How to Play Scorpion Solitaire

Scorpion Solitaire is a challenging single-deck patience game that rewards careful planning and sharp observation. It shares DNA with Spider Solitaire — both require you to build same-suit sequences — but Scorpion adds a distinctive twist: you can pick up any face-up card together with every card on top of it as a single group, regardless of whether the stacked cards form a valid sequence. This generous group-move rule makes the game feel open and fluid, yet winning still demands precise sequencing because only ordered same-suit runs from King down to Ace count as completed.

Game Setup

Scorpion uses a single standard 52-card deck. Shuffle the deck thoroughly, then deal 49 cards into seven columns as follows:

• Columns 1 through 4: Each receives seven cards. The first three cards in each column are dealt face-down and the top four cards are dealt face-up.
• Columns 5 through 7: Each receives seven cards, all dealt face-up.
• Reserve: The three remaining cards are set aside face-down as a reserve pile. These cards will be used later when no more moves are available.

After the deal, 12 cards are face-down (3 in each of the first four columns) and 37 cards are face-up across all seven columns.

Building Rules

Tableau columns are built down in rank by same suit. For example, the 9 of Hearts may be placed only on the 10 of Hearts. This same-suit restriction makes Scorpion considerably tighter than games that allow alternating-color builds.

Group Moves

Scorpion's defining feature is its group-move rule. You may select any face-up card in a column and move it along with all cards on top of it, even if those cards do not form a proper descending same-suit sequence. The only requirement is that the bottom card of the group you are moving must be placed onto a card that is one rank higher and of the same suit. Cards above the moved card come along for the ride regardless of their ranks or suits.

Revealing Face-Down Cards

Whenever a face-down card becomes the topmost card in a column (because every card above it has been moved away), it is immediately flipped face-up and becomes available for play. Uncovering these hidden cards is essential to progress.

Empty Columns

When every card is moved out of a column, that column becomes empty. Only a King — or a group of cards whose bottom card is a King — may be placed in an empty column. This rule differs from Spider Solitaire, where any card can fill a vacancy, and adds an extra layer of planning to Scorpion.

Using the Reserve

When you reach a point where no useful moves remain, deal the three reserve cards face-up, one onto the top of each of the first three columns (columns 1, 2, and 3). The reserve is a one-time resource — once all three cards have been dealt, no further deals are available. Timing the reserve wisely can open up new sequences, so avoid using it prematurely.

Completing Suit Sequences

When a full 13-card sequence of the same suit in descending order (King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, Ace) is assembled within a single column, that sequence is removed from play and set aside. The game is won when all four suit sequences have been completed and removed. A deal is lost once the reserve is spent and no legal move remains, though our game does not announce that: it only declares the win, so leaving a dead deal is your call.

Common Variations

• Wasp. The same deal as Scorpion, but any card or group may fill an empty column instead of Kings only. This makes vacancies useful and is the easiest common version.
• Scorpion II. Face-down cards are dealt in only the first three columns, so fewer cards are hidden and more deals are winnable.
• Three Blind Mice. Ten columns of five, with three face-down cards in the right columns and two reserve cards kept face up and available throughout.
• Double Scorpion. Two decks dealt into a larger tableau for a longer solve.

Two related games are worth trying. Yukon uses the same move, picking up any face-up card with everything on top of it, but builds down in alternating colour onto foundations. Spider is the two-deck ancestor that gave the Scorpion family its creature name.

Quick Reference

Quick Tips

• Prioritize uncovering face-down cards in columns 1 through 4 early; the hidden information they reveal changes your options significantly.
• Try to consolidate cards of the same suit together, even if the full sequence is not yet in order, so fewer moves are needed later.
• Avoid creating empty columns unless you have a King ready to fill them, since only Kings may occupy an empty space.
• Save the reserve for as long as possible — once it is dealt, you lose your only safety net.