Game Rules
ScorpionStrict setup, precise planning

A solitaire game with a strict setup and few aids, rewarding precise advance planning.

Players1
Duration10 – 20 min
Deck52 Cards · 1 Deck
DifficultyMedium to challenging
I · Game Idea

Like Yukon,
but stricter

I

Scorpion is similar to Yukon, but requires stricter rules for moving card groups: Only correctly sorted sequences of the same suit may be moved together.

This makes Scorpion significantly more challenging – thoughtless moves quickly lead to a dead end from which there is no return.

II · Preparation

Before the
game begins

II
1
Set up the tableau
7 columns with 49 cards – the first four columns have some face-down cards.
2
Remaining cards
3 cards are placed face-up on the last three columns, with no further draw pile.
3
Complete overview
Except for a few cards, the entire tableau is visible from the start.
Before starting

Plan several moves in advance before you move the first card – Scorpion hardly forgives rash actions.

III · Card Values
How to move
sequences
III
=
Strict group
Only sorted
Only a correctly descending sorted sequence of the same suit may be moved as a group.
1
Single card
Freely movable
A single card may be placed on a matching card regardless of suit.
↑
Foundation piles
Optional
In some variants, there are foundation piles; in its purest form, only the tableau is sorted.
∅
No drawing
Almost nothing hidden
There is practically no draw pile – almost all cards are directly distributed in the tableau.
IV · Gameplay

Turn by
turn

IV
1
Analyze the entire tableau
Since almost everything is visible: carefully consider the overall position.
2
Move sorted sequences
Only move correctly descending, same-suit groups together.
3
Place single cards
Move single cards more flexibly if no group fits.
4
Uncover face-down cards
The few face-down cards become visible by freeing them up.
5
Won
All cards arranged into four complete, color-sorted sequences from King to Ace – the tableau is then fully ordered.
V · Variants
Variants
V

Scorpion has several well-known simplifications for beginners.

3W
With 3 wild moves
Allows three free moves of unsorted cards as an exception.
∅
Strict variant
Completely without exceptions – the most difficult form of the game.
W
Wasp
Similar game with even fewer face-down cards.
D
Double Scorpion
With two decks for a larger, more complex tableau.
VI · Tips & Tricks

What really
matters

VI
Strategy Tips
+

Thoroughly analyze the complete tableau position before moving the first card – Scorpion severely punishes thoughtless moves.

+

Deliberately build long, correctly colored sequences – they can later be moved as a complete group.

+

Free the few face-down cards as early as possible – they are often the key to solving the entire position.

+

Use available wild moves sparingly if the chosen variant allows them – they are a limited resource.

Common Mistakes
–

Moving cards without a complete plan, which, with the strict group rule, quickly leads to an unsolvable dead end.

–

Moving single cards too carelessly, without considering that they might block later sequence formation.

–

Ignoring the few face-down cards because the focus is too much on the visible cards.

–

Wasting wild moves (if available) too early, instead of saving them for a truly critical situation.

Berlin Hold'em · Matching Decks
Get the right deck

Scorpion demands patience and planning – easier to think through with a clear deck.

View all designs →
20s Playing Cards – Double Pack For larger groups and long game nights. To the product Viking Playing Cards – Double Pack Two decks, suitable for 5+ players. To the product
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