Spider Solitaire scoring, in the Microsoft system, starts you at 500 points. Every move costs 1 point, every undo costs 1 point, and every completed King-to-Ace run in one suit adds 100 points. Dealing from the stock costs nothing on this site. Fewer moves and fewer undos mean a higher final score.
You can see it in action right away: start a free game and watch the score change as you play.
How Microsoft Spider Solitaire scoring works
Spider gained popularity on Windows, and this site uses the same points as Microsoft’s version. Wikipedia’s article on Microsoft Spider Solitaire sets out the system, and this site follows it:
| What happens | Effect on your score |
|---|---|
| You start a game | You begin with 500 points |
| You make a move | Costs 1 point |
| You undo a move | Costs 1 point |
| You complete a run (King to Ace, one suit) | Adds 100 points |
| You deal from the stock | Costs nothing |
That’s the whole system. Nothing else in this system earns or costs points.
The shape of it matters more than the exact numbers. Moves chip away at your score one small step at a time. Runs push it up in big jumps. Each run is worth more than the moves it takes to build, so finishing runs is what lifts your score.
What a winning score is made of
Wikipedia describes the final score in a won game this way: the starting score, plus the points from all 8 runs, minus the moves and undos you made. In token form, that’s 500, plus 100 for each of the 8 runs, minus 1 for every move and 1 for every undo.
Two players who both win the same deal can end with different scores. The only difference is how many moves and undos each one used.
Does dealing from the stock cost points?
No. On this site, dealing a new row from the stock costs nothing. Your score doesn’t change when you deal.
Some players assume a deal is charged like a move. The Microsoft scoring described on Wikipedia lists moves, undos and completed runs, and nothing for stock deals. No primary source says a deal costs points, so this site doesn’t charge for one.
That doesn’t make dealing early a good idea. A deal drops a card on every column, which can bury cards you were about to use. The cost is in the game, not on the scoreboard.
How much does undo cost?
Each undo costs 1 point. Wikipedia notes that Microsoft’s undo can take back as many moves as you like, back to the last move that can’t be undone, and each step back is charged as an undo. If the move you undo had completed a run, that run’s 100 points come off as well, so undo and redo can’t farm points.
This site gives you unlimited undo too. Use it freely if you just want to win. If you’re chasing a high score, every undo is a small charge, so it pays to think a move through before you make it.
Other ways to score Spider Solitaire
Microsoft’s system is the one most people know, but it isn’t the only one. Wikipedia’s Spider article says other programs score the game in their own ways.
One example is the Spider written at Sun Microsystems around 1989, with rules by Donald R. Woods. It gave points for three things:
- turning a face-down card face up
- having a card sitting on the next-higher card of the same suit
- completing a suit
That system rewards progress as you go, not only finished runs. A half-built same-suit stack earns something in the Sun version. In Microsoft’s version, it earns nothing until the run is complete.
If you play Spider on another site or app, check its help page before comparing scores. A high score in one system can’t be compared with a score from another.
What are the fewest moves to win Spider Solitaire?
There’s no fixed answer, and no reliable source gives a minimum number of moves. Every deal is different. Some deals open up quickly. Others need a lot of shuffling between columns before the first run comes together.
What you can control is how many moves you waste. Under Microsoft scoring, each wasted move costs 1 point, so cutting waste raises your score directly. A few habits help:
- Plan the sequence before you start moving. Look for the order that frees a face-down card in the fewest steps.
- Avoid back-and-forth moves. Moving a card from column A to column B and then back again costs two moves for nothing.
- Build in one suit when you can. A same-suit run can move as one unit later. A mixed-suit stack has to come apart in pieces, one same-suit piece per move.
- Don’t undo your way through the game. Every undo is a charge on top of the move you’re taking back.
Spider rewards patience here. A few seconds of looking before you move is free. A wrong move, and the undo to fix it, are not.
For more on making good moves, see the Spider Solitaire strategy guide and the tips on how to win Spider Solitaire.
Score or wins: which should you chase?
Wikipedia points out that Microsoft Spider has two ways to measure how well you play: games won and highest score. They pull against each other.
Here’s why. Playing safe often means extra moves. You might shuffle cards around to check a column, or undo a risky line and try another. That raises your chance of winning the deal, but each of those moves and undos lowers your score. A player who goes for the highest score takes more risks and may lose more games along the way.
Neither is the “right” way to play. Decide which one you care about before you start. If it’s wins, ignore the score and undo as much as you like. If it’s score, play tighter and accept a few more losses.
How this site shows your score and stats
The game shows your score, your move count and a timer while you play. The score follows the Microsoft system above, starting at 500, and updates after every move, undo and completed run.
Your stats are saved in your browser on the device you play on. There’s no account and no sign-up. They track your games for each Spider variant, including games played and won, your current streak, your best score and your best time. Clearing your browser data will clear these stats, and they won’t follow you to another device.
The daily Spider Solitaire deal is a fair way to compare scores with friends. Everyone gets the same deal on the same day (it changes each UTC day), so the only difference between your score and theirs is how you played it. Numbered deals work the same way: share the link, and a friend can play the exact deal you just finished.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good score in Spider Solitaire?
There’s no official target. Under Microsoft scoring you start at 500, and each of the 8 completed runs adds 100. Beyond that, your score depends on how few moves and undos you used. The fairest comparison is against your own best score, or against friends playing the same deal.
How do you get a high score in Spider Solitaire?
Win the game, and waste as few moves as possible along the way. Each move costs 1 and each undo costs 1, while each completed run adds 100. Plan sequences before moving, avoid moving cards back and forth, build in one suit so runs move as a unit, and think before you rely on undo.
Does the score go down over time in Spider Solitaire?
Not on this site. The game shows a timer, but this site’s score uses only the Microsoft rules above. Moves and undos lower your score, and completed runs raise it. Dealing from the stock is free. Thinking before you move costs nothing, so take the time you need to plan each move.
Do you lose points for dealing new cards?
No. Dealing a new row from the stock costs nothing here. The Microsoft scoring rules on Wikipedia list moves, undos and completed runs, and no primary source says a stock deal costs points. A deal can still hurt you in play, though, because it places a card on every column and can cover cards you need.
Is the scoring the same in 1-suit and 4-suit Spider?
The scoring rules are the same in every suit mode on this site: the same starting score, the same cost per move and undo, and the same 100 per completed run. The 1-suit game is easier, so wins come more often. That’s why scores from different suit modes aren’t a fair comparison.