Play Spider Solitaire 4 Suits Online for Free

Spider Solitaire 4 Suits uses two standard 52-card decks, for a total of 104 cards—including all four suits (Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs). Like other Spider Solitaire variations, your primary goal is to build descending runs from King to Ace in the same suit. Once a complete suit sequence is formed (K–Q–J–…–2–A), it’s automatically removed from the table. Clearing all cards from the tableau is how you win.

This four-suit variant is widely regarded as the hardest version of Spider Solitaire. Because you have to pay close attention to suits—rather than simply stacking in descending rank—you’ll need patience, foresight, and careful planning to succeed.

How to Play Spider Solitaire 4 Suits

1. Initial Setup

   • Shuffle 104 cards, then deal 10 columns (the “tableau”).
   • The first four columns each get six cards, with only the top card face up. The remaining six columns each get five cards, with only the top card face up.
   • The leftover cards form the “stock,” which is placed face down, usually in the top-left or top-right corner.

2. Building Runs

   • You can move one or more face-up cards from the tableau onto another card that is exactly one rank higher (e.g., an 8 on a 9). Suits do not matter for these partial moves.
   • However, to fully remove a completed run, it must be entirely in one suit (e.g., all Diamonds).

3. Dealing from the Stock

   • When you run out of moves (or choose to add more cards), click the stock to deal one new card onto the top of each column in the tableau.
   • Some versions require that none of the tableau columns be empty before you deal from the stock. If a column is empty, you must move at least one card into it first.

4. Winning the Game

   • Each time you form a fully suited sequence of K–Q–J–…–2–A, those 13 cards are removed from the board.
   • You achieve victory by removing all eight possible suit runs (since you have 104 cards total).

Interesting Facts About Spider Solitaire 4 Suits

1. Highest Difficulty

   • Compared to its 1-suit and 2-suit counterparts, the 4-suit variant demands more careful planning and typically has a lower win rate.

2. Multiple Sequence Possibilities

   • Because you’re playing with 104 cards (4 suits x 13 ranks x 2 decks), you’ll often find yourself juggling multiple partial runs simultaneously, which adds layers of complexity.

3. Included with Windows

   • Spider Solitaire (in various forms) gained massive popularity through Microsoft Windows, allowing players worldwide to discover the 4-suit challenge.

4. Skill-Heavy Gameplay

   • While luck in the initial shuffle matters, 4-suit Spider heavily rewards methodical play. Each decision—how you arrange suits, where you move your sequences, and when you deal from the stock—greatly influences your outcome.

5. Best for Experienced Players

   • Players often practice with 1-suit or 2-suit Spider first to develop their skills before tackling the 4-suit version.

Tips and Tricks

1. Aim to Uncover Face-Down Cards

   • Flip hidden cards as soon as feasible. The more information you have, the better decisions you can make about stacking sequences and suits.

2. Focus on Suit-Based Stacking

   • Whenever possible, build and maintain runs in the same suit. Mixing suits within a sequence is fine for short-term reorganization, but your ultimate goal is to form pure-suit runs for removal.

3. Free Up Columns

   • An empty column is invaluable. Use it as a temporary holding space for rearranging and organizing runs. Strive to create at least one empty column early in the game if you can.

4. Deal from the Stock Sparingly

   • Don’t rush to add more cards from the stock unless you’re truly stuck. Each new card can complicate your layout, so ensure you’ve made every possible move in the tableau first.

5. Utilize the Undo Feature

   • If you’re playing online with an “undo” option, don’t hesitate to use it to backtrack on a mistake or test different layout possibilities.

Strategies for Winning

1. Create Pure Runs Step by Step

   • If you see an opportunity to keep cards of the same suit together, do so—even if it’s only a partial run. Over time, partial runs can merge into full sequences.

2. Prioritize High-Value Cards

   • Kings are crucial as they form the top of your sequences. Early in the game, keep an eye out for clearing space to move a King to an empty column, which sets the groundwork for forming a suit run.

3. Manage Your Space

   • The key to 4-suit Spider is meticulous tableau management. Clearing columns for rearrangement is often more beneficial than immediately trying to form a completed sequence (unless it’s easily achievable).

4. Plan Multiple Moves Ahead

   • Because of the added complexity from four suits, think carefully about the consequences of each move. Shifting one sequence might open up or block future moves.

5. Steady Progress Over Quick Wins

   • Sometimes, a short-term fix—like stacking different suits together—can lead to long-term issues. Focus on gradually stabilizing your tableau while setting up future suited runs.

Spider Solitaire 4 Suits stands out as the ultimate test of patience, concentration, and planning within the Spider family of games. By smartly managing your tableau, prioritizing suit-specific sequences, and using every tool at your disposal—like empty columns and the undo feature—you’ll improve your odds of clearing all 104 cards. Prepare for a deeply strategic challenge that rewards careful thought and methodical play. Good luck!