Solitaire has been one of the favorite card games for centuries, since its popularity grew in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is a simple yet engaging way to spend your free time while sharpening your mental skills.
With so many solitaire enthusiasts around the world, the classic game evolved in various ways, and now you can play lots of different variations, both with physical cards and online.
One of the most popular variants, apart from the traditional game, is Spider Solitaire. How are they similar, and how do they differ? Read our Spider Solitaire vs. Solitaire comparison to find out!
What Is Classic Solitaire?
Classic Solitaire, also known as Klondike Solitaire, is one of the most widely recognized and beloved versions of Solitaire.
It’s the variation that many people grew up playing on their computers, so it’s the most well-known card game of this kind, often bringing back childhood memories.
What Is Spider Solitaire?
Spider Solitaire is a more complex and challenging version of the traditional game. It’s perfect for players who enjoy a higher difficulty level and want to improve their strategic skills further.
Unlike Classic Solitaire, Spider Solitaire typically uses two decks of cards, making it a longer and more mind-stimulating game. It later also appeared in Microsoft Windows in an expansion pack released in 1998, which increased its popularity among players.
What Is the Difference Between Solitaire and Spider Solitaire?
Here are some of the key differences between Solitaire and Spider Solitaire worth knowing:
The Number of Cards
The number of cards you deal with in a game strongly influences the difficulty level. Typically, the more cards you need to arrange, the more challenging the gameplay.
Classic Solitaire uses a standard 52-card deck without the jokers. In Spider Solitaire, the jokers are also excluded, but you play with two standard decks, so 104 cards overall.
The Number of Suits
In the traditional Klondike Solitaire, you always use all four suits. When it comes to Spider Solitaire, it depends on the exact variant you choose. Spider Solitaire 1 Suit is the simplest, as in this case, all the cards are of the same suit, making it easier to build sequences.
If you want to increase the challenge, you can go for Spider Solitaire 4 Suits. Keep in mind that you’re only allowed to move same-suit sequences to the foundation piles!
Tableau Setup
In Classic Solitaire, there are seven columns in the tableau, with an increasing number of cards (from one to seven). Only the top card in each column is face-up, and the rest of them are face-down.
On the other hand, in Spider Solitaire, there are ten tableau columns with the top card facing up. The first four columns contain six cards, and the remaining ones include five cards.
Building Sequences
In the traditional Klondike Solitaire, you build sequences in descending order, keeping in mind that they must differ by color, regardless of the suit.
When it comes to Spider Solitaire, the game requires the player to build sequences in descending order, too. Importantly, sequences with mixed suits are allowed to be built, but you can move sequences only if they are of the same suit.
The Objective
In Classic Solitaire, your goal is to move all the cards from the tableau and stockpile to the foundation piles, organizing them by suit, from Ace to King.
Your objective in Spider Solitaire is different. Namely, you need to create descending card sequences in the tableau, and when a complete set from King to Ace is ready, it disappears from the board. In this way, completing one sequence creates new opportunities to form the next ones.
Spider Solitaire vs. Regular Solitaire – The Final Note
Now that you know the main differences between Spider Solitaire and Solitaire, it may be easier to choose the game that seems more enjoyable to you. What’s more, Spider is available in three different variants, allowing you to adjust the difficulty level to your preferences.
On our website, you can play both of these games 100% free, straight from your browser and without registration. Moreover, you can also our app on your mobile device and exercise your brain wherever you are.
Play Spider or Classic Solitaire now and enjoy a mind-stimulating and entertaining gameplay experience!