Spider Solitaire can be played with 1, 2, 3 or 4 suits. The rules don’t change; the suits do. Because only same-suit runs can be moved together, every extra suit makes the game harder.
1 suit
All 104 cards are spades, so every run you build is already in suit and can be moved as one. Most games can be won, and it’s the best way to learn how to use empty columns and the stock.
2 and 3 suits
With two suits you have to choose between building anywhere and building in suit. That trade-off is what Spider strategy is about. Three suits (spades, hearts and diamonds) make those choices tighter still.
4 suits
With all four suits, mixed runs pile up quickly and empty columns become essential. It’s the most demanding version and many deals are lost even with good play, but careful players win their share.
Which should you play?
New to Spider: start with 1 suit.
Winning most 1-suit games: move to 2 suits.
Looking for a real test: try 3 or 4 suits.
Your records are kept separately for each, so you can track your progress at every level.