Play Scorpion Solitaire Online for Free
Scorpion Solitaire is played with one deck in seven columns. You build down in the same suit, and you can move any face-up card together with all the cards on top of it, even when they are not in order. The aim is to build four complete King-to-Ace runs. It looks simple, but the hidden cards and the Kings make every game a puzzle. You can play it here for free, online, with no download and no sign-up, and in full screen if you like.
How to play Scorpion Solitaire
Goal
Build four runs from King down to Ace, each run in a single suit, inside the columns. A finished run moves to the foundations by itself. When all four runs are there, you win.
The deal
The game uses one deck of 52 cards.
- Tableau: 7 columns of 7 cards. In the first four columns, the first 3 cards are face down. Every other card starts face up.
- Stock: the last 3 cards. Click the stock to deal them, one onto each of the first three columns.
- Foundations: four empty places for the finished King-to-Ace runs.
Rules
- Building: put a card on the card one rank higher of the same suit. A 6 of Spades goes on a 7 of Spades.
- Moving cards: you can move any face-up card, together with all the cards on top of it. The cards on top don't need to be in order. Only the card you pick has to fit where it goes.
- Kings: a King can't be placed on another card.
- Empty columns: only a King, together with any cards on top of it, can go into an empty column.
- Turning cards over: when you move the last face-up card off a column, the card under it turns face up.
- Finished runs: a complete King-to-Ace run in one suit goes to the foundations by itself.
Tips to win more often
- Plan for the Kings. Each finished run starts with a King at the top of a column. A King lying on face-down cards blocks them until you have an empty column to move it to.
- Turn over the hidden cards first. The face-down cards in the first columns are what stop you most. Clear the cards above them early.
- Deal the stock at the right time. The 3 stock cards land on the first three columns and can cover cards you need. Deal when they will do the least harm, often once those columns are in good order.
- Move cards from the middle of a column. You don't have to take only the bottom card. A card deep in a column can move with everything on top of it if it fits somewhere.
- Use undo to test ideas. There is no limit on undo. If you are not sure which move is better, try one and go back.
Which Scorpion game should I play?
All Scorpion games share the same idea: build down in suit and move any face-up card with the cards on top of it. They differ in small rules that change how hard they are.
- Scorpion Solitaire: the classic game. Four columns start with hidden cards and only Kings go into empty columns.
- Scorpion II Solitaire: only three columns start with hidden cards, so you see more from the start.
- Wasp Solitaire: any card can go into an empty column, which makes it more forgiving.
- Wasp II Solitaire: Wasp with only three columns of hidden cards. The easiest of the group.
- Scorpion Solitaire 1 Suit and Scorpion Solitaire 2 Suits: Scorpion with only one or two suits, good for learning.
- Three Blind Mice Solitaire: ten columns of five cards and two spare cards instead of a stock.
The table further down shows how often players win each one.
Frequently asked questions
Is Scorpion Solitaire free?
Yes. Every game on Solitaire Land is free to play in your browser, on a computer, tablet or phone. There is nothing to download and you don't need an account.
Can I play in full screen?
Yes. Use the full screen button in the bar above the game. You can also make the cards bigger or smaller with the zoom slider in the bar below the game.
What does the Hint button do?
It shows you one move you can make right now. It doesn't play the game for you, so you still choose what to do next.
When should I click the stock?
Whenever you like, but only once: there are just 3 cards in it. They go onto the first three columns, so deal when it won't bury a card you need.
Is Scorpion like Spider?
Both games ask you to build King-to-Ace runs in one suit. In Spider you can only move ordered runs, and you deal from a large stock. In Scorpion you can move any face-up card with the cards on top of it, and the stock has only 3 cards.
What are the daily challenge and the levels?
Every day there is one daily challenge deal, the same for everybody. A calendar shows which ones you have finished. Levels go from 1 to 100 and get harder as you go up. Each level is a deal chosen from games played here. Winnable deals are deals that at least one player has already won. You can find all three in the New game menu.
Where Scorpion comes from
Scorpion is a one-deck patience game. Nobody knows for sure who invented it or where its name comes from. If you like the way cards move in Scorpion, try Yukon Solitaire, which uses the same free movement with a different deal, or Spider Solitaire 2 Suits, which builds King-to-Ace runs with two decks.