Scorpion strategy
In brief
First uncover the 12 face-down cards in columns 1 to 4, clear a column for a King, and deal the stock when its 3 cards will not cover anything useful. These are tips, not rules: each deal calls for its own choices.
The examples on this page come from deal SC1-C-AAAAAAB, played through to a win on the Examples page. The positions are replayed by a program using the app’s rules.
Uncover the face-down cards first
The 12 face-down cards are all at the bottom of columns 1 to 4, beneath 4 face-up cards. While they remain face down, you do not know which sequences are possible. A move that turns one over also earns points. Since a card moves with everything on top of it, moving the bottommost face-up card in one of these columns is often enough to uncover the face-down card underneath.
Clear a column for a King
A King at the bottom of a column is the ideal base for a sequence: nothing gets in its way. An empty column only accepts a King, and this is often the only way to move a King sitting on face-down cards. In the winning game, after 15 moves, column 5 is empty. The 3♦ from column 1 cannot go there: only a King is allowed. On the next move, the R♦ from column 4 moves there with the 6 cards on top of it, and the face-down card it covered turns face up (12 face-down cards, then 11).
stock dealt; no sequences removed. column 1: 3 face down, then 3 of diamonds, jack of hearts, 10 of hearts, 3 of spades, ace of clubs; column 2: 3 face down, then queen of hearts, 3 of clubs; column 3: 3 face down, then ace of spades, 7 of diamonds, 7 of hearts, 6 of hearts, 5 of hearts, 4 of hearts, 3 of hearts, 2 of hearts; column 4: 3 face down, then king of diamonds, 8 of hearts, 7 of clubs, 9 of spades, 8 of spades, 7 of spades, 6 of spades; column 5: empty; column 6: 6 of diamonds, queen of clubs, king of hearts, 4 of diamonds, king of spades, 9 of hearts, jack of clubs; column 7: ace of diamonds, queen of diamonds, jack of diamonds, 10 of diamonds, 9 of diamonds, 8 of diamonds, 5 of clubs, 4 of clubs, 9 of clubs, 8 of clubs, jack of spades.
Choose when to deal the stock
Dealing the stock places one card on each of columns 1, 2 and 3, covering their top cards. Look at what you are about to cover: a card waiting to be moved into place will be blocked beneath a new card. The app lets you deal at any time, but only once. In the winning game, the stock is dealt on move no. 9: A♣ onto column 1, 8♠ onto column 2, V♦ onto column 3. The next two moves use these cards immediately: the 8♠ and the V♦ find their places.
stock dealt; no sequences removed. column 1: 3 face down, then 3 of diamonds, jack of hearts, 10 of hearts, 3 of spades, ace of clubs; column 2: 3 face down, then queen of hearts, 3 of clubs, 8 of spades; column 3: 3 face down, then ace of spades, 7 of diamonds, 7 of hearts, 3 of hearts, 2 of hearts, 10 of diamonds, 9 of diamonds, 8 of diamonds, 5 of clubs, 4 of clubs, 9 of clubs, 8 of clubs, jack of spades, jack of diamonds; column 4: 3 face down, then king of diamonds, 8 of hearts, 7 of clubs, 9 of spades; column 5: 6 of hearts, 5 of hearts, 4 of hearts, 7 of spades, 6 of spades; column 6: 6 of diamonds, queen of clubs, king of hearts, 4 of diamonds, king of spades, 9 of hearts, jack of clubs; column 7: ace of diamonds, queen of diamonds.
Build one suit at a time
A sequence is removed from play only when it is complete, from King to Ace, all in one suit, and at the top of its column. It is better to complete one suit than to start four sequences at once. Avoid placing out-of-order cards on the Ace of an almost finished sequence: while covered, it cannot be removed.
Under Relaxed rules
Under Relaxed rules, many more moves are allowed because suit no longer matters. But a sequence is still removed only if it is all in one suit: every placement on a different suit will have to be undone later. Use this freedom to uncover cards, not to build mixed-suit sequences.