How to Play: Scorpion Solitaire

Whether you just need to kill some time or you're looking to challenge yourself, the different versions of the Solitaire card game are great choices. Many of the Solitaire games are quick, and since they're single-player games, You never have to worry about the hassle of getting other players together. Our site is dedicated to offering every version of Solitaire that we can in addition to guides that can take you from beginner to pro.

Most people think of Klondike when they hear Solitaire. Also known as the Patience game, this is the original game. This classic Solitaire game has been included on Windows PCs since Windows 95. While Klondike is probably the most popular game, there are actually many different games. Some of the online games we offer include Pyramid Solitaire, Russian Solitaire, Will o the Wisp, Australian Patience, Baker's Dozen, and our recently added FreeCell.

Of course, this guide will focus on the Scorpion Solitaire game. This game is recommendable for those who have become familiar with Klondike but are looking for more variation. Some say that Scorpion shares similarities with Spider Solitaire, but the method of gameplay is most similar to Yukon. Like any good Solitaire variant, Scorpion is a puzzle game with a simple goal. While there are a few named variants including Wasp Solitaire and Three Blind Mice, this guide will detail the basic game.

The Object of the Game

This is a simple game on the surface. Your goal is to build four columns of suit sequence cards, each ordered King through Ace. While cards of different suits (hearts, diamonds, spades, clubs) may overlap at any point on the tableau, the game can't be completed until each suit sequence is in order.

The Pack

The game is played with a standard 52-card deck of cards with the wild cards (Jokers) removed. While you can certainly play this card game with novelty or custom decks, and our Scorpion Solitaire online free game even allows you to change card fronts and card backs, our guide uses terminology matching a standard deck with typical suits of cards and card values.

The Deal

After you shuffle the deck, you'll need to form the tableau by dealing seven columns of cards with seven cards each for a total of 49. The three leftover cards, also called reserve cards, are set aside for later use. You'll deal the cards face up, with the exception of the first three cards of the first four columns, which are dealt as face-down cards.

This game is unusual in that it doesn't use foundations nor a discard pile like most games. Instead, you're just trying to sequence the tableau pile. While this may sound easy, this is actually one of the more challenging games, which is likely why some consider it akin to two or four-suit Spider Solitaire.

The Play

The Scorpion Solitaire rules indicate that any face-up card is available to play during any turn. You can build tableau piles by moving pairs of cards, or even groups of cards, regardless of their sequence with one exception. The bottom card of a group of cards must match the sequence of the top card in the column it's being moved to. All cards on top of the bottom one can move in any order. Whenever a face-down card in a column becomes that column's new top card, it's turned face up and made available to play.

During gameplay, it's important to remember that you aren't just matching number sequences—you're trying to keep sequences in their proper suit order. Because of this, you wouldn't want to match a King of Spades with a Queen of Hearts, nor that Queen of Hearts with a Jack of Clubs.

If a tableau column is ever emptied, it can be filled by a King. Filling empty spaces like this is one of the best ways to build piles. When you're out of plays, you reach an impasse. At this point, you have one chance to click the stock button and deal your three leftover cards. One will be placed face up at the bottom of the first three columns. If you still have no available plays, the game results in a loss.

Wins are rare with this game, but there are a few Scorpion Solitaire strategy tips you can follow. Keep in mind where all your Aces are. You want to ensure they're moved to the bottom of your columns since no cards can be played on top of Aces. While it's important to uncover the face-down cards as soon as you can, you'll need to be wary if some of them are Aces since you could block yourself with a reverse sequence. Our site features hints as well as an undo button that lets you recover from mistaken plays, so you can practice all you need. Don't forget to check out our complete Solitaire collection.