Spider – a solitaire…
A modern JFC/Swing version of this solitaire is available here.
All bitmapped graphics used in the game,
Copyright © 1999 Paal Olstad. <p-olstad@online.no>
All rights reserved.
Information updated 2023-05-29.
In modern browsers which do not support Java plugins, there are two ways in which to make Java applets run:
The first option is the easiest to implement, and there is no reason not to try that first. But for the applet on this page, the second option has an advantage since the game window will then be a true Java window independent of the browser window. This means that the game window will have its own button on the task bar, and the game can be played also when the browser window is minimized. The details for each option are as follows:
All bitmapped graphics used in the game, |
The applet on this page is displayed in the right cell of the top table. If this cell is empty see a note on the code below for an explanation. First the graphical images needed for the game are loaded. When the loading has completed successfully, it will be possible to press the "Play" button. When the "Play" button is pressed a new "window" will open where the cards are laid for a new game.
Spider (in Norwegian called Edderkoppen) is, I think, a well-known and popular solitaire. Its popularity is well deserved as the game offers great and varied possibilities for skilful play.
CARDS: For this game two regular packs of 52 cards are shuffled together making a total of 104 cards.
LAYOUT: First a row of ten cards are dealt face down. A new row of ten cards are dealt partially overlapping the first. This procedure is repeated two more times, and then one face down card is added to each of the four leftmost fans of cards. Finally a row of ten face up cards are dealt partially overlapping the free face down cards. After this procedure 54 cards will be on the table and 50 will be left in the stock.
LEGAL MOVES: All free face up cards may be moved to a card of the higher rank. A 7 for example may be moved to any 8. If cards belong to an unbroken sequence of the same suit they may be moved as a unit if the higher ranking of them can be legally transferred to another card. When a face down card is uncovered it is immediately turned face up. By turning the face down cards face up and moving them, open spaces may be created in the layout. Any otherwise moveable free card or sequence of cards may be moved to an open space. When the player so chooses or the game comes to a standstill a new row of ten cards are dealt. All open spaces must be filled before dealing another row of cards.
PLAY OBJECTIVE: To assemble the cards in complete sequences running from King down to the Ace all of the same suit. If the Ace is free in such a sequence, all the 13 cards can be removed from the game.
WINNING: When all cards have been removed the game is won.
To move a sequence of one or more cards, "click" on the higher ranking of them, and drag the collection to the wanted position. When the mouse button is released, the card(s) will be transferred if a legal move has been made. In an unbroken sequence of the same suit all cards except the higher ranking will be collected in a pile set off a little to the left. To move any fewer cards than the whole sequence, "click" (press and release a mouse button) on the pile of one or more cards so that they are spread down individually, then "click" on the higher of the cards you want to move and drag them to the wanted place.
To move off a complete suit of 13 cards, drag the whole sequence and release the mouse button outside the playing/client area of the "window". One (more) of the icons on the left will then be shown using color to indicate which suit of cards have been moved off.
By "clicking" (pressing and releasing a mouse button) on the stock in the lower left corner a new row of cards will be played out.
If any of the ten card fans extend below the lower border of the playing "window", you may "scroll" down by pressing "Z" or "M". "Scrolling" will only affect the card fans that would extend below the lower border without "scrolling". To "scroll" up press "A" or "K". To remove all "scrolling" press "Q" or "O". When a card fan is "scrolled" one or more positions, the number showing how many cards are in the fan will be displayed in an orange/light red color instead of in yellow.
To start a (new) game/deal press the <SPACE> bar.
If for any reason the playing area is not painted correctly, press "R" to repaint it.
The applet on this page requires a JRE 1.1 compatible browser. Both Netscape Communicator 4 (and above), and Internet Explorer 4 (and above) will work. If your browser doesn't directly support Java, you may download the Java Plugin.