Spider suits and sequences: placement versus group movement

The standard deal and suit choices

A standard random deal uses 104 cards across ten tableau columns. The first four columns have six cards each and the other six have five; only the front card of each column starts face up. The remaining fifty cards form the stock. Stages can start from short endgames, so do not assume every current position has the full opening layout.

This implementation uses spades in one-suit play, spades and hearts in two-suit play, and spades, hearts, clubs and diamonds in four-suit play. Ranks run from Ace through King. Increasing the suit count changes which cards match for group movement and completed runs; it does not change the standard total of 104 cards or the ten-column layout.

Placement checks rank; groups also check suit

A face-up card or legal group can be placed on a front card exactly one rank higher than the group’s first card. The receiving card may have a different suit. An empty column accepts a legal group beginning with any rank, including ranks below King. There is no alternating-red-and-black requirement.

However, every card in the selected group must be face up and descend within the same suit. In two-suit play, spade eight, heart seven, spade six is a descending arrangement but not a movable three-card group. The front spade six can move by itself to a legal destination. A lower rank is necessary for placement, but matching suits are also necessary for moving several cards together.

Split a mixed run and reconnect it

In the mixed example, suppose another column ends with a spade seven. Move the single spade six onto it. The original column now ends with the heart seven, making that card accessible. If an exposed heart eight is available elsewhere, the heart seven can join it. This separates an awkward mixed run and creates same-suit links in other columns.

By contrast, face-up spade eight, spade seven, spade six can move as one group onto a heart nine, provided those three cards extend to the front of their source column. The destination’s different suit is allowed. The selected group remains internally same-suit, which is the condition the mixed example lacked.

Fill all empty columns before a stock deal

A stock deal adds one face-up card to each of the ten columns. It is unavailable while even one column is empty. The game must be unfinished, at least ten stock cards must remain, and every column must contain a card. Before dealing, decide how to fill any gaps without undoing the useful organization you have built.

Empty columns help you separate groups, but they must be filled before a stock deal. Moving an entire column into the last gap merely moves that gap to the source. When planning to remove the final empty column, check that the source will still contain a card. Also inspect the front cards: the incoming row can cover links you were about to use.

Complete eight same-suit King-to-Ace runs

When a column ends with thirteen face-up cards of one suit descending from King through Ace, that run is collected automatically. If a hidden card remains at the front of the column, it turns face up. Collect eight runs to win. Thirteen descending cards with mixed suits do not form a completed run.

In one-suit play, a rank sequence cannot be broken by suit differences, making access to hidden cards easier to read. In two- and four-suit play, a legal placement may add another boundary that prevents group movement. Compare the access a move creates with the fragmentation it creates. This is a way to reason about the position, not a guaranteed winning sequence.

Questions and answers

Why can I place different suits but not move their group?

The receiving suit is unrestricted, but the selected group itself must descend in one suit.

Can the stock fill an empty column?

No. This implementation requires all ten columns to be occupied before dealing from the stock.