Spider solitaire, 2 suits

Spider, 2 suits at Solitaire Club

Spider with two suits, spades and hearts: the step up from one suit, where only same-suit runs move together and planning starts to matter.

What two suits change

Any card can still go on a card one rank higher, whatever its suit. But a run only moves as a group when it is all one suit, so a mixed run of spades and hearts has to be taken apart card by card. With one suit every ordered run can move; with two, half of your builds may be stuck.

Every deal here can be won

All 120 2-suit deals at this table were played to a win by a solver, and the win was replayed move by move under these rules before the deal was published. A win is always possible from the deal, and undo goes all the way back, deals from the stock included.

Empty columns are the key

Ten columns, 54 cards dealt and 50 in the stock. An empty column takes any card or same-suit run, which makes it the one place where you can sort a mixed run back into suit. Turn over face-down cards and empty a column before you deal again.

Tips for 2 suits

When two moves look equally good, build in suit. A mixed build is fine to free a face-down card, but it costs you a move later. Every column needs a card before the stock will deal, so fill an empty column before you tap it, ideally with something you want to keep moving.

Questions

Is 2-suit Spider much harder than 1 suit?

Noticeably. The rules are the same, but only same-suit runs move together, so you have to plan how to separate spades from hearts.

Where can I play 4 suits?

On Puzzle Desk, which has 4-suit Spider with solver-checked deals. The link is below.

Can I switch to 1 suit?

Yes. Use the 1 suit button above the table. Each mode keeps its own unfinished deal.

Spider solitaire, every mode →
Spider solitaire, 4 suits, on Puzzle Desk →

Table notes

• Only one suit moves togetherAny card can sit on a card one rank higher, but only a run of one suit, in order, moves as a unit. In one-suit Spider every ordered run qualifies.
• Turn up face-down cardsForty-four cards start face down. A move that turns one over is usually worth more than a move that only tidies a run.
• An empty column is your best toolAn empty column accepts any card or run. Use it to reorder runs and turn over cards, rather than parking a king there for good.
• Fill every column before dealingThe stock deals one card onto each of the ten columns, and it won’t deal while any column is empty. Fill gaps first, even with a single card.
• Tidy up before you dealA new row covers all ten columns. Make the moves you can, and turn over what you can, before you tap the stock.
• A full run leaves by itselfA complete run from king down to ace in one suit is removed as soon as it forms. Eight runs clear the table.
• Prefer same-suit buildsWith two suits, place a card on the same suit when you can. A mixed build is legal, but the run underneath can’t move as one afterwards.
• Kings make columns heavyA king only moves into an empty column. Try not to let one settle on top of face-down cards you still need.
• Clear the shortest columnThe column with the fewest cards is the quickest one to empty, and an empty column opens up the rest of the table.
• Count your dealsThe stock holds five rows of ten cards. The table shows how many deals are left, so you can plan where each new row will land.