Scorpion Solitaire
A challenging patience game about building complete same-suit sequences.
Setup
Deal seven columns, with some cards face-down, and keep three cards as reserve.
How to Play
- Build downward in suit.
- Move any face-up card and all cards below it as a group.
- Only kings can fill empty columns.
- Deal the reserve when needed.
How to Win
Build four king-to-ace suit sequences.
Empty columns are precious; do not create one without a king plan.
Is Scorpion Solitaire Right for You?
Scorpion is a Spider-like single-deck game where you build down in suit but can move any card (and everything on it) onto its in-suit successor, even from deep in a pile. Reach for it when you want Spider's suit-building with the extra power to dig out buried cards.
Maybe skip it if: If you dislike games where one buried card can quietly doom the whole deal, this can be frustrating.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Spending the three stock cards too early before you have untangled the tableau.
- Moving a pile onto an out-of-suit card; builds must follow suit to count toward a run.
- Burying a needed low card under a long pile you cannot easily lift.
Strategy Tips
- Free the face-down cards first; they are the only hidden information in the deal.
- Hold the three-card stock in reserve until you genuinely cannot progress.
- Plan to keep one column empty as workspace for relocating buried cards.
Popular Variations
Wasp
A more forgiving relative that lets you place any card into an empty column, raising the win rate.
Scorpion (face-up deal)
Some apps deal more cards face-up, exposing information and easing the early game.
Our Take
We like Scorpion because the move-anything rule makes it feel more powerful and tactical than ordinary Spider, even though it is still tough to win. It is a rewarding pick for solitaire players who want to dig themselves out of trouble.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Scorpion different from Spider?
Scorpion uses one deck and lets you move any face-up card with the pile on top of it, rather than only ordered sequences.
What do the three stock cards do?
Late in the game you deal three reserve cards into the bottom row, which can break a stalemate or finish off a deal.