Comparison
Spider (Two Suit) vs Forty Thieves
| Spider (Two Suit) | Forty Thieves | |
|---|---|---|
| Decks | 2 decks | 2 decks |
| Suits | 2 | 4 |
| Typical length | 16 min | 25 min |
| Difficulty | Intermediate | Hard |
| How much skill matters | High | High |
| How much the shuffle matters | Low | Low |
| Family | Spider family | Standalone |
| Good for beginners | No | 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 (Two Suit)
A more forgiving Spider variant played with only two suits instead of all four.
Identical to Spider in every respect except the deck composition: the 104 cards use only two suits, usually spades and hearts, so each suit appears four times over. Ten columns, build down by rank regardless of suit, only same-suit runs move as a unit, a completed King-to-Ace same-suit run is removed, and you deal ten more cards whenever you stall — but never while a column stands empty..
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 (Two Suit) or Forty Thieves?
- Spider (Two Suit) is generally rated intermediate difficulty, while Forty Thieves is rated hard — so most players find one noticeably harder than the other.