How Double Scorpion works
It is Scorpion on a bigger table. You are sorting ten columns into eight same-suit runs, and every card is in play from the first move.
- Layout. 104 cards in ten columns: the first four hold 11 cards each, the other six hold 10. In the first five columns the bottom four cards are face down. There is no stock.
- Build down in the same suit. The 6 of hearts goes on the 7 of hearts, whichever deck either card came from. Nothing can be placed on an Ace.
- Move any face-up card. Pick it up and everything on top of it comes along, in any order.
- Empty columns take a King, or a group that starts with a King.
- Finishing. When a column ends in King down to Ace of one suit, the run leaves the table. Eight runs win.
Tips for Double Scorpion
- Open the face-down cards first. Twenty cards start hidden, all in the first five columns. Work on those before you tidy anything else.
- Build on the card that is deeper in its column. With two copies of each card, you can choose which 7 of hearts to build on. Pick the one that will not be covered next.
- Think about what you carry. Moving a card also moves what sits on it. That clears a column fast and buries things just as fast.
- Get an empty column early. With no stock to fall back on, an empty column is your only room to rearrange.
- Use Undo. It is unlimited, and this game rewards trying a line and stepping back.
Double Scorpion compared with similar games
| Double Scorpion | Scorpion | Forty Thieves | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decks | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Columns | 10 | 7 | 10 |
| Build | Down, same suit | Down, same suit | Down, same suit |
| What you can move | Any face-up card with all on top | Any face-up card with all on top | One card at a time |
| Goal | 8 King-to-Ace runs | 4 King-to-Ace runs | 8 foundations |
| Stock | None | 3 spare cards, once | 64 cards, one pass |
Other games
Frequently asked questions
How do you play Double Scorpion solitaire?
All 104 cards are dealt into ten columns at the start: four columns of 11 and six of 10. You build down in the same suit and you can move any face-up card together with everything on top of it. Finish eight King-to-Ace runs, one for each suit in each deck, and you win.
What is the difference between Scorpion and Double Scorpion?
Double Scorpion uses two decks instead of one, so there are ten columns, eight runs to make and no stock. In Scorpion you have seven columns, four runs, and three spare cards to deal when you are stuck.
Is there a stock or reserve in Double Scorpion?
Not in this version. The whole 104-card deal is on the table at the start, and the only help you get is the cards themselves. Some other sites add a few spare cards, so if you have played it elsewhere the deal may look different.
Which cards are face down?
The bottom four cards of each of the first five columns. That is 20 face-down cards in all. Everything else is face up from the start.
What can go in an empty column?
Only a King, or a group of cards that starts with a King.
Is Double Scorpion easier than Scorpion?
Most players find it easier. There are two copies of every card, so the one you need is often available in the other deck, and a bigger table gives you more room to rearrange. It is also a longer game, with 104 cards to sort.