(Scorpion)

History & origin of Scorpion

Scorpion belongs to the same family as Spider and Yukon — the solitaires where you stack down by suit and have to “dig out” the cards trapped underneath. Its exact origin is uncertain, like that of many classic patiences recorded in collections through the 20th century.

Played with a single deck, it is one of Spider's most tactical relatives: you can move any face-up card, carrying everything on top of it, even out of order — so each move shifts whole blocks of a column.

The name is thought to evoke how hard it is to escape once an important card is buried — a trap that, like a scorpion's, is difficult to get out of. It found a modern audience in computer game packs, alongside Spider and FreeCell.

Facts about Scorpion

• Unlike Spider, it is played with a single deck — 52 cards, four runs to build instead of eight.
• You can grab any face-up card and carry everything on top of it, even out of order; that mechanic gives the game its tactical flavor.
• Only three cards remain in the stock: they are dealt all at once, one to each of the first three columns, when you run out of moves.
• The easy version starts with every card face up — ideal for learning to spot the runs.

How to play Scorpion step by step

1. Goal: build four complete King-to-Ace runs, each of one suit, within the columns themselves.
2. Stack cards downward and in the same suit (an 8 of clubs on a 9 of clubs).
3. The twist: you can move any face-up card, carrying everything on top of it — even out of order. Use that to dig out trapped cards.
4. Empty columns only accept a King (or a group starting with a King).
5. When stuck, click the stock to deal the last three cards — one to each of the first three columns.
6. Plan carefully: moving an out-of-order block reorganizes the column, so think before you bury a card you will need.