Tableau
10 Columns
The tableau is where the game is played. You move cards between columns to uncover hidden cards and build same-suit runs.
Setup Guide
How to Set Up Spider Solitaire With Cards
Spider Solitaire set up is fixed: use two standard 52-card decks with the jokers removed, deal 10 tableau columns, place 54 cards in the tableau, and leave 50 cards in the stock. In the standard layout, the first 4 columns get 6 cards, the remaining 6 get 5 cards, and only the top card in each column starts face up.
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Setup Diagram
The 10-Column Spider Solitaire Layout
The first 4 columns are deeper, the last 6 columns are shorter, and the stock begins with 50 cards. Use the live practice board above after you understand the physical-card layout.
C1
6 cards
C2
6 cards
C3
6 cards
C4
6 cards
C5
5 cards
C6
5 cards
C7
5 cards
C8
5 cards
C9
5 cards
C10
5 cards
Diagram note: gold marks the face-up top card. The lower cards start face down. The stock is not shown in the columns because those 50 cards stay off-table until dealt.
Quick Answer
How to Set Up Spider Solitaire With Cards
The standard Spider setup is fixed: two standard 52-card decks, jokers removed, 104 cards total, 10 tableau columns, 6 cards in the first 4 columns, 5 cards in the next 6 columns, only the top card face up, and a 50-card stock pile. In standard Spider, you also wait until every tableau column has at least one card before dealing from the stock.
104
cards from two decks
10
tableau columns
54
cards dealt into the tableau
50
cards left in the stock
| Setup part | What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Card count | Two standard 52-card decks with jokers removed | Gives you 104 cards and eight complete King-to-Ace runs to clear. |
| Tableau columns | Deal 10 columns, with 6 cards in the first 4 and 5 cards in the last 6 | Creates the standard Spider layout with hidden cards to uncover. |
| Stock and deals | Leave 50 cards face down in the stock pile | Each stock deal adds 10 cards total, one to every tableau column, and standard Spider requires every column to be filled before you deal. |
| Sequence goal | Build same-suit descending runs from King down to Ace | Completed runs remove themselves, and eight completed runs win the game. |
| Beginner mode choices | 1 Suit for learning, 2 Suits for balance, and 4 Suits for the classic challenge | Start with the easiest board, then move up after the setup and stock timing feel natural. |
Source note
The setup facts come from the standard Spider layout used by the playable game: 104 cards, 54 tableau cards, and 50 stock cards. The same layout powers the seeded practice board above, so readers can move from physical-card setup into browser play without changing the rule model.
For the full walkthrough, read how to play, review the rules, check the stock rules, compare card counts in how many cards are in Spider Solitaire, and see scoring once you want to track better runs.
Setup Mistakes
Common Spider Solitaire Setup Errors
Wrong card count
If your deck has anything other than 104 cards after removing jokers, the setup is off and the stock math will not line up.
Too many face-up cards
Only the top card in each tableau column should start face up. Exposing more cards changes the puzzle and makes the layout easier than standard Spider.
Ignoring the stock rule
In standard Spider, you deal 10 cards at a time, one to each column, and you do not deal unless every tableau column already has a card.
Starting too hard
If you are learning the layout, start with 1-suit play before moving to 2-suit or 4-suit boards.
Evidence Note
What the Setup Does Not Tell You
The physical setup is fixed, but the mode you choose after setup changes how much suit friction you see. In the site's original June 2026 opening-board study, we simulated 75,000 seeded deals: 25,000 each for 1 suit, 2 suits, and 4 suits. The method measured visible opening-board mobility, not full-game win rates or solvability.
| Mode after setup | Avg legal top moves | Avg same-suit top moves | Practical setup takeaway |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Suit | 6.46 | 6.46 | Best first mode after learning the 104-card layout. |
| 2 Suits | 6.43 | 3.20 | Use after the setup and stock timing feel familiar. |
| 4 Suits | 6.46 | 1.61 | Hardest mode because clean movable runs are scarcer. |
Read the full Spider Solitaire opening-moves study for the sample, method, and seeded simulation notes.
Spider Solitaire Setup at a Glance
- 01Remove jokers from two standard decks so you have 104 cards.
- 02Deal 10 tableau columns from left to right.
- 03Put 6 cards in each of the first 4 columns.
- 04Put 5 cards in each of the remaining 6 columns.
- 05Turn only the top card of every column face up.
- 06Place the remaining 50 cards face down as the stock pile.
Stock
50 Cards
The stock deals 10 cards total, one to each tableau column. In standard Spider, you can only deal when every column already has at least one card.
Goal
8 Runs
Clear eight same-suit sequences from King to Ace. Completed runs leave the tableau automatically.
Card Count
Why Spider Solitaire Uses 104 Cards
The 104-card count matters because every card eventually belongs to one of eight completed King-to-Ace runs. The starting layout uses 54 cards in the tableau and keeps 50 cards in the stock for five future deals.
Read the full Spider Solitaire card-count guideSkip the Deal
Play Spider Solitaire Online
Open the playable board, choose a mode, and let the game deal the tableau for you so you can start practicing immediately.
How to Play
Full rules, setup, and first practice board.
Guide Hub
All core Spider Solitaire rules and strategy routes.
Blog
Longer evidence-led articles and refreshable strategy notes.
Site Map
Every indexable play, rule, strategy, and article page.
Setup FAQ
How do you set up Spider Solitaire with cards?
Use two standard 52-card decks with the jokers removed, deal 10 tableau columns, give the first 4 columns 6 cards and the remaining 6 columns 5 cards, turn only the top card of each column face up, and leave the other 50 cards as the stock pile.
How many cards do you need for Spider Solitaire?
Spider Solitaire uses two standard 52-card decks with the jokers removed, for a total of 104 cards.
How many columns are in Spider Solitaire?
Spider Solitaire starts with 10 tableau columns. The first 4 columns get 6 cards each, and the remaining 6 columns get 5 cards each.
What is Spider Solitaire set up?
Spider Solitaire set up means two decks, 104 cards, 10 tableau columns, 54 cards dealt to the tableau, 50 cards left in the stock, and only the top card of each tableau column face up.
How many cards are in the Spider Solitaire stock pile?
After dealing 54 cards to the tableau, the remaining 50 cards form the stock pile. Each stock deal adds one card to every tableau column.
Which cards start face up in Spider Solitaire?
Only the top card of each tableau column starts face up. All cards underneath start face down until uncovered.
Can you deal from the stock if a Spider Solitaire column is empty?
In standard Spider Solitaire, every tableau column must contain at least one card before you deal from the stock.
Which Spider Solitaire mode should I choose after setup?
Start with 1 suit if you are learning. In the site's June 2026 opening-board simulation, 1-suit starts averaged the same number of legal top-card moves and same-suit top-card moves, while 4-suit starts had far fewer same-suit top-card moves.