Solitaire vs Spider Solitaire
Some days you may want a quick, classic solitaire card game. But on other days, you might crave something stronger, a brain teaser. That’s what Solitaire and Spider Solitaire bring to the table. However, even as they both share immense popularity, they play quite differently — from the way you win to how you play more moves and deal cards. This guide lays it all bare, including the solitaire deck size used and game difficulty comparison. If you're looking to compare solitaire variants, you're in the right place.
What Is Solitaire?
Many card players know Solitaire as the popular card game available on all Microsoft computers. However, not many know Klondike is its other name. This challenging card game uses the standard deck of 52 cards spread out in seven tableau columns.
Starting with column 1, there's one card while column 2 comprises two cards, and this pattern will continue to the last column. However, what you'll notice is each column has a top card that faces up, and these face-up cards are the only ones you can move.
The stockpile comprises the remaining cards, and it's where you'll draw more cards to try and create sequences or moves in the tableau. With all that, each card you flip through will move to the wastepile, which is right beside the stock. The first card of the wastepile can be played.
Remember, the goal in the game is to complete the four foundation piles. To do this, the Ace must start and move all the way to the King (by suit). You can practice building sequences as you play solitaire without downloading, and enjoy a no-ads solitaire game full screen directly online.
What Is Spider Solitaire?
While this game is also a version of Klondike, the rules are slightly more complex, which also means a bigger challenge. Spider Solitaire uses two decks, giving you 104 cards to play with. This version has a 10-column layout instead of Solitaire’s 7.
Another difference is how sequences are made. Instead of using 7 columns as in the standard Klondike, Spider Solitaire has 10 columns in the following order: 6 cards reside in columns one to four, while five cards take the remaining six columns. There’s one similarity, though, and that is only the top card in each column is visible.
The game’s layout is also different from Klondike’s requirements. In this version, the sequences are built down in suit from King to Ace; for example, King to Ace, but all spades. Completed sequences are then automatically removed from the tableau.
Therefore, your goal is to clear all cards from the board, which means your Spider Solitaire layout demands careful sequencing and a long-term strategy to win.
Solitaire vs Spider Solitaire – What Sets Them Apart?
- Deck size: Solitaire uses only one standard deck of 52 cards but Spider uses two to make it a solitaire 2 deck version with 104 cards.
- Tableau setup: Spider features ten tableau columns, which makes it more complex in terms of movement and planning. However, the solitaire takes things easy with seven columns.
- Suits required: When you play solitaire online, you only need to worry about alternating colors and not the full suit. However, the rules change when playing Spider where you must match the same suit when forming sequences.
- Complexity level: If you're a beginner, solitaire offers simpler logic and faster decision-making. On the other hand, Spider Solitaire requires more planning and complex solitaire strategies, especially when you get to the 4-suit level.
- Win conditions: To win at solitaire, you need to build four foundation piles (one per suit). But Spider Solitaire requires players to complete descending sequences, at which point the game ends.
- Hint/undo dependency: You can win solitaire with logic alone but the same can’t be said for Spider Solitaire. This version may demand more use of hint and undo, especially for casual players looking to pass the time.
- Time per game: Since solitaire is simple, the rounds are often faster and ideal for players looking for quick sessions. However, Spider Solitaire requires more careful planning and, therefore, takes more time per game.
Explore Other Solitaire Variations
- TriPeaks Solitaire: Three peaks of face-down cards are what you encounter in this version. Once the game starts, your objective is to clear the board by clicking cards that are one rank lower or higher than the current base card.
- Pyramid Solitaire: When playing Pyramid Solitaire, your objective will be to eliminate pairs of cards whose value totals 13. In this version, the top cards are the most vulnerable while the lower ones remain hidden until cleared.
Which One Suits You Best?
So, which solitaire is harder, and which should you try? Well, it all comes down to your style and experience level. For players looking for something quick to play, easier to follow, yet still meaningful – solitaire (Klondike) is a go-to option.
However, if you enjoy a challenge, the multi-deck structure offered by Spider Solitaire, along with the same-suit rule, makes it tougher but rewarding. Luckily, you can find solitaire 100% free, no ads, full screen, and without downloading, so you can switch whenever you like.
