2 Suits Spider Solitaire isn’t a game you want to venture into without prior preparation. Those of you who are coming from variants like Klondike might find the layout to be pretty similar to the games you’ve played. But, 2 Suits Spider Solitaire is actually one of the more challenging card games you’ll come across.
To put things into perspective, about 33% of all Klondike games played online are won, while the percentage is only 16.6% for 2 Suits Spider Solitaire. I had to put in quite a bit of effort before I ever managed to win a game of 2 Suits Solitaire. But now, I’d like to think of myself as a veteran of sorts. In this blog post, I hope to impart some of my knowledge to you. We’ll go through what you need to know about 2 Suits Spider Solitaire, especially how you can win.
What is 2 Suits Spider Solitaire?
2 Suits is one of three Spider Solitaire variants – 1 Suit, 2 Suits, and 4 Suits. You can think of these in terms of increasing difficulty because the number of decks and suits involved increases as you proceed from 1 to 2 to 4 Suits.
In 2 Suits, there are two decks of cards (104 cards), which are split into two suits (hence the name). Thesolitaire.com has a great interface when it comes to the 2 Suits Spider Solitaire game. Here’s a quick look at the available features:
| Feature | Description |
| Variants available | Three variants available: 1 Suit (Easy), 2 Suits (Medium), and 4 Suits (Hard). |
| Undo option | Allows players to undo their last move. |
| Hint option | Provides hints to help players identify a suitable move. |
| Game statistics displayed | Shows time elapsed, number of moves, and cards left in the stockpile. |
| Gameplay options | Options to pause the game, reshuffle, or choose a new game. |
You don’t want to start your Spider Solitaire journey with the 2 Suits variant. It’s a very good idea to get some practice playing 1 Suit first. Not only will you have a better grasp of the rules, but you’ll also get some valuable gameplay practice. Fortunately, thesolitaire.com lets you easily change between the three different game modes whenever you’re ready to transition to the next level.
How to Play 2 Suits Spider Solitaire
So, what makes 2 Suits Spider Solitaire so challenging? After all, on the surface, it’s just like the 1 Suit variant. Let’s discuss the similarities, differences, and how the game is set up before we move on to the most effective strategies.
Setup
As mentioned, players use two decks of cards in the 2 Suit variant. With 104 cards in the layout, a portion of the available deck is laid out into 10 tableau columns. The first four columns contain five cards each and the last six columns contain six cards each. The remainder is stored in the stock pile (located at the bottom right).
Gameplay
You can move a card onto another card in the tableau if the former is one rank lower than the latter, regardless of suit. For example, you can move a black Ace onto a red Deuce. However, to remove them from the game – essentially completing a column – you must arrange them in a complete sequence from King to Ace (of the same suit). If you find yourself out of moves, then you can add cards from the stock pile to the tableau.
Doing so adds one card to each column. But, you can’t pick and choose. Cards go on to all the columns, regardless of how close you are to completing an entire column. If you want to move groups of cards, then you must first ensure that they’re placed in sequence and belong to the same suit. So, you can move a column of black Five, black Six, and black Seven as a group but not a column of alternating cards (e.g. red Five, black Six, and red Seven). Individual cards can, however, be moved from one column to another.
Winning the Game
A game of 2 Suits Spider Solitaire ends when you’ve completed eight columns of cards by arranging them each from King to Ace. This means that you’ll have four columns of black cards and four columns of red cards, each carrying 13 cards. Don’t worry, though; this isn’t as big a task as it might appear. Once we go over some basic winning strategies, you’ll be an expert in no time!
Four Strategies for Winning at 2 Suits Spider Solitaire
Beyond arranging cards in descending order, there are several strategies for winning at 2 Suits Spider Solitaire. Here, I’ll cover some of the most common ones. These should help you improve your win rate.
1. Expose Hidden Cards
The most effective strategy for winning involves prioritizing moves that expose hidden cards. When you start the game, only the first card in each column is exposed. Move these cards around to reveal more cards underneath and you’ll move closer to your goal.
2. Same Suits Are Better Than Different Suits
When you have a move that’ll put two cards of the same suit together, use it. If you arrange cards in different suits, then you’ll reduce your options as you progress through the game. There is a significant advantage to sticking to the same suit (unless doing otherwise is absolutely necessary). It allows you to group the relevant cards together when moving them around. This, in turn, gives you much better flexibility.
3. Empty Out Columns for the King
Empty columns are like blank canvases. You can immediately place any King on to them. Thereafter, you can start arranging your column from scratch. Use this strategy to start exposing more cards in the remaining columns.
4. Break Sequences When You Can Expose More Cards
Remember the rule about sticking to the same suit? Well, there are exceptions to this rule. The main exception is when breaking a sequence with an off-suit card helps you reveal more cards in a column. This can interrupt your sequence and you might have to rearrange it before completing it. But, the benefit of having more cards to move around is significant.
Of course, these strategies are crucial if winning the game is your goal. But, don’t be deterred if you fail the first few times. Remember, practice makes perfect. Also, sometimes the shuffle just works against you (it can, though, sometimes work in your favor, of course).
Summing Up 2 Suits Spider Solitaire
Hopefully, this brief guide gave you a useful overview of what to expect from 2 Suits Spider Solitaire. If you ever need to take a quick glance at the basics, then this table can serve as a refresher:
| Aspect | Details |
| Game type | Card game; Solitaire variant. |
| Difficulty | Moderate difficulty. |
| Deck | Two standard decks (104 cards); two suits (typically Hearts and Spades). |
| Game setup | 10 columns in the tableau with varying numbers of cards; remaining cards in the stock pile. |
| Objective | Build descending sequences (King to Ace) within the same suit and remove them from the tableau. |
| Strategy | Requires strategic planning and skill; less reliant on luck compared to other Solitaire variants. |
