Frequently Asked Questions
As this website
grows in popularity, I have noticed a pattern in the
type of searches used to find it. One of the wonderful parts
of
publishing this website is reading the inquiries that come in from my
visitors. Some are humorous; some make me want to investigate
the
answer to the question. On this page I will address some of
the
inquiries this website receives.
Can
All Spider Solitaire Card Games be Won?
If we take a logical
approach and if we assume each game beginnings
with a random shuffle, then the following could occur.
If on the last deal of
the game you were dealt 8 aces, not placed on
twos and 2 fives. You would not have any moves available to you and you
would loose.
The
logical
answer to the question is NO.
What are
the Odds of Winning?
I do not think the odds
of winning can be determined. A math
genius many be able to compute the astronomical number of possible game
combinations, but determining the number of games that could be won,
would be subjective at best. In determining the percentage of
possible winning games, one must first identify all possible loosing
card combinations. Again, how does one determine
that? Also
note that the odds change with each move made.
The only thing I know
for sure is that the odds of you winning will
increase the more you
play!
What
is the Best Spider Solitaire Score?
I do not think the best
score will ever be known and possibly gets
better every day.
As the term solitaire
card game implies, this game is a loner’s game so
comparing scores is not a top priority. You are always trying
to
beat your best score. Besides telling someone about your best score is
like a fisherman telling his/her tale about the one that got away.
But it did get me
thinking about the best possible spider solitaire
score, or the fewest moves. The game starts you out with 500
points and deducts a point for each move (and adds 1 to the moves
counter). As each of the 8 families (same suit ace - king) is
completed, 100 is added to the score. Therefore the best possible
Spider Solitaire score has the fewest moves plus 800 points. It does
not matter if you play
the beginner or advanced game the fewest moves are the same.
Here is what I came up
with. As in the example above (can all
games be won) this is hypothetical, the odds of being dealt this hand
are greater than astronomical, and you would never know it without
dealing all cards first.
If
you were dealt a hand of cards as shown in the tables
below… And
dealt all cards from the reserve pile before
beginning… And played
them in a logical manner. You could win in 46
moves. I believe the best possible Spider Solitaire score is 1,254.
Here is how I played it.
Using the tables below
as a reference (each color represents a suit)
and note all cards from the reserve pile are dealt:
- Begin from the left side.
- Place the blue 7 (and 2-6) on the blue
8. That exposes the blue ace.
- Place the blue ace on the blue 2.
That completes one family.
- Repeat steps 2 & 3 for the remaining
families.
- Now starting from the right.
- Place the red ace on the red 2 then the 2 on
the 3 etc.
- Continue right to left progressing up all the
families.
What
is the Spider Solitaire Record?
This one is
easy. I have the record. I swear I have
the
record for most games played. But, if you mean the highest
game
score, I have that too. Prove otherwise!
Here again, solitaire
is about you and improving on your best
record. For me it is not the highest score but if my win/loss
ratio is improving. Periodically I reset the game stats and
start
from scratch. After a few hundred games I compare the
win/loss
ratio to the one I just reset. That tells me if I am
improving. I wait a few hundred games, because face it, if I
win
the first game and compare, my percent wins is 100%.
If you compare record
scores, you must also factor in the difficulty of
that particular hand. To compare your Spider Solitaire record
score to another’s you should both play the same game.
However; if you wanted
to compare your Spider Solitaire skills to
another’s, it would be best to compare win/loss ratios over
two
hundred or more games.
Good luck
to
you and above all HAVE FUN!
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