For all my talk about self defense jiu jitsu, some of my favorite stuff to play is more artsy or competition based open guard. Spider guard is a favorite of mine, and this variation has become a go to for me:

How many people are playing open guard routinely? Are you aways ready to go back to closed guard? How many people are using leg entrapments to supplement more traditional sweeps?

I play open guard almost exclusively. Im not a big fan of spider guard because it means I'm on my back (the flat of my back anyways). I prefer the mobility of a seated position. Its sometimes, but not always a butterfly-esque position.

Spider guard is an odd conundrum. It works best when people are trying to smash through it and get to you. In a weird irony, people start to run away when you get good at it though.

I just don't care for spider guard. I feel like every opening that I have to transition to it can be better used for something else.

It's an efficiency thing. If my partner is posturing up enough for spider guard, I should be breaking his posture. If he is both standing up, to prevent the posture break, and grabbing at my legs, I should be working back to my feet for a take-down or, failing that, diving under him to prevent strikes and set up various deep half games. Spider guard is great if you can get there, but I just am not looking to get there most of the time.

Also what TJ said, It puts me flat on my back. If I am going to be flat on my back I want closed guard or rubber guard or some variation on that theme. Leaving my partner more mobility than me seems like a bad plan.