How Scorpion works
Scorpion looks like Yukon but plays more like a puzzle. You are sorting seven columns into four same-suit runs.
- Layout. 49 cards in seven columns of seven. The first four columns start with three face-down cards. The other three cards wait in the stock.
- Build down in the same suit. The 6 of hearts goes on the 7 of hearts. 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.
- The spare cards. When you are stuck, click the stock. The three cards go face up onto the first three columns.
- Finishing. When a column ends in King down to Ace of one suit, the run is removed. Four runs win.
Tips for Scorpion
- Uncover the hidden cards first. The first four columns hide twelve cards. Open them before you tidy anything else.
- Think about what you carry. Moving a card also moves what sits on it. That is a fast way to clear a column and an easy way to bury something you needed.
- Empty a column on purpose. Without one you cannot rearrange. With a King ready, an empty column is the best thing on the table.
- Save the spare cards. They are three more cards on top of three columns. Use every other move first.
- Use Undo. It is unlimited, and Scorpion rewards trying a line and stepping back.
Scorpion compared with similar games
| Scorpion | Russian | Spider | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decks | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Build | Down, same suit | Down, same suit | Down, any suit |
| What you can move | Any face-up card with all on top | Any face-up card with all on top | Same-suit runs only |
| Goal | 4 King-to-Ace runs | 4 foundations | 8 King-to-Ace runs |
| Stock | 3 spare cards, once | None | 5 deals of 10 |
Other games
Frequently asked questions
How do you play Scorpion solitaire?
Seven columns of seven cards are dealt, with the first four columns having three cards face down. You build down in the same suit, and you can move any face-up card together with every card on top of it. When you run out of moves, the three spare cards are dealt face up onto the first three columns.
How do you win Scorpion solitaire?
Make four runs from King down to Ace, each in a single suit. A finished run leaves the table by itself, and when the fourth one goes you have won.
Can you move cards that are not in order?
Yes. This is what makes Scorpion different. Any face-up card can move with everything on top of it, wherever the card you pick up fits on its new column. The cards you carry along do not need to be in order.
What can go in an empty column?
Only a King, or a group of cards that starts with a King.
What are the three spare cards for?
They are your one-time rescue. When no more moves are possible, the three cards are dealt face up onto the first three columns. You get this once per game, so use it as late as you can.
Is Scorpion hard?
It is a hard game. Most random deals cannot be won, and winning takes planning. The ability to move any card makes a lot of clever lines possible, which is why people like it.