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What is Wasp Solitaire?
Wasp Solitaire is a close relative of Scorpion Solitaire, sharing nearly all of its rules and layout. The big twist is in how empty columns work: in Wasp Solitaire, any card (not just a King) can be placed into an empty space. This single difference dramatically changes the flow of the game, allowing for more flexible moves and quicker reorganizations of the tableau. The rest of the mechanics — building down in suit, forming full King-to-Ace runs, and moving groups of face-up cards — remain the same as in Scorpion.
How to Play Wasp Solitaire
Objective
Your goal is to build four complete descending suit sequences from King down to Ace. Whenever you finish a full run (K→A), it is automatically moved to the foundation. Win by completing all four suits.
Setup
- Deck: 52 cards, one standard deck.
- Tableau: 7 piles of 7 cards each (49 total).
- Columns 1–4: bottom three cards are face-down, the rest face-up.
- Columns 5–7: all seven cards are face-up.
- Reserve: 3 leftover cards make up the stock. These are dealt once, placing one card face-up on each of the first three columns.
- Foundation: Completed suit runs are sent here automatically. The game ends when all four suits are completed.
Rules
- Building: Cards build downward in suit (for example, 9♦ on 10♦).
- Moving stacks: Any face-up card can be moved together with the pile stacked above it, provided the move continues a valid same-suit descent.
- Flipping: Reveal face-down cards right away when they are uncovered.
- Empty columns: Any card (not just Kings) may be placed into an empty space, greatly increasing flexibility compared to Scorpion.
- Stock deal: Deal the 3 reserve cards once, one to each of the leftmost three tableau columns.
- Completed runs: Full King-to-Ace sequences move automatically to the foundation.
Strategy Tips
- Use empty spaces creatively: Unlike Scorpion Solitaire, you don’t have to wait for a King to open up a column. Use this freedom to move useful cards into position and untangle tricky stacks.
- Flip hidden cards early: As always, exposing face-downs in the first four columns should be a top priority.
- Stay flexible with runs: It’s often better to hold off on completing sequences until you’ve freed more cards.
- Plan stock timing: Deal the reserve when you’ve run out of good moves or when you’re confident it will improve the layout.
- Don’t waste empty spaces: Since you can drop anything into them, empty columns become powerful tools. Use them strategically to maneuver large stacks.
Why Play Wasp Solitaire?
If you enjoy Scorpion Solitaire but want a less restrictive version, Wasp Solitaire is the perfect fit. The ability to fill empty columns with any card opens up many more possibilities, leading to faster games and more recoveries from tough positions. It’s an excellent variant for players who like the feel of Scorpion Solitaire but prefer greater flexibility and smoother gameplay.
