Doodle CubSpider solitaire is played with two decks and ten columns. You win by building eight complete runs, King down to Ace in a single suit; each finished run leaves the table. The twist that makes Spider different from Klondike: you can stack any card on one rank higher, but only a run of one suit can move as a group. Here are the full rules for beginners.
The deal
- 104 cards (two standard decks).
- Ten columns. The first four get 6 cards, the other six get 5: 54 cards in all. Only the top card of each column is face up.
- The stock: the other 50 cards, face down, dealt later in five rows of ten.
- No foundations to build up. Completed runs simply leave the table.
How cards move
- Any card can go on a card one rank higher, regardless of suit or colour. A 7 of hearts can go on an 8 of spades.
- A group of cards moves together only if it is all one suit and in order. A 9-8-7 of spades moves as one; a 9 of spades, 8 of hearts and 7 of spades does not. You would have to move the 7 first.
- Any card or valid run can go into an empty column.
- When a face-down card is uncovered, it turns face up.
- A full run from King to Ace in one suit is removed from the table automatically.
Dealing from the stock
When you are stuck, deal: one card goes face up onto every column. There are five deals in the stock. The important rule: you can only deal when no column is empty. If a column is empty, move a card into it first.
Number of suits
Spider comes in three difficulties:
- 1 suit: all 104 cards are spades. Any run moves freely, and most deals can be won.
- 2 suits: spades and hearts. You need to keep runs in suit to move them.
- 4 suits: all four suits. Hard, and many random deals can't be won.
In Spider Crayon, you start with 1 suit; three wins open 2 suits, and five 2-suit wins open 4 suits. With Winnable only on (the default), every deal has been won by a solver first.
Scoring
The common scoring, also used in Spider Crayon:
- Start with 500 points.
- Each move or deal costs 1 point.
- Each completed run adds 100 points.
A perfect game scores over 1,100. In Spider Crayon's Scored mode, an undo also costs 1 point and a hint 5; Relaxed mode has free undo and hints.
Your first game
- Look for moves that turn over face-down cards. Information is everything.
- Build in suit when you can choose between two cards of the same rank.
- Work towards an empty column. It is the most useful space on the table.
- Deal only when nothing useful is left, because each deal covers every column.
- Complete runs when you can to clear space.
Spider vs Klondike in one table
| Spider | Klondike | |
|---|---|---|
| Decks | 2 | 1 |
| Columns | 10 | 7 |
| Stacking | Any suit, one rank lower | Alternating colours |
| Moving runs | Same suit only | Any valid run |
| Winning | Eight King-to-Ace runs | Four foundations to King |
How long does a game take?
A 1-suit game takes most players 10 to 15 minutes. Two suits can take twice as long, and a 4-suit game can run past half an hour, especially when you undo to try different lines. Spider Crayon keeps your deal if you close the tab by accident, so a long game can wait.
Common beginner questions
Why won't my run move? It probably mixes suits. Only one-suit runs move together.
Why can't I deal? One of your columns is empty. Fill it, then deal.
What is the best first move? Usually the one that reveals a face-down card in the column with the most hidden cards.
When the rules feel natural, move on to strategy: our guide on how to win Spider solitaire covers empty columns, building in suit and when to deal.