Scorpion Solitaire

Scorpion Solitaire is a challenging variant similar to Spider but played with a single deck. Forty-nine cards are dealt into 7 columns of 7 cards each. The first three columns have 3 face-down cards with 4 face-up cards on top, while columns 4 through 7 are fully face-up. Three reserve cards are set aside. Like Yukon, you can move any face-up card along with all the cards on top of it. Build tableau columns in descending order of the same suit (King down to Ace). When you complete a King-to-Ace sequence in the same suit, it remains where it is. Empty columns can only be filled with Kings. When you're stuck, deal the 3 reserve cards face-up onto the first three columns. The game is won when all four suits are arranged in complete King-to-Ace sequences.

• Focus on uncovering face-down cards in the first three columns as your top priority.
• Build same-suit sequences whenever possible, even if it means making moves that seem counterintuitive.
• Save the reserve deal for when you're truly stuck — the three extra cards can open up new possibilities.
• Try to create empty columns by moving Kings and their piles, since only Kings can fill empty spaces.
• Work on completing one suit at a time rather than making scattered progress across all four.

No. Approximately 79% of Klondike Solitaire deals are winnable with perfect play. FreeCell has a near-perfect solvability rate of 99.999%, while Spider Solitaire 4-suit has a very low win rate of about 1-2%.

Standard Klondike, FreeCell, and most variants use one 52-card deck. Spider Solitaire and Forty Thieves use two decks (104 cards).

Solitaire originated in Northern Europe in the late 18th century, likely in Germany or Scandinavia. It was originally called 'Patience.' The Klondike variant became widely popular during the Gold Rush era in the late 1800s and reached mainstream audiences when Microsoft included it in Windows 3.0 in 1990.