What is Spiderette Solitaire?
Spiderette is a smaller relative of Spider. It uses one deck and seven columns, with the aim of removing four complete King-to-Ace runs of the same suit.[1]
How to set up the cards
Start with the following arrangement.[1]
- Shuffle one 52-card deck. Deal seven columns with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 cards.
- Turn only the top card of each column face up. The remaining 24 cards form the stock.
- Leave room at the side to set aside complete King-to-Ace runs as you finish them.
How to play
Follow these rules for the version described here.[1]
- Build downward by rank. A card can go on the next higher rank even if the suits are different.
- A group of cards may move together only when the whole group is in descending order and the same suit.
- Remove each complete King-to-Ace run of the same suit.
- An empty column may hold any available card or movable same-suit run.
- Deal the 24 stock cards in three rows of seven, followed by a final row of three cards on the first three columns. Every column must be occupied before each deal.
- Remove all four complete runs to win.
An example of a move
A red 8 may be placed on a black 9, but those two cards cannot be moved together as a group because they have different suits.
If the 8 and 9 are both hearts, they form part of a run you can move together.
When you build a complete King-to-Ace run in one suit, remove it. Unlike Klondike, you are not building four Ace-to-King piles.
Tips for playing
These tips can help you decide what to do next. They are suggestions, not guaranteed ways to win.
- Try to join cards of the same suit whenever you can.
- Uncover hidden cards before dealing more cards from the stock if possible.
- Keep empty columns available when they help you move longer runs.
Common mistakes
- Do not follow Klondike’s alternating-color rule: Spiderette uses descending ranks.
- Only same-suit groups may be moved together.
- Spiderette has one deck, not two like standard Spider.
Popular variations
Spiderette begins with seven columns arranged like Klondike, but uses Spider’s idea of removing complete King-to-Ace runs. It is not simply a one-suit setting of Spider; the layout and number of cards are different.[1]
History & origins
Spiderette is a one-deck relative of Spider. It begins in seven columns, with a layout similar to Klondike but a goal more like Spider.[1]
GNOME’s published rules describe Spiderette with three full stock deals of seven cards and a final three-card deal. These rules document the game as played in that software.[1]
The date and inventor of the original card game have not been securely identified. Its relationship to Spider is evident in its movement rules, but a precise creation date cannot be inferred from the name alone.[1][2]
Frequently asked questions
How many decks does Spiderette use?
One standard 52-card deck.
Is the layout like Klondike?
The initial seven-column lengths are similar, but the movement and win conditions are different.
Do runs need the same suit?
Yes, to be moved as a group and removed when complete.
How are the last stock cards dealt?
Three complete rows of seven cards are dealt first; the final three cards go onto the first three columns.
Sources & further reading
- 01Rosanna Yuen / GNOME AisleRiot Project (2001). Spiderette — game rule specification (DocBook XML).
GNOME open-source project, technical source documentation · Technical documentation
View source ↗ - 02Kerry Handscomb (2021). Spider Variations with Different Decks.
The New Abstract Games, Issue 21 (Spring 2021) · Specialist editorial research
View source ↗