Can I move a group of cards that includes face-down cards?

No. You can only move a group of cards that are all face up. The bottom card of the group must be face up, and every card on top of it must also be face up.

What happens if I run out of moves in Scorpion?

If no more moves are possible and no King-to-Ace sequence is complete, the game is lost. There is no stock to draw from and no undo option in standard play.

Is the group move rule the same as in games like Spider?

No. In Spider, you can only move a group of cards that are in sequence and in the same suit. In Yukon and Scorpion, you can move any face-up group regardless of order or suit.

Which game is better for a beginner?

Yukon is easier to learn and win because it uses alternating colours and has no small reserve. Scorpion is more challenging due to the same-suit building rule and deeper face-down cards.

Yukon vs Scorpion Solitaire: Same Moves, Different Game

Yukon and Scorpion solitaire share one rule that changes everything: you can move any face-up card together with every card sitting on top of it, even when they are not in sequence. This group move sets them apart from Klondike. But the similarity stops there. Here is a head-to-head comparison of layout, building rules, goal, and difficulty. If you have been searching for the difference between yukon and scorpion, or wondering about scorpion solitaire vs yukon, you will get a clear answer.

Layout and Deal How the Cards Are Set Up

The most obvious difference between Yukon and Scorpion is how the cards are dealt at the start.

Yukon Layout

Yukon deals all 52 cards into seven piles. The piles contain a varying number of cards. A number of cards sit face down. The rest are face up. There is no stock and no reserve. What you see on the tableau is everything you have.

Scorpion Layout

Scorpion deals 49 cards into seven piles of seven cards each. The first few piles have three face-down cards each. The last three cards form a small reserve, dealt once, one card onto each of the three rightmost piles. After that, no more stock. The tableau is fixed from the start, just like Yukon, but the piles are all the same size and the reserve is used immediately.

Building Rules Down in Alternating Colours or Same Suit

Both games build downward on the tableau. The rules for which cards you can place differ.

Yukon Building Rule

Yukon builds down in alternating colours. Place a red card on a black card, or black on red. The cards do not need to be in sequence. This is the same rule Klondike uses, but the group move makes it far more flexible.

Scorpion Building Rule

Scorpion builds down in the same suit. You may only place a card of the same suit on another card, and the card you place must be one rank lower. Place the 7 of Hearts on the 8 of Hearts. This is stricter than Yukon, and it makes the game harder to win.

Goal Foundations vs Suit Sequences

The winning condition differs for each game, even though both involve building upwards.

Yukon Goal

In Yukon, send cards to four foundations. Build each foundation up from Ace to King in the same suit. Once a card lands on a foundation, it is out of play. Win by moving all 52 cards to the foundations.

Scorpion Goal

Scorpion wins by completing four King-to-Ace suit sequences directly on the tableau. Assemble a complete run of cards in the same suit, from King down to Ace, inside the piles. There are no foundations. Once a complete sequence exists, remove those cards from play. Win when all four sequences are complete.

Empty Columns Only a King Will Do

In both Yukon and Scorpion, only a King may fill an empty pile. This rule appears in many solitaire games, Klondike included. If a pile empties, move a King, with or without a group on top, into that space. The restriction limits your options and can block progress when no King is available.

Difficulty Which Game is Harder to Win

Scorpion is won far less often than Yukon. The same-suit building rule is more restrictive than Yukon's alternating-colour rule. The fixed layout of seven piles of seven cards buries face-down cards deeper in the first few stacks. The tiny reserve is dealt only once, so you have very little flexibility. Yukon, with its uneven pile sizes and more lenient building rule, gives you more chances to free face-down cards and shift groups around. If you want games like yukon solitaire that still use the group move but are easier to learn, start with Yukon.

How the Group Move Rule Works in Both Games

The group move is the defining mechanic of both games. Here is how to use it:

Identify a face-up card in any pile.
That card, together with every card on top of it, can be moved as a group.
The cards in the group do not need to be in sequence or in alternating colours. Any mix of suits and ranks works.
Move the entire group to a new location, following the building rule of the game: alternating colours for Yukon, same suit for Scorpion.
Place the group on a card that is one rank higher than the bottom card of the group.

This rule makes both games feel flexible and strategic. You are not limited to moving a single card or a sequential run. Reorganise large portions of the tableau in one move. But the building rule and the goal still determine how easy or hard it is to win.