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What is Scorpion Solitaire?
Scorpion is a single-deck patience game that blends elements of Spider and Yukon. Like Russian Solitaire, cards in the tableau are built down by suit (e.g., 7♥ goes on 8♥). Like Spider, you aim to assemble complete King-to-Ace runs within the tableau; completed suit runs are automatically sent to the foundations pile. Any face-up card — along with all cards stacked on top of it — can be moved as a unit. This mix creates a fast, tactical game with rewarding “unlock” moments.
How to Play Scorpion Solitaire
Objective
Build four complete descending suit sequences from King down to Ace in the tableau. When a full suit run (K→A) is formed, it is automatically sent to the foundations pile. Win by completing all four suits.
Setup
- Deck: 52 cards (one deck).
- Tableau: 7 columns × 7 cards (49 total).
- Columns 1–4: bottom three cards face-down, the rest face-up.
- Columns 5–7: all seven cards face-up.
- Stock/Reserve: 3 leftover cards, face-down. When you choose to deal them, place one face-up card onto each of the leftmost three tableau columns (once per game).
- Foundation: Completed sequences of King to Ace are automatically moved to the foundation piles. The game is won when all four foundation piles are filled.
Rules
- Building: In the tableau, build strictly down by suit (Q♠ on K♠, 10♦ on J♦, etc.).
- Moving groups: You may grab any face-up card and move it with all cards above it as a single stack, so long as the destination creates a valid in-suit descent.
- Flipping: When you expose a face-down card, flip it face-up immediately.
- Empty spaces: Only a King (or a group whose top card is a King) may be moved into an empty column.
- Stock deal: Deal the 3 reserve cards once, each to the first three columns, typically when you’re stuck.
- Completed runs: When you finish a K→A sequence in a suit, it will be automatically sent to the corresponding foundation pile.
Strategy Tips
- Prioritize turning face-downs: Early progress comes from freeing the hidden cards in the first four columns. Moves that flip a card are usually better than moves that don’t.
- Hunt for Kings & anchors: Emptying a column for a King is powerful; long in-suit ladders often start there.
- Don’t block Aces: Nothing can go on an Ace. Try not to bury Aces mid-column; push them toward the tail of a developing run.
- Move big stacks wisely: Because you can lift any face-up card with its over-cards, you can do large reorganizations — but only if the destination maintains same-suit order. Visualize the after-state before you commit.
- Delay the stock (usually): Deal the 3 reserve cards when you’re low on moves or when their injection will clearly help. Dealing too early can bury vital cards.
- Keep runs flexible until they’re safe: It’s tempting to lock in long suit ladders; sometimes holding off one step (e.g., not placing 6♥ on 7♥ yet) preserves more options to free a face-down.
Why Play Scorpion?
Scorpion rewards tactical foresight and bold reorganizations. Because you can move from the middle of stacks, single moves can completely reshape the board — perfect for players who enjoy creative solves, tight resource management, and the satisfaction of flipping those last hidden cards.
