Spider Solitaire Glossary

Card Game Glossary

A comprehensive reference of terms used in Spider Solitaire and related card games. Understanding this terminology will help you follow rules, strategy guides, and discussions about the game.

Ace

The lowest-ranked card in Spider Solitaire (rank 1). Aces sit at the bottom of completed suit sequences. No card can be placed on top of an Ace in a descending build.

Build

A sequence of overlapping cards arranged in descending rank order on a tableau column. An “in-suit build” consists of cards of the same suit; an “off-suit build” or “mixed build” contains cards of different suits.

Column

One of the ten vertical piles of cards on the tableau. Each column may contain face-down and face-up cards. Cards are moved between columns during gameplay.

Complete Sequence

A same-suit run of thirteen cards in descending order from King to Ace. When formed on the tableau, a complete sequence is automatically removed from play. Also called a “completed suit” or “full run.”

Deal

The act of distributing cards from the stock pile to the tableau. In Spider Solitaire, each deal places one face-up card on each of the ten columns (ten cards per deal). There are five deals available during a game.

Deck

A standard set of 52 playing cards consisting of four suits (Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs) with thirteen ranks each (Ace through King). Spider Solitaire uses two decks shuffled together.

Empty Column

A tableau column with no cards in it. Empty columns are strategically valuable because any card or valid same-suit sequence can be moved into them. Also called a “free column” or “space.”

Face-Down Card

A card placed with its back showing, hiding its rank and suit. Face-down cards cannot be moved or used until they are revealed. A face-down card is automatically turned face-up when all cards on top of it are removed.

Face-Up Card

A card placed with its front showing, revealing its rank and suit. Only face-up cards can be moved during gameplay.

Foundation

In many solitaire games, the foundation is a designated area where completed sequences are placed. In Spider Solitaire, completed King-to-Ace same-suit sequences are automatically removed to the foundation area. Unlike Klondike, you do not manually build on the foundation.

In-Suit

A sequence of cards that all belong to the same suit. In-suit sequences can be moved as a group and are necessary to complete suit sequences for removal. Building in-suit is a core strategic goal.

King

The highest-ranked card (rank 13). Kings begin completed suit sequences and can only be placed in empty columns since no card has a higher rank to build upon.

Off-Suit

A sequence containing cards of different suits. Off-suit sequences cannot be moved as a group and must be broken apart before cards within them can be relocated. Also called a “mixed-suit” build.

Patience

The traditional name for solitaire card games, particularly in British English. Spider Solitaire is one of the most well-known patience games.

Rank

The value of a card, from Ace (1) through King (13). In Spider Solitaire, cards are built in descending rank order on the tableau.

Run

A consecutive sequence of cards in descending order. A “same-suit run” can be moved as a group. A “complete run” is a King-to-Ace same-suit sequence of all thirteen ranks.

Stock

The remaining cards not dealt to the tableau at the start of the game. In Spider Solitaire, the stock contains 50 cards arranged in five groups of ten. Clicking the stock deals one card to each tableau column.

Suit

One of the four categories of cards in a standard deck: Spades, Hearts, Diamonds, and Clubs. Spider Solitaire can be played with 1, 2, or 4 suits depending on the chosen difficulty level.

Supermove

An advanced technique using empty columns as temporary storage to move a group of cards that could not otherwise be moved in a single action. For example, using an empty column to temporarily hold cards while rearranging an off-suit sequence into an in-suit sequence.

Tableau

The main playing area consisting of ten columns of cards. All building, moving, and sequence completion takes place on the tableau. At the start, 54 cards are dealt to the tableau.

Undo

A game feature that reverses your most recent move, allowing you to try a different approach. Some implementations allow unlimited undos, while others penalize or limit undo usage.