Comparison
Spider (One Suit) vs Forty Thieves
| Spider (One Suit) | Forty Thieves | |
|---|---|---|
| Decks | 2 decks | 2 decks |
| Suits | 1 | 4 |
| Typical length | 12 min | 25 min |
| Difficulty | Easy | Hard |
| How much skill matters | Medium | High |
| How much the shuffle matters | Low | Low |
| Family | Spider family | Standalone |
| Good for beginners | Yes | No |
We have not written a verdict for this pairing. The comparison above is drawn from each game's own recorded facts — follow either link for its full rules and strategy.
Spider (One Suit)
The easiest Spider variant, played with a single suit repeated across both decks.
The full Spider layout — two decks, ten columns, 54 cards dealt — played with only one suit, usually spades, repeated eight times. Because every card shares a suit, every descending run is automatically an in-suit run, so any ordered sequence moves as a unit.
Forty Thieves
Build strict same-suit sequences across ten columns dealt from two decks — one of the toughest classic patience games.
Two decks are dealt face up into ten columns of four, so the whole tableau is visible from the start. Columns build downward strictly by suit — a seven of hearts takes only the six of hearts — and eight foundations build each suit up from Ace to King.
Frequently asked questions
- Which is harder, Spider (One Suit) or Forty Thieves?
- Spider (One Suit) is generally rated easy difficulty, while Forty Thieves is rated hard — so most players find one noticeably harder than the other.