Play Spider Solitaire Four Suits Relaxed Online for Free
Spider Four Suits Relaxed is the most accessible version of the hardest Spider variant. All four suits are in play, but the restriction against dealing onto empty columns is lifted. The result is still a demanding game - you must build eight complete King-to-Ace sequences across four suits - but frustrating dead-ends caused by an empty column are no longer a concern.
What is Spider Four Suits Relaxed?
Spider Four Suits Relaxed uses two standard 52-card decks (104 cards, all four suits). Ten tableau columns receive the standard Spider deal. The win condition is identical to standard four-suit Spider: build eight complete King-to-Ace sequences each in a single suit. The only rule change is that you may click the stock to deal at any time, even if one or more tableau columns are empty.
Why the relaxed rule matters at four suits
In the strict four-suit game, an empty column is priceless but also a trap: the moment it appears you cannot deal, and without a deal you may have no moves. The relaxed rule converts empty columns from a blocker into a pure resource. Win rates rise from roughly 15% in the strict game to around 30% in the relaxed version, making Four Suits Relaxed a realistic target for intermediate players who have mastered two-suit Spider.
How to play Spider Four Suits Relaxed
Rules and objective
Build eight complete King-to-Ace sequences, one per suit (two each of spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs), on the tableau. Each completed sequence is moved to the foundations automatically. Click the stock to deal one card to each non-empty column. There is no redeal. You win when all eight sequences reach the foundations.
Game setup
- Shuffle two full 52-card decks together (104 cards).
- Deal six cards face-down plus one face-up to the first four columns; five face-down plus one face-up to the remaining six columns.
- Reserve 50 cards as the stock (five deals of ten).
- Build any descending sequence on the tableau; complete same-suit sequences are removed automatically.
Strategies to win Spider Four Suits Relaxed
- Use empty columns as sorting space. With four suits in play, you constantly need to reorder mixed sequences. An empty column lets you park a card or short stack while repositioning the rest.
- Sort one suit completely before moving to the next. Completing spades first, for example, removes 26 cards from play and dramatically reduces congestion in the remaining columns.
- Flip face-down cards aggressively. Buried face-down cards are the main source of uncertainty. Prioritise uncovering them over cosmetic tidying of face-up sequences.
- Think two deals ahead. Each deal of ten cards can drastically change the landscape. Before clicking the stock, plan how you will absorb the new cards and which columns have capacity.
Spider Four Suits Relaxed vs related games
| Game | Suits | Empty column rule | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spider Two Suits | 2 | Block deal | ~25% |
| Spider Two Suits Relaxed | 2 | Free deal | ~50% |
| Spider Four Suits | 4 | Block deal | ~15% |
| Four Suits Relaxed | 4 | Free deal | ~30% |
Spider Four Suits Relaxed FAQ
Is Spider Four Suits Relaxed still hard?
Yes. Removing the dealing restriction helps, but the fundamental challenge of sorting four suits across 104 cards remains. A ~30% win rate still demands careful planning, efficient use of empty columns, and disciplined sequencing. Players who find strict four-suit Spider too punishing will find the relaxed version a manageable goal to work toward.
How does dealing work in the relaxed version?
Click the stock at any time to deal one card face-up to each of the ten tableau columns. Unlike the strict game, you do not need to fill all empty columns first. If a column is empty, the dealt card simply starts a new column there.
How many deals are available?
With 104 cards and 54 dealt at setup, 50 cards remain in the stock - five deals of ten. Use each deal wisely: there is no redeal, so once the stock is exhausted you can only work with what is on the tableau.