run only moves as a group when it is all one suit. With four suits, most of what you build is mixed and stuck where it is, so every move that mixes suits costs you later.
Only winnable deals
Many 4-suit deals cannot be won at all. To build this page’s deals, a solver played 1,879 random deals and won 320 of them, about one in six. Only those 320 are dealt here, so a win is always possible, even when it takes a while. The solver’s wins averaged about 240 moves.
Empty columns first
An empty column is worth more than any single build: it lets you take a mixed run apart one card at a time and put it back in suit. Turn over face-down cards and empty a column before you deal again.
Build in suit when you can
When two moves look equally good, choose the one that keeps a run in one suit. A mixed build is fine to free a face-down card, but undo is unlimited, so try a line and step back if it closes things off.
Deal only when you have to
Each deal puts a card on every column, and every column must have at least one card before you can deal. Do everything useful first, then deal.
Questions
Can every 4-suit Spider game be won?
No. Many random 4-suit deals have no win. Every deal on this page has been played to a win by a computer solver, so there is always a way through.
How is 4 suits different from 1 or 2 suits?
The rules are the same and both decks are used either way. With 1 suit every card is a spade, so any run can move. With 2 or 4 suits, runs move only when they are all one suit, and with 4 that happens far less often.
Does undo work for deals from the stock?
Yes. Undo works for every move, including dealing a new row, all the way back to the start.
Where can I play 1 or 2 suits?
Use the level button above the table, or play them on Solitaire Club, which has solver-checked 1- and 2-suit deals and a daily table.