Play Scorpion Solitaire Online for Free (Classic Scorpion Patience)
Scorpion Solitaire (also called Scorpion Patience) is a single-deck strategy card game where you build descending same-suit sequences, reveal hidden cards in the left columns, and clear four complete King-to-Ace runs to win. It uses Yukon-style movement - any face-up card can be moved with all cards resting on top of it regardless of sequence - giving experienced players strong tactical flexibility.
What is Scorpion Solitaire?
Scorpion Solitaire is a classic one-deck solitaire in the Yukon family. It deals 49 cards across seven columns and keeps three reserve cards for one optional stock draw. The defining feature is the movement rule: unlike Spider, a face-up card carries everything above it, so you can relocate partial stacks to unlock buried cards without needing a clean sequence.
Scorpion Solitaire history
Scorpion is one of the older Yukon-family patience games and has been included in solitaire collections for decades. The name reflects the unpredictable sting the hidden cards deliver - you may think a column is clear only to flip a blocker that reverses several turns of progress. It became widely known through digital solitaire bundles from the early 2000s onward.
Scorpion Solitaire deal layout
Understanding the opening deal is the foundation of early strategy. Columns 1-4 start with hidden cards that you must reveal through targeted moves.
| Column | Total cards | Face-down | Face-up | Reveal priority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | 3 | 4 | High - 3 hidden cards to uncover |
| 2 | 7 | 3 | 4 | High - 3 hidden cards to uncover |
| 3 | 7 | 3 | 4 | High - 3 hidden cards to uncover |
| 4 | 7 | 3 | 4 | High - 3 hidden cards to uncover |
| 5 | 7 | 0 | 7 | Normal - fully open from the start |
| 6 | 7 | 0 | 7 | Normal - fully open from the start |
| 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | Normal - fully open from the start |
| Reserve (stock) | 3 | 3 | 0 | One-time deal - wait until tactically ready |
How to play Scorpion Solitaire - step by step
Scorpion rewards players who think two or three moves ahead. The five-step framework below covers how experienced players approach each decision cycle.
- Scan all seven columns and identify which face-up card in columns 1-4 can be moved to reveal a hidden card beneath it.
- Check whether the move also continues or extends an existing same-suit sequence before committing.
- Move the selected card plus everything resting on top of it (the whole tail) to the best available destination.
- Repeat until no further hidden cards can be revealed, then decide if the reserve deal will improve the position.
- Build complete King-to-Ace same-suit runs and clear them to foundations; four cleared runs win the game.
Strategies to win Scorpion Solitaire
- Prioritize uncovering hidden cards over any cosmetic rearrangement that does not reveal new information.
- Keep at least one column available as a staging lane - a King or King-led run can occupy it without permanently blocking you.
- Avoid splitting strong same-suit chains unless the split directly flips a hidden card.
- Save the three reserve cards for late-game unlocks rather than early convenience moves.
- Work columns 1-4 in parallel rather than clearing one fully before touching another.
Scorpion family comparison
All Scorpion-family games share the move-the-tail rule. The main differences are how many hidden cards start on the board, the column count, and how flexible empty columns are.
| Game | Columns | Hidden cols | Empty col rule | Est. win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scorpion | 7 (1 deck) | Cols 1-4 (3 each) | Kings only | ~28% |
| Scorpion II | 7 (1 deck) | Cols 1-3 (3 each) | Kings only | ~36% |
| Wasp | 7 (1 deck) | Cols 1-4 (3 each) | Any card | ~50% |
| Three Blind Mice | 10 (1 deck) | Cols 8-10 (3 each) | Kings only | ~28% |
| Double Scorpion | 10 (2 decks) | Cols 1-4 (4 each) | Kings only | ~12% |
How difficult is Scorpion Solitaire?
Scorpion is medium to hard. The movement freedom is generous, but four columns of hidden cards combined with King-only empty columns creates real pressure. Most losses come from getting all four hidden-card columns locked simultaneously with no available play.
What is Scorpion Solitaire win percentage?
A practical benchmark for Scorpion is about 28% wins with thoughtful play. The biggest gains come from disciplined hidden-card reveal prioritization and timing the three reserve cards for maximum positional impact rather than routine tempo.
What is the difference between Scorpion and Wasp Solitaire?
The key difference is empty-column access. In Scorpion, only a King or King-led stack can fill an empty column. In Wasp, any card or sequence can move into an empty space. That single rule makes Wasp more forgiving and substantially easier to recover from mistakes.
Scorpion Solitaire FAQ
What makes Scorpion different from Klondike?
Klondike only lets you move a properly sequenced alternating-color stack. Scorpion lets you move any face-up card together with everything sitting on top of it, regardless of suit or sequence order. This single rule change completely transforms the tactical options and creates a game that rewards aggressive stack repositioning.
When should I use the three reserve cards?
Save the reserve deal until you have exhausted all useful moves in the current tableau. Triggering it too early wastes the potential unlock value. The best time is when you have at least one empty or near-empty column to absorb the incoming cards productively. Never use the reserve just to add activity when the position is already stuck in the same way.
What goes in an empty column in Scorpion?
Only a King or a sequence led by a King can fill an empty column in Scorpion. Empty columns are rare and precious - creating one requires clearing all seven cards from a column, which is only achievable late in the game or with very favorable deals.
Is Scorpion easier or harder than Yukon?
Most players find them roughly comparable. Yukon has no hidden cards (all face-up from the start), which gives full information but a denser opening. Scorpion has hidden cards that add uncertainty, but the step-by-step reveal rhythm can feel more manageable for players who prefer progressive discovery over full-board scanning.
How do I avoid getting all four hidden-card columns stuck?
Work columns 1-4 in parallel. If you focus exclusively on column 1 until it is cleared, the other three columns may deepen their blockage. Make at least one reveal-oriented move per hidden-card column each turn cycle, even if the immediate return looks small. Shallow, broad progress is safer than deep, narrow progress in Scorpion.
Can I move a mixed-suit stack?
Yes. Scorpion allows moving any face-up card with everything on top of it, regardless of whether those cards form a same-suit sequence. You can build mixed-rank and mixed-suit stacks on the tableau for positioning purposes. However, only a clean same-suit King-to-Ace descending sequence can be removed to a foundation to score.