How to Empty a Column in Spider Solitaire

In Spider Solitaire, an empty tableau column is the most powerful strategic asset you can have. It functions like a "free cell" in FreeCell — a temporary parking space that lets you rearrange cards in ways that would otherwise be impossible.

Here's the math: without any empty columns, you can only move a single card at a time (or a same-suit descending sequence). With one empty column, you can temporarily park a card while rearranging others. With two empty columns, you can execute complex multi-step moves that completely restructure the board. Each additional empty column roughly doubles your tactical options.

The golden rule: Every move you make should be evaluated through the lens of "does this help me create or maintain an empty column?" If a move doesn't serve that goal (or serve suit completion), think twice before making it.

Step 1: Identify the Shortest Column

Scan the board for the column with the fewest cards. A column with 2–4 cards is your best target. Don't try to empty a column with 8+ cards unless you have no better option — it will take too many moves and may create new problems.

Step 2: Check Where Those Cards Can Go

For each card in your target column, identify where it could be placed. Ideal destinations (in order of preference):

1. Same-suit sequence extension. Placing a 7♠ on an 8♠ builds toward suit completion and keeps the receiving column movable as a unit.
2. Any descending rank match. Placing a 7♠ on an 8♥ is legal and empties your target column, but creates a cross-suit sequence that can't be moved together later.
3. Another empty column. If you have multiple empty columns, you can use one as a temporary holding area — but try to refill it within a few moves.

Step 3: Move Cards in the Right Order

Start from the top of your target column and move cards one at a time (or as same-suit sequences) to their destinations. If the column has face-down cards, you'll reveal them as you go — this often opens new possibilities. Stay flexible and reassess after each card flip.

Step 4: Protect Your Empty Column

Once a column is empty, resist the urge to fill it immediately with a random King or long sequence. An empty column is most valuable when it's available for the next few moves. Use it strategically:

• Park a card temporarily to access a buried card you need
• Break apart a cross-suit sequence to build same-suit runs
• Set up a suit completion by assembling pieces from multiple columns

1-Suit Spider (Beginner)

With only one suit, every sequence is automatically same-suit, making empty columns easier to create and maintain. Focus on keeping at least one column clear at all times. You can afford to be aggressive — move cards freely, and completed suits will naturally emerge. Most 1-suit games are winnable with basic empty column awareness.

2-Suit Spider (Intermediate)

Two suits introduce cross-suit sequences that can't be moved together. Empty columns become more valuable because you'll need them to break apart mixed sequences. Aim for one empty column before each deal from the stock. When choosing between extending a same-suit run and keeping a column clear, lean toward the empty column unless the suit run is nearly complete (10+ cards).

4-Suit Spider (Expert)

With four suits, cross-suit tangles are constant and severe. You often need 2–3 empty columns simultaneously to untangle sequences. The opening moves matter enormously — prioritize building same-suit sequences even at the cost of sub-optimal plays elsewhere. Before dealing from the stock, try to have at least one empty column and at least one long same-suit run in progress. If you can't achieve both, the empty column takes priority.

1. Filling an empty column with a King immediately. A King in an empty column is permanent — nothing can be stacked on top of it in reverse. Only place a King in an empty column when you have a strong plan to build a full suit from King to Ace in that column, or when you have multiple empty columns to spare.
2. Dealing from the stock with empty columns. Dealing fills every column, including empty ones. You lose your most valuable strategic asset. Maximize every empty column before dealing. The stock isn't going anywhere.
3. Using an empty column for a single card without a plan. Moving one card to an empty column just because you can is wasteful. Always have a multi-step sequence in mind: "I'll park this card here, move that sequence there, then retrieve this card."
4. Trying to empty the longest column first. Always target the shortest column. Emptying a 2-card column takes 2 moves; emptying an 8-card column might take 20+ moves and create new problems. Work from short to long.
5. Ignoring face-down cards. Columns with face-down cards are harder to empty but more rewarding — flipping face-down cards reveals new information and often new opportunities. Prioritize emptying columns where you'll flip face-down cards over columns that are already fully visible.

The ultimate purpose of empty columns is enabling suit completions. When you complete a King-to-Ace same-suit sequence, those 13 cards are removed from the board entirely — permanently freeing space and simplifying the remaining game.

Here's the pattern for using empty columns to complete a suit:

1. Identify a suit where you have most of the 13 cards in near-sequence (e.g., K-Q-J-10-9 in one column, 8-7-6-5 in another, 4-3-2-A scattered)
2. Use empty columns to temporarily park cards blocking the pieces you need
3. Assemble the full K–A sequence in one column
4. Watch it auto-complete and enjoy the empty column it creates

This is the virtuous cycle of Spider Solitaire: empty columns enable suit completions, suit completions create empty columns, and more empty columns enable more suit completions.