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Official Spider Rules
Spider Solitaire is a challenging and strategic Patience (Solitaire) card game played with two decks of cards (104 cards). Here's a breakdown of the rules to test your card-building skills:
Objective
Build eight complete sequences of cards in descending order by suit (King to Ace) on the tableau piles.
Setup
1. Shuffle the Decks: Thoroughly shuffle both decks of cards together.
2. Tableau: Deal ten face-down cards in ten piles in the center area, called the tableau. The leftmost four piles get six cards each, and the remaining six piles get five cards each. Reveal the top card on each pile.
3. Stock: Place the remaining deck face down to the left of the tableau. This is the stock pile. You won't use it during gameplay in most variations.
Gameplay
The game is played by moving cards around between the tableau piles. Here are the key actions you can take:
Moving Cards: You can move single face-up cards or sequences of cards in descending order by suit (e.g., Queen of Spades can move on a King of Spades) between the tableau piles. The goal is to create empty spaces in the tableau, as you'll need them to build your sequences.
Building Sequences: Build sequences of cards by suit in descending order (King to Ace) on any tableau pile, regardless of the color showing on the top card. Empty piles are especially valuable as they allow you to start a new sequence or move an entire sequence to free up space.
Winning the Game
You win the game if you successfully build all eight sequences of cards in descending order by suit (King to Ace) on the tableau piles. Once you achieve this, the cards will automatically disappear from the game.
Notes/Strategy
Difficulty: Spider Solitaire is a more challenging Patience variation compared to Klondike Solitaire. With two decks and more complex building requirements, it requires strategic planning and good card movement.
Variations: There are a few variations of Spider Solitaire with different difficulty levels:
One Suit: Easiest version, using only Spades cards (52 cards).
Two Suits: Medium difficulty, using Spades and Hearts (104 cards).
Four Suits: Most challenging version, using all four suits (104 cards).
Tips: Focus on creating empty spaces, prioritize building longer sequences, and avoid unnecessary movement of cards.
Patience and Planning: As the name suggests, patience and strategic planning are key to winning Spider Solitaire. Don't get discouraged if it takes time to master - the satisfaction of completing the eight sequences is worth the challenge!
So grab two decks of cards, shuffle them up, and see if you can conquer the web of cards in Spider Solitaire!
