Spiderette Solitaire is a popular online solitaire card game that offers the perfect blend of fun and strategy for casual players. It’s essentially a single-deck variant of the classic Spider Solitaire, meaning it uses one standard 52-card deck instead of two, which makes each game quicker to play and easier to win than traditional Spider. As the name suggests, Spiderette is like a “little spider” – a streamlined version of Spider Solitaire with fewer columns and simpler gameplay, but it still retains the engaging strategic depth that solitaire fans love. Whether you have a few minutes to spare or just want a relaxing card game break, Spiderette Solitaire is an online solitaire game that’s both accessible and entertaining for players of all skill levels. Best of all, you can enjoy Spiderette Solitaire completely free online on solitaireX.io – no download or installation required!
Spiderette’s appeal lies in its balance between simplicity and challenge. Newcomers appreciate the game’s approachable rules and shorter play sessions, while seasoned players enjoy the strategic moves and problem-solving it offers. In fact, Spiderette generally has a higher win rate than the original Spider Solitaire (especially in its easier modes), making it less frustrating and more rewarding for casual gamers. If you’ve found Spider Solitaire too time-consuming or difficult with two decks, Spiderette is the perfect alternative that delivers the same satisfying card-clearing experience in a more manageable format. In the sections below, we’ll explore the history of Spiderette Solitaire, how it originated, the official rules and how to play, plus some handy tips, tricks, and interesting variations of the game.
History and Origins of Spiderette Solitaire
Like many patience (solitaire) games, Spiderette Solitaire has an interesting background. Spider Solitaire itself originated around 1949 – its name “Spider” comes from the spider’s eight legs, symbolizing the eight foundation piles needed to win in that game. Spiderette was first mentioned later that same year (1949) by authors Albert H. Morehead and Geoffrey Mott-Smith in their book The Complete Book of Solitaire & Patience Games, and it’s believed the game was known to players even before that time. The name "Spiderette" literally means a small or petite spider, fitting because this variant uses seven tableau piles instead of Spider’s usual ten, much like a spider with fewer legs building a smaller web.
Spiderette Solitaire emerged as a natural adaptation for those who loved Spider Solitaire’s concept but wanted a faster, more accessible game. Managing two full decks in Spider can be unwieldy for casual play, so Spiderette’s single-deck format was a welcome change for many players. The game really gained popularity in the 1990s and early 2000s alongside the rise of computerized and online solitaire games. As Windows PCs and websites introduced solitaire collections, more people discovered Spiderette and appreciated its quicker gameplay and higher success rate. It became especially popular among solitaire enthusiasts who enjoyed Spider’s strategy but preferred a game with shorter play times and better odds of winning. Today, Spiderette Solitaire remains a beloved free solitaire online, enjoyed by casual gamers worldwide for its blend of classic solitaire mechanics and streamlined play.
How to Play Spiderette Solitaire (Step-by-Step)
Learning to play Spiderette Solitaire is easy, even if you’ve never tried it before. The game setup is very similar to the well-known Klondike Solitaire layout, but the gameplay follows Spider-like rules. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started:
Spiderette Solitaire layout uses seven columns (tableau piles) similar to Klondike, but gameplay rules are inherited from Spider. This initial layout shows the cards dealt out at the start, with each column’s top card face-up and the remaining cards forming the stock pile.
Setup the Tableau: Shuffle a single 52-card deck and deal out seven columns of cards. The first column gets 1 card (face-up), the second gets 2 cards (one face-down and one face-up on top), the third gets 3 cards (with the top card face-up), and so on until the seventh column, which gets 7 cards (with one face-up on top). This means each tableau pile has its top card turned face-up and any cards underneath face-down, just like Klondike Solitaire’s starting layout. In total, 28 cards are dealt to the tableau. The remaining 24 cards are set aside as the stock pile (for future dealing).
Objective of the Game: The goal of Spiderette Solitaire is to remove all the cards from the tableau by assembling them into completed runs. A completed run (or sequence) consists of cards in descending order from King down to Ace in the same suit. For example, a sequence King-Queen-Jack-...-3-2-Ace of all Spades would be one complete run. When you form such a sequence, it’s automatically removed from the tableau to a foundation pile. To win the game, you must eventually clear all cards by forming and removing these suited King-to-Ace sequences.
Building Descending Sequences: On the tableau, you can move cards around to build descending sequences. You may place a card on another card that is one rank higher, regardless of suit. For instance, any Queen can be placed on any King, a Jack on a Queen, and so on down to Ace (which is the lowest in rank for building sequences). As you move cards, if you expose a face-down card (i.e., by clearing the card that was on top of it), flip that card face-up – revealing hidden cards is crucial to continue the game. Keep arranging cards this way to gradually form runs in descending order.
Moving Single Cards and Stacks: You can move single cards freely as long as they follow the descending order rule. You can also move a group of cards together, but only if all cards in that group are in descending sequence and of the same suit. For example, if you have a partial run like 9♣-8♣-7♣ (all clubs in order), you can pick up that whole sequence and move it onto a 10♣ or an empty column. However, a mixed-suit sequence (say 9♣-8♥-7♣) cannot be moved as one unit – you would have to break it apart unless you rearrange it into a single-suit sequence. This rule is identical to the one in classic Spider Solitaire and adds an extra layer of strategy to the game.
Using Empty Columns: If you manage to clear a column (i.e., move all its cards elsewhere), that column becomes an empty space in the tableau. Empty columns are very powerful in Spiderette – you can move any single card or any sequence of cards to an empty column. Typically, you’ll want to use empty spaces to temporarily hold cards or to start building a new sequence (placing a King or a high-ranking sequence there is often a good idea, since King is the highest card and an empty pile is the only place you can start a new descending run). Creating empty columns early should be a priority because they give you more flexibility to maneuver cards. Note: Before the next deal from the stock, all columns must contain at least one card – in other words, you cannot have any empty tableau piles when dealing new cards. So if you have an empty column and no moves, you may need to fill that space (even if it’s just with a single card) before you can continue dealing from the stock.
Dealing from the Stock: When you run out of useful moves on the tableau, you can deal a new row of cards from the stock pile. Click or tap the stock, and it will deal one card onto each of the seven columns, all face-up. This effectively adds a new layer of cards on top of each tableau pile, opening up new potential moves. Remember, as mentioned, you are only allowed to deal from the stock if none of the tableau columns are empty. If you have an empty column, you must fill it (by moving a card or sequence into it) before dealing. In Spiderette, you’ll typically have enough stock cards for three full deals (7 cards to each of 7 piles = 21 cards, plus a final partial deal of the remaining 3 cards) since the stock has 24 cards total. Keep dealing rows whenever you are stuck and cards are still available in the stock.
Completing Runs and Winning: As you continue building sequences, whenever you assemble a descending run from King all the way down to Ace in the same suit, the game will automatically remove that entire run from the tableau and put it aside (in many versions, it moves to a “foundation” area). Removing a full sequence frees up space and is essentially how you score a victory. You don’t need to manually move sequences to a foundation; the game recognizes when a full K-to-A suit sequence is in order and will clear it for you. Once a sequence is removed, you can continue playing with the remaining cards. The game is won when you have removed all cards by forming these suited runs from King to Ace. If you empty the tableau completely, congratulations – you’ve beaten the puzzle! If you run out of moves and the stock is empty while cards remain, the game ends and you may have to start a new round.
That’s all there is to it. In summary, Spiderette Solitaire plays like a hybrid of Klondike and Spider: you set up and move cards similarly to Spider (building down regardless of suit, moving suited sequences, dealing additional rows of cards), but you work with a Klondike-style layout of seven piles and a single deck. With a bit of practice, you’ll get the hang of it and start forming those winning sequences. Next, let’s look at the official rules in a concise list, and then we’ll move on to some tips and tricks to boost your chances of winning.
Official Rules of Spiderette Solitaire
For quick reference, here’s a rundown of the official rules and key mechanics of Spiderette Solitaire:
- Deck and Setup: Uses one standard 52-card deck (no jokers). The tableau has 7 piles dealt in increasing order (1 to 7 cards per pile) with only the top card face-up on each pile. The remaining cards (24 cards) form the stock, which will be dealt in subsequent rounds.
- Objective: Build four complete sequences of cards in descending order from King down to Ace in the same suit (one sequence per suit) and remove them from play. Remove all the cards in this way to win the game.
- Tableau Building: You can place cards on each other in descending rank order regardless of suit. For example, any 5 can go on any 6, a Jack on any Queen, etc. However, this “mixed suit” stacking is only to help reveal cards; such mixed sequences can’t be moved together as a single unit.
- Moving Cards: You may move one card at a time between columns, or move a group of cards if they form a proper descending sequence in the same suit. Only sequences of identical suit are considered a continuous run that can be moved as a block.
- Empty Piles: Any card or valid sequence of cards can be moved into an empty tableau column. Unlike Klondike Solitaire, it doesn’t have to be a King – any starting card can occupy an empty space. Using empty piles effectively is crucial for maneuvering cards.
- Dealing New Cards: When you have made all possible moves on the tableau, deal cards from the stock by clicking the stock pile. One card will be dealt face-up to each tableau pile from the stock. Important: You cannot deal from the stock if there is an empty tableau column; all columns must be filled before dealing. In Spiderette, there are no redeals – you go through the stock once, dealing out all cards in at most three rounds (with a final partial deal if applicable).
- Removing Completed Sequences: If you form a descending run of King through Ace in the same suit on the tableau, it will be automatically removed from the game, usually to a foundation area. This is how you clear cards. You do not build cards directly onto foundation piles; only completed suited sequences move there (or off the tableau) as a whole.
- Winning the Game: You win when all four suited sequences (King-to-Ace of each suit) have been built and removed, leaving the tableau empty. If you exhaust the stock and no further moves are possible before clearing all cards, the game is lost – but don’t worry, Spiderette offers plenty of chances to try again and improve!
These rules cover the essentials of playing Spiderette Solitaire. Next, we’ll share some helpful tips and strategies to improve your gameplay and increase your chances of success.
Tips and Tricks to Improve Your Spiderette Solitaire Game
Spiderette Solitaire can be challenging, especially in the more difficult four-suit mode, but with the right tactics you can significantly boost your winning chances. Here are some tips and tricks for casual players to enjoy more wins and smoother gameplay:
Turn Up Face-Down Cards Early: Always aim to expose hidden cards as soon as possible. Every face-down card you flip adds to your available moves and information. If you have a choice of moves, prioritize those that uncover a face-down card. The sooner you reveal all cards, the better your odds of forming the needed sequences.
Create Empty Columns (Spaces) ASAP: Try to free up at least one tableau column and make it empty early in the game. An empty pile is like a temporary holding zone that gives you tremendous flexibility to rearrange cards. You can move any card or sequence there, which can help you access buried cards or reorganize sequences. Without an empty column, it’s often very difficult (sometimes almost impossible) to win. So, focus on moves that clear out a pile, and treasure your empty piles once you have them. Also, be careful about immediately filling an empty space with a King just because you can – a King has no higher card to go on, so if you move a King into an empty column too soon, that column might get "stuck" until you complete a full King-to-Ace sequence with that King. Use empty spots wisely, ideally to park smaller sequences that you can later move back out.
Build in Suit Whenever Possible: While you are allowed to stack cards in descending order regardless of suit, try to build sequences in the same suit whenever you can. An in-suit sequence (for example, a run of ♥️ hearts in order) is movable as a whole and is on its way to being a completed run. In contrast, mixing red and black suits (or any different suits) in one column can quickly lead to a situation where cards are “locked” – you won’t be able to move that mixed stack together, and cards underneath might become inaccessible. To avoid blocking yourself, prefer moves that keep or create long same-suit sequences. If you do have to stack off-suit (and often you will, especially in the four-suit game), try to later reorganize those stacks into suited runs when the opportunity arises.
Start with Higher Cards When Stacking: When choosing where to place a card, consider building on higher-ranked cards first if possible. For example, if you have a choice to place a 6♠, putting it on a 7♠ (or 7 of any suit) is generally more useful than placing a 2♠ on a 3♦. Building on higher ranks first creates more space above the lower cards, giving you more potential moves for those lower cards later. In short, empty out the “top” of the sequences (Kings and Queens) earlier, so that you have room to maneuver the smaller cards as the game progresses.
Don’t Rush the Stock Deal: It’s usually best not to deal new cards from the stock too early. Make sure you have made every possible move on the tableau before clicking that stock pile. Dealing new cards adds a layer of cards that could block some sequences, and you only get a limited number of deals (three deals in Spiderette). By delaying the deal until you truly need it, you maximize the use of the current cards and maintain control of the layout. In other words, use the stock as a last resort when no other moves are available – this way, each deal will have the most positive impact and the least chance of burying a useful card.
Use the Undo and Hint (in Online Games): One perk of playing Spiderette Solitaire as an online solitaire game is that most platforms offer an “undo” button and sometimes hints. Don’t be afraid to use the undo feature to backtrack a move if it reveals a dead end, or even to peek under a card by moving it and then undoing the move. This can help you plan ahead without penalty. Similarly, some games highlight possible moves or offer hints – these can be useful if you’re stuck, though relying on them too much might take away from learning the strategy yourself. Think of undo and hints as learning tools to improve your skill and confidence.
Choose the Right Difficulty: Remember that Spiderette Solitaire comes in different difficulty levels based on the number of suits. If you’re a casual player just looking for fun, start with the one-suit version (all cards treated as the same suit) or the two-suit version. The one-suit game is by far the easiest – virtually all games are winnable, and you can focus on the basic mechanics. Two-suit Spiderette adds a bit more challenge but is still quite manageable. The full four-suit Spiderette is the hardest – it’s truly an expert mode, with some deals estimated to be winnable only around 5–10% of the time in random play. Don’t let that discourage you, though! You can improve your win rate with practice and by using the strategies above. But if you find four-suit too frustrating, there’s no harm in enjoying the easier modes for casual relaxation.
By applying these tips, you’ll find yourself clearing more Spiderette Solitaire games and having more fun in the process. Part of the joy of solitaire is that satisfying moment when everything comes together and all the cards are neatly organized off the board – and with Spiderette, those moments come a bit more frequently for casual players compared to some other solitaire games.
Variations and Interesting Facts about Spiderette Solitaire
Spiderette Solitaire is itself a variant of Spider, but over the years a few interesting variations and related games have emerged, each with its own twist on the formula:
One-Suit, Two-Suit, Four-Suit Spiderette: As mentioned, Spiderette can be played with different numbers of suits. One-Suit Spiderette (often using just ♥️ hearts or ♠️ spades for all cards) is great for beginners and has a very high win rate. Two-Suit Spiderette usually uses two suits (e.g. spades and hearts) and offers intermediate difficulty. Four-Suit Spiderette uses all four suits (standard deck) and is the classic, most challenging version – perfect for those who enjoy a serious challenge. Many online platforms, including solitaireX, let you choose the number of suits to adjust the difficulty.
Baby Spiderette: This is an unofficial variation designed to make the game easier. In Baby Spiderette, you’re allowed to move any sequence of cards even if they are not in the same suit. Essentially, it drops the restriction on moving only suited sequences. This change makes the game much more forgiving – in fact, with this rule, almost every game becomes winnable because you can rearrange cards freely without suit limitations. It’s a great variant if you want a relaxing game or to practice your sequencing without worrying about suits.
Will o’ the Wisp: Will o’ the Wisp is a solitaire game that is very similar to Spiderette and was reportedly invented by Geoffrey Mott-Smith (the same person who co-authored the book mentioning Spiderette in 1949). The key difference in Will o’ the Wisp is in the initial deal: instead of the Klondike-style layout, each of the seven tableau columns is dealt three cards at the start (with only the top card face-up). After that, it plays by the same rules as Spiderette. This means you start with fewer face-down cards in each pile (only two per pile in Will o’ the Wisp, since each has 3 cards to start) compared to Spiderette’s higher piles. This subtle change gives the game a different pacing and slightly higher chances of early moves. It’s an interesting alternative if you want to mix up the starting challenge.
Simple Simon: Another closely related solitaire is Simple Simon, which is also a one-deck variant in the Spider family. Simple Simon uses the same Spider-like goal of building sequences in suit and removing them, but its layout and deal are a bit different (all cards are dealt into 10 piles from the start, and you don’t have a stock to deal additional cards). It’s a bit closer to Spider in feel, despite using one deck. Fans of Spiderette sometimes enjoy Simple Simon as well, since it also delivers a quick solitaire experience with Spider-style rules.
Spider Solitaire (Original): Of course, we can’t forget the classic Spider Solitaire that inspired Spiderette. Spider is played with two decks (104 cards) and ten columns, making it a longer and more complex game. If you find Spiderette too easy after a while, you might try graduating to Spider for a tougher challenge – though be warned, a full Spider game can take much longer to complete and has a lower win probability. Many casual players actually stick with Spiderette for its manageable game length (often 5–10 minutes per game) and more frequent wins, which provide a nice sense of accomplishment without requiring an extensive time commitment.
Fun fact: Spiderette Solitaire’s design as a “middle ground” between Klondike and Spider has made it enduringly popular. It offers enough strategy to be engaging but doesn’t overwhelm the player with too many cards. A typical Spiderette game is significantly shorter than a Spider game, yet more dynamic than a Klondike game, hitting a sweet spot for many players. This balance is why Spiderette is often recommended for casual gamers looking to step up from the very simple solitaire games without diving straight into the most difficult ones. It’s a perfect mix of fun and brain-teasing challenge.
Play Spiderette Solitaire Online for Free
One of the great things about Spiderette Solitaire today is how easily you can access it. You don’t need a physical deck of cards or a special app – you can play Spiderette Solitaire online for free right in your web browser. There’s no need to download anything or sign up; just visit a solitaire website and start a game instantly. For example, you can play Spiderette Solitaire for free on solitaireX.io. The game runs on modern browsers (whether you’re on a computer, tablet, or smartphone) and provides a smooth, user-friendly experience. On solitaireX.io, you can enjoy Spiderette anytime, track your progress, and even undo moves or get hints if you need a little help.
Playing online also means you can switch between variations easily – try a one-suit game for a relaxing time, or challenge yourself with a four-suit game. And since it’s free and browser-based, you can play Spiderette Solitaire without any downloads, wherever you have an internet connection. So why not give it a try? Now that you know the history, rules, and winning tips, you’re all set to have fun and start building those winning card sequences. Gather your wits, shuffle the deck (virtually), and enjoy a satisfying game of Spiderette Solitaire – happy gaming!