It is no secret that people love playing card games, especially games of patience like Spider Solitaire. The card game has been around since the 1940s, and its name is a reference to the eight legs of a spider. Over the years, the game has evolved into several variants enjoyed by people in the USA and across the globe.
If you love playing card games, you must have played or heard about Spider Solitaire. Even though it is a decade-old game, the game is quite fun and engaging. People have stayed hooked for hours enjoying this seemingly easy but challenging game. Today, the online variants of Spider Solitaire are fast-paced and much more appealing to millennials. Most of them are time-oriented, which makes the game so interesting as players have to score the highest to win the game before the timer runs out.
However, the basic rules and goals of the game remain the same. The ultimate objective of Spider Solitaire is to create a sequence of suits in ascending order. While it sounds simple, wait till you begin to play the Spider Solitaire game to understand how difficult it is.
The only way to win the game is through continuous modifications and planning. Keep reading to know the rules, basic strategies, and some pro tips to hold your ground when you’re participating in cash contests or playing in 1VN or 1V1 game modes.
Spider Solitaire Rules:
As you already know by now, the Spider Solitaire game has different variants. The basic rules for all the variants are the same, but the cards are moved differently. Here, let’s take a look at the rules of the different versions of the game.
● The one-suit version
All cards belong to the same suit in this variant, and therefore, you can place any group of cards onto another as long as they’re arranged in descending order. For instance, you can place five diamonds, six spades, and four clubs onto any open play. From any descending group, you can remove play.
This variant of Spider Solitaire is the easiest and the most relaxing of all the versions.
● The two-suit version
The two-suit version is another popular and common variant. The game can be simulated using two standard decks and assuming that all black cards are a single suit and all the red cards are another suit.
You can move the cards easily from the arranged foundation piles as long as they’re in a red or black suit. For instance, you can place a nine of hearts or a ten of diamonds onto any open Jack. You can even remove it from play if there’s a complete group in a single suit in descending order. It means you can remove all the red cards you’ve arranged from the King down to the Ace.
● The four-suit version
Among all Spider Solitaire games, the four-suit version is the most challenging and involves all four suits. Players can stack cards in the tableau of different suits but of the same color. For the game to proceed, there must be one card in the column at all times. You can move a group of cards in descending order that is of the same suit. A complete descending group in a similar suit can be removed from play if arranged from King of Spades to the Ace of Spades or any other suit.
Basic Spider Solitaire Strategies:
● Free the columns
In Spider Solitaire games, there are a few columns that players want to free to earn points. If two of your columns are empty, you come close to winning the game, and it gets better if you can free the third and fourth columns. Therefore, it is crucial to free the column with a few cards because that will be the easiest way to start playing the game.
However, please note that you need to change your game plan throughout the game to ensure you’re always a step ahead of your competitors.
● Clean up the columns to win the game
Once you’ve freed one or two columns in the game, you need to rearrange the cards to build a sequence so that you can win the game. It is always important to have one or two columns empty because that’s the game's primary goal.
Furthermore, you need to remove the cards from the columns and put the cards in another column to get your sequencing going.
● Exposing new cards
In Spider Solitaire, exposing is the last option you have when you cannot find any other move. You need to expose new cards to keep the game going. To expose cards, you need to move the cards into one of the empty columns. However, while exposing new cards, exercise caution not to keep stacking cards because that will become a problem if you can’t get rid of them.
If you think you’ve played the wrong move, you can use the undo button and go a step back.
Pro Spider Solitaire Tips:
Now that you know the game's basic rules, here are a few tricks to help you get an edge over your competitors when you’re playing time-oriented games.
● Stay calm and find moves that will lead to success.
● Avoid stacking cards as that can create problems later on, and you might not be in the game because of the stacked cards.
● Whenever you move a card, ensure it is with a purpose.
● If any open card is not an Ace, don’t view it as an asset. The card will be gone as soon as you use it.
● Please don’t waste a vacant column and always find ways to use them to move cards.
● If you’re stuck, shift your strategy, and don’t forget to use the undo button.
Last but not least, play practice games before participating in cash contests. Sites like Solitaired allow you to play unlimited games of Spider Solitaire, as well as compete on a daily leaderboard to see how you perform against other players. You’ll be able to see how you improve over time. Give it a shot, and enjoy!
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