Let's be honest. You've probably rage-quit Spider Solitaire at least once. Maybe you dealt from the stockpile too early. Maybe you trapped a King you desperately needed. Maybe you just stared at a board that looked completely unsolvable.

Here's the thing: Spider Solitaire strategy isn't about luck. Studies show that nearly 99% of Spider Solitaire games are theoretically winnable. The difference between winning and losing almost always comes down to the decisions you make in the first 20 moves.

I've spent years playing this game (probably more than I should admit), and I've compiled everything I've learned into this guide. These aren't generic tips you'll find everywhere else. These are the specific tactics that separate players who win 30% of their games from those who win 70% or more.

Whether you're struggling with 4-suit Spider Solitaire or just want to sharpen your skills on the easier modes, these 11 strategies will fundamentally change how you approach the game.

Strategy 1: Create Empty Columns as Fast as Possible

If you only remember one thing from this entire guide, make it this: empty columns are everything.

An empty column (also called an "empty tableau" or "free cell") is the most powerful tool you have. It lets you temporarily store cards while you reorganize sequences. It gives you the flexibility to break apart mixed-suit stacks and rebuild them correctly. Without empty columns, you're playing with one hand tied behind your back.

Why Empty Columns Matter So Much

Think about it this way: say you have a sequence of 8♠-7♥-6♠ that you need to fix. Without an empty column, you're stuck. But with one empty space, you can move the 6♠ aside, relocate the 7♥ somewhere else, and then rebuild a pure 8♠-7♠-6♠ sequence. That's the difference between a movable stack and a dead one.

How to Get Your First Empty Column

At the start of the game, focus on the four columns with only 5 cards (the six rightmost columns in most layouts). These are easier to clear than the columns with 6 cards. Look for opportunities to consolidate cards from these shorter columns onto other stacks, even if it means making some mixed-suit moves temporarily.

For a deep dive on this topic, check out our complete guide on mastering empty column strategy.

Strategy 2: Uncover Hidden Cards First

Spider Solitaire is fundamentally a game of information. The more cards you can see, the better decisions you can make. This seems obvious, but most players don't prioritize it aggressively enough.

The Information Hierarchy

When you're choosing between two moves, use this simple rule: the move that reveals a face-down card is almost always better than the move that doesn't. Even if it means making a "messy" mixed-suit stack, you're trading short-term organization for long-term information.

Count Your Hidden Cards

Good Spider players develop a habit of counting hidden cards in each column. This helps you identify which columns are "heavy" (lots of face-down cards) and which are "light" (mostly exposed). Focus your attention on the heavy columns early, because those hidden cards might contain the Kings or sequences you need.

The Flip Priority

At the start of the game, you have 44 face-down cards (each of the 10 columns has between 4 and 5 hidden cards). Your first goal should be to flip as many of these as possible before dealing from the stockpile. The more information you have before adding 10 new cards to the chaos, the better you can plan.

Strategy 3: Keep Same-Suit Sequences Pure

This is where so many players go wrong. They'll happily stack a 6♥ onto a 7♠ because it "clears a spot." Then they're shocked when they can't move that sequence later.

Here's the core rule: you can only move a group of cards together if they're all the same suit AND in descending order. A 7♠-6♠-5♠ sequence moves as one unit. A 7♠-6♥-5♠ sequence? The 5♠ is stuck until you move the 6♥ individually.

The Cost of Breaking Suits

Every time you mix suits, you're creating what I call "debt." You'll eventually have to pay it back by separating those cards one by one. Sometimes this debt is worth it (to flip a card, for example). But you should always be aware of the cost.

When Mixed Suits Are Acceptable

Mixed-suit moves make sense when:

• You're revealing a face-down card
• You're creating an empty column
• You have no same-suit options available
• The mixed sequence is near the top of a tall stack (easier to fix later)

For more advanced techniques, read our guide on managing mixed-suit sequences effectively.

Strategy 4: Manage the Stockpile Like Your Life Depends On It

The stockpile is a trap. Every time you click it, you're dealing 10 random cards onto your carefully organized tableau. It's tempting to hit it when you feel stuck, but premature stockpile deals are the number one killer of winnable games.

The Golden Rule

Never deal from the stockpile until you have exhausted every single possible move on the tableau. And I mean every move. Including moves that seem pointless. Sometimes shuffling cards around reveals options you didn't see before.

Pre-Deal Preparation

Before you deal, do these things:

1. Make sure you have no empty columns (you can't deal with an empty column in most versions)
2. Try to get your longest same-suit sequences at the top of their stacks, where they won't get buried
3. Look for any hidden cards you can still flip
4. If possible, position Kings in columns where they won't block important cards

The Five-Deal Reality

You have 50 cards in the stockpile, which means five deals of 10 cards each. Mentally track how many deals you've done. If you're on your fourth or fifth deal and haven't completed any King-to-Ace sequences, you're probably in trouble. Conversely, if you've completed two or three sequences by the third deal, you're on track to win.

We've written extensively about common stockpile dealing mistakes and how to avoid them.

Strategy 5: Master Chain Reactions

Good Spider players don't just see one move. They see three, four, or five moves ahead. The best moves are the ones that create chain reactions, where one action enables another, which enables another.

How to Spot Chain Reactions

Before making any move, ask yourself: "What does this enable?" If the answer is "nothing," it's probably not the best move. The best moves create immediate follow-up opportunities.

Example of a Chain Reaction

Let's say you have these options:

• Column A: 9♠ on top
• Column B: 10♦ on top, with a face-down card beneath
• Column C: Empty
• Column D: K♠-Q♠-J♠ sequence

Move 1: Put the 9♠ on the 10♦. This flips a card in Column B.

The flipped card is a 10♠. Now Move 2: Put the 10♦-9♠ sequence temporarily in the empty column (Column C).

Move 3: Put the 10♠ onto the J♠ in Column D. Now you have K♠-Q♠-J♠-10♠.

Move 4: Retrieve the 9♠ from the 10♦ and add it to your Spades sequence.

You just went from a scattered board to a K-Q-J-10-9 pure Spades sequence. That's the power of chain thinking.

Strategy 6: Use the Undo Button Strategically

Some people think using Undo is cheating. I think it's the smartest way to play. The Undo button isn't just for fixing mistakes. It's a powerful tool for exploration and learning.

The Peek Technique

When you have a choice between two similar moves, use Undo to explore both paths. Move a card one way, see what gets revealed. Undo. Try the other option. See which path opens up more possibilities. This is especially useful when you have two identical cards and need to choose which stack to use.

Learning Through Experimentation

Undo also helps you learn. When you reach a dead end, don't just start a new game. Use Undo to trace back your steps and figure out where you went wrong. Was it a bad stockpile deal? Did you bury an important card? This analysis makes you a better player over time.

Want to level up this skill? Read our detailed article on using the undo button as a strategic tool.

Strategy 7: Prioritize Kings Correctly

Kings are the most important cards in Spider Solitaire, and also the most dangerous. A King can only go in an empty column (since no card is higher). This makes Kings both valuable and potentially problematic.

The King Dilemma

Every King you place in an empty column effectively removes that column from play until you complete the entire K-to-A sequence on top of it. If you have multiple Kings exposed early in the game, you can quickly run out of maneuvering room.

King Placement Rules

1. Never move a King to an empty column just because you can. Only do it if you have a specific plan for building on that King, or if leaving the King where it is blocks something more important.
2. Prefer Kings with immediate sequence potential. If you have K♠ exposed and you also have Q♠ available, that King is a good candidate for placement. If you can't see the matching Queen, wait.
3. Use one column as a "King dump." If you must move multiple Kings, try to stack them in the same column where possible (Kings on Kings, etc.) to keep other columns flexible.

Hidden Kings

Kings hiding under face-down cards are time bombs. Every face-down card you flip could be a King that suddenly limits your options. This is another reason to flip cards early, so you know what you're dealing with.

Strategy 8: Build from Both Ends

Most players focus on building sequences from King down. But smart players work from both ends simultaneously.

The Ace Anchor

While you're building K-Q-J sequences, also pay attention to your Aces and low cards. A sequence of A-2-3-4-5 sitting at the top of a column is just as valuable as K-Q-J-10-9. When these two ends eventually meet, you complete a run.

The Middle Card Problem

The most troublesome cards are usually the 6s, 7s, and 8s. These middle cards need to connect your high sequences with your low sequences. Pay attention to where your middle cards are, and don't bury them carelessly.

Parallel Building

In 4-suit games, you're building 8 complete sequences (two per suit). Try to build sequences of different suits in parallel. If you focus all your energy on Spades while ignoring Hearts, you might complete Spades but find Hearts completely unorganized. Balance is key.

Strategy 9: Think About Card Distribution

In a two-deck game, there are exactly 8 of each rank. That's 8 Kings, 8 Queens, 8 Jacks, and so on. Understanding this distribution helps you make smarter decisions.

Counting Cards

Keep a mental note of how many cards of each rank you've seen. If you've already placed 6 of the 8 Queens, and you need a Queen to continue a sequence, your odds are worse than if you've only seen 2 Queens. This affects how aggressively you should pursue certain strategies.

The Duplication Advantage

Having duplicates can work in your favor. If you need a 7♠ and you have two of them, you can use one for a temporary mixed-suit move while keeping the other available for your pure sequence. Duplicate cards give you flexibility.

Suit Distribution Awareness

In 4-suit games, you have 26 cards of each suit. When dealing from the stockpile, notice which suits appear. If you see lots of Diamonds but few Clubs, adjust your strategy. Maybe focus on completing Diamond sequences first while waiting for more Clubs to appear.

Strategy 10: Don't Get Greedy with Completed Sequences

There's a satisfying feeling when a full K-to-A sequence lifts off the tableau. But sometimes, keeping a completed sequence on the board for a few more moves is actually smarter.

The Timing of Completion

A completed sequence takes up one column. If you remove it immediately, you get an empty column, which is powerful. But if you have another King ready to place, you might want to wait. Stack that King on top of your completed sequence, build on it, and then remove both stacks when you complete the second sequence.

Emergency Dismantling

Here's an advanced move: if you're desperate, you can break apart a completed sequence to free up a critical card. Say you have K♠ through A♠ completed, but you desperately need that 5♠ to continue another sequence. You can temporarily dismantle the completed stack, use the 5♠, then reassemble everything. It's risky, but sometimes necessary.

Strategy 11: Know When to Restart

This might seem counterintuitive, but knowing when to give up on a game is itself a strategy. Some deals, despite being theoretically winnable, require such precise play that they're practically impossible for humans.

Red Flags for Unwinnable Games

• You've dealt from the stockpile twice and still have no empty columns
• Multiple Kings are trapped under other Kings with no way to separate them
• All cards of a critical rank (like all 8 Sevens) are buried under other cards
• You have no same-suit sequences longer than 2 cards after the third deal

The Sunk Cost Trap

Don't fall into the trap of thinking "I've already spent 20 minutes on this game, I can't quit now." Your time is better spent starting a fresh game with better potential than grinding through a lost cause. There's no shame in recognizing a dead end.

Learning from Losses

Before you restart, take a moment to analyze what went wrong. Was it a bad stockpile timing decision? Did you miss an opportunity to create an empty column? Every loss contains a lesson if you look for it.

Bonus: Quick Tips for Each Difficulty Level