Triple Scorpion

Game Objective

The primary goal of Triple Scorpion Solitaire is to arrange all cards into twelve complete, descending sequences—one for each suit—each running from King to Ace. Each sequence must be built within the tableau, and once a sequence is completed, it is typically removed from play or set aside as a foundation.

Setup & Layout

• Deck: Triple Scorpion Solitaire uses three standard 52-card decks, totaling 156 cards.
• Tableau: The game begins with 14 tableau piles. Six rows of 14 cards are dealt—in the first six piles, the first six cards are dealt face down, and the remaining cards are dealt face up. The remaining piles are dealt entirely face up. (Note: Some sources describe a 13-pile tableau with 12 cards each, but the most consistent and official variant uses 14 piles with six face-down cards in the first six piles.)
• Reserve/Stock: There is no separate stock or reserve pile; all cards are dealt into the tableau at the start.
• Foundations: There are no separate foundation piles. Completed sequences (King to Ace in suit) are formed within the tableau and are typically removed from play once completed.
• Cells: There are no free cells or auxiliary holding spaces.

Triple Scorpion Solitaire Rules

• Building Sequences: Cards are built down in suit within the tableau. For example, the 8 of Hearts can be placed on the 9 of Hearts, and the 7 of Hearts can then be placed on the 8 of Hearts, and so on.
• Moving Cards: Any face-up card, along with all cards above it in its pile, can be moved as a unit to another pile, provided the bottom card of the moving sequence can be placed on the target card according to the building rule (i.e., one rank lower and same suit).
• Exposing Face-Down Cards: When all face-up cards are removed from a pile, the top face-down card is turned face up and becomes available for play.
• Empty Piles: An empty tableau pile can be filled with a King or a sequence headed by a King.
• No Restrictions on Moves: There are no restrictions on the number of cards that can be moved at once, as long as the sequence is valid.
• No Re-deal: All cards are in play from the start; there is no re-deal or additional stock to draw from.

Gameplay

1. Initial Moves: Survey the tableau for any legal moves—sequences that can be built down in suit. Move entire stacks as needed to expose face-down cards and create new opportunities for building.
2. Exposing Cards: Whenever a face-down card is uncovered (i.e., becomes the top card of its pile), turn it face up.
3. Building Sequences: Continue to build descending sequences within the tableau. Aim to complete full King-to-Ace runs in each suit.
4. Removing Completed Sequences: Once a full sequence (King to Ace in one suit) is completed within a tableau pile, it is typically removed from the tableau and set aside.
5. Filling Empty Piles: If a tableau pile becomes empty, it may only be filled with a King or a sequence headed by a King.
6. No Further Moves: If no more legal moves are possible and not all sequences are complete, the game is lost.

Winning & Losing Conditions

• Winning: The game is won when all twelve possible King-to-Ace sequences (one for each suit, across three decks) are completed and removed from the tableau.
• Losing: The game is lost if no more legal moves are possible and not all sequences are complete. There is no re-deal or additional stock to provide new cards.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Filling Empty Piles: Only a King or a sequence headed by a King can be placed in an empty tableau pile.
• Face-Down Cards: All face-down cards must eventually be turned face up as they become exposed during play. There are no hidden cards left in the game once all possible moves have been made.
• Multiple Decks: Because three decks are used, there will be three cards of each rank in each suit. This increases the complexity and the number of possible sequences to complete.
• No Stock or Reserve: Unlike some solitaire variants, there is no separate stock or reserve pile from which to draw additional cards. All cards are in play from the beginning.
• Sequence Removal: Completed sequences are typically removed from the tableau, but some digital implementations may keep them in place. The official rule is to remove them from play once completed.

Summary Table: Key Differences from Standard Scorpion

| Feature | Standard Scorpion | Triple Scorpion | |------------------------|----------------------------|-------------------------------| | Decks | 1 (52 cards) | 3 (156 cards) | | Tableau Piles | 7 | 14 | | Face-Down Cards | First 3 in 4 piles | First 6 in 6 piles | | Goal | 4 King-to-Ace sequences | 12 King-to-Ace sequences | | Stock/Reserve | 3-card reserve | None | | Sequence Removal | Not always specified | Typically removed when complete|

Conclusion

Triple Scorpion Solitaire is a challenging variant that expands the classic Scorpion rules to three decks and a larger tableau. Success requires careful planning to expose face-down cards, build descending sequences in suit, and efficiently manage the increased number of cards and suits. Mastery involves recognizing when to move large stacks, prioritizing the exposure of face-down cards, and strategically filling empty piles to keep the game progressing toward the twelve required sequences.