Play Spider Solitaire Two Suits Relaxed Online for Free
Spider Two Suits Relaxed is a friendlier take on the two-suit Spider challenge. The standard rules apply - build sequences from King to Ace in spades or hearts - but the restriction against dealing onto empty columns is removed. Win rates climb significantly compared to strict two-suit play, making it a great bridge between one-suit and full two-suit Spider.
What is Spider Two Suits Relaxed?
Spider Two Suits Relaxed uses one standard 52-card deck with spades and hearts only (each suit doubled to fill the deck). Ten tableau columns are dealt in the standard Spider layout: four cards in the first four columns and five in the last six. The objective is to build eight complete King-to-Ace sequences in the same suit and move them to the foundations. The key relaxation: you may deal from the stock onto columns even when one or more columns are empty.
Relaxed vs standard two-suit Spider
In standard Spider, dealing from the stock is blocked if any tableau column is empty. The relaxed version removes this rule entirely. You can deal at any time, which prevents many dead-end positions and raises the win rate from around 25% to roughly 50%. The relaxed version is widely used as a stepping stone when learning the two-suit game.
How to play Spider Two Suits Relaxed
Rules and objective
Build eight complete King-to-Ace sequences in a single suit (spades or hearts) on the tableau. When a full sequence is assembled it moves to the foundations automatically. You win when all eight sequences are sent to the foundations. Tableau builds down by rank in any suit; complete sequences must be same-suit to be removed. Click the stock to deal one card to each column. There is no redeal.
Game setup
- Shuffle two copies of 26 cards (spades A-K and hearts A-K) together (52 cards total).
- Deal five cards to each of the first four columns and six to the remaining six columns, all face-down except the top card.
- Reserve 50 cards as the stock (five deals of ten).
- Build sequences down by rank, any mix of suits, on the tableau.
Strategies to win Spider Two Suits Relaxed
- Keep empty columns open when possible. Even though the relaxed rule lets you deal with empty columns, a free column is still the most powerful resource for maneuvering long sequences.
- Prioritise single-suit builds over mixed sequences. Mixed-suit runs occupy tableau space but cannot be completed or cleared. Maintain same-suit columns wherever you can.
- Deal conservatively. Because you can now deal onto empty columns, there is temptation to deal early. Resist until you have exploited all productive tableau moves - each deal is irreversible.
- Complete one suit before starting the other. Focusing on spades first, for example, reduces the number of cards in play and frees space for hearts sequences.
Spider Two Suits Relaxed vs related games
| Game | Suits | Empty column rule | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spider One Suit | 1 | Block deal | ~99% |
| Spider Relaxed | 1 | Free deal | ~99% |
| Spider Two Suits | 2 | Block deal | ~25% |
| Two Suits Relaxed | 2 | Free deal | ~50% |
Spider Two Suits Relaxed FAQ
What does "relaxed" mean in Spider Solitaire?
In standard Spider you cannot click the stock to deal if any tableau column is empty. The relaxed variant removes this restriction. You may deal at any point regardless of empty columns. This rule change alone significantly increases the win rate because it prevents the stalemate that occurs when you run out of moves with an empty column present.
Is Spider Two Suits Relaxed easier than standard two-suit Spider?
Yes. The win rate roughly doubles because you can always deal when stuck, avoiding positions where an empty column blocks progress. However, the game still requires careful planning to build complete same-suit sequences, so it remains a genuine challenge compared to one-suit play.
Can I move any sequence in Spider Two Suits Relaxed?
You can move any face-up sequence of consecutive descending cards as a unit, regardless of suit mix. However, only complete King-to-Ace same-suit sequences are removed to foundations. Mixed-suit runs can be moved freely for maneuvering purposes but must eventually be sorted by suit to win.