Wasp Solitaire — Free Online Scorpion Variant
- Decks
- 1 (52 cards)
- Tableau
- 7 columns of 7
- Reserve
- 3 cards (dealt later)
- Foundations
- 4 same-suit K→A runs
- Move Rule
- Any face-up card + pile
- Win Rate
- ~40–50% with skill
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Game Time
- 6–12 minutes
Wasp Solitaire is a single-deck patience game closely related to Scorpion — and a good deal kinder. Forty-nine cards are dealt face-up into seven columns of seven, with the last three cards held in reserve. Like Scorpion, you build down within the tableau by matching suit and may pick up any face-up card together with everything stacked on top of it, ordered or not. What sets Wasp apart is openness: every card is visible from the start and any card can fill an empty column, so the game rewards planning over luck. This free online Wasp Solitaire plays instantly in your browser — no download and no sign-up.
What Is Wasp Solitaire?
Wasp Solitaire belongs to the Scorpion family of single-deck games, in which the goal is to assemble four complete same-suit sequences from King down to Ace directly in the tableau, rather than moving cards up to separate foundation piles. When a full thirteen-card suit run forms, it is removed from the board. Clear all four suits and you win.
The signature mechanic Wasp shares with Scorpion is freedom of movement: you may lift any face-up card along with every card resting on top of it, even when those cards are not in proper order. This lets you relocate whole tangled stacks at once, but it also means a careless move can bury a card you need. Wasp eases the challenge in two ways that distinguish it from Scorpion — all cards are dealt face-up, removing hidden-card guesswork, and any card may be placed in an empty column rather than Kings only.
This free online version uses the standard Wasp rules. Build down by suit, move stacks freely, and use the three reserve cards when you run out of good moves. Play in your browser on desktop, tablet, or phone — with no download, no sign-up, and unlimited undo to help you learn.
How to Play Wasp Solitaire — Complete Rules
Setup and Deal
Forty-nine cards are dealt face-up into seven columns of seven cards each. The three remaining cards are set aside as a reserve, to be dealt later — one card onto each of the first three columns — when you choose to use them. There are no separate foundation piles to build on; the suits are completed inside the tableau itself.
Objective
Build four complete same-suit sequences running from King down to Ace within the columns. Each completed thirteen-card run is removed from the board automatically. The game is won when all four suits have been built and cleared.
Rules of Play
- Build down in the tableau by the same suit — for example, place the 7 of spades on the 8 of spades.
- Move any face-up card together with all the cards stacked on top of it, whether or not they form a proper sequence.
- Any card or group may be placed into an empty column — you are not limited to Kings.
- Only same-suit descending order completes a run; a full King-to-Ace suit run is removed from the board.
- When you run out of useful moves, deal the three reserve cards, one onto each of the first three columns.
- There is no redeal — once the reserve is dealt, the cards in play are all you have.
Wasp Solitaire Strategy Guide
1. Use Your Full View of the Board
Because every card is face-up from the start, Wasp is a planning game, not a guessing game. Before making any move, scan all seven columns and trace where the cards you need are buried. Map out a short sequence of moves in your head and check that each one does not trap a card you will want soon. The players who win consistently are the ones who look several moves ahead rather than grabbing the first available play.
2. Free Buried Low Cards Early
Aces and low cards trapped beneath wrong-suit cards are the biggest obstacles to completing a suit. Prioritize moves that expose and free these buried cards. Since you can move any face-up card with its pile, you can often relocate an entire blocking stack to reach what is underneath — just make sure you have a sensible place to put it.
3. Empty Columns Are Your Workspace
In Wasp, any card can fill an empty column, which makes empty columns far more useful than in Scorpion. Treat them as temporary storage for untangling stacks and parking cards while you reorganize. Do not fill an empty column on impulse — hold it open until you have a clear plan, and try to re-empty it again afterward so the space keeps working for you.
4. Hold the Reserve Until You Must Use It
The three reserve cards are dealt onto the first three columns and can disrupt carefully arranged stacks. Squeeze every useful move out of the board before dealing them. When you do deal, plan ahead for where those three new cards will land and how they might block or help your sequences, so the deal is a calculated step rather than a gamble.
Is Wasp Solitaire Winnable?
Yes — Wasp is one of the more winnable games in the Scorpion family, precisely because it removes the two hardest obstacles of Scorpion. With every card visible and any card allowed in empty columns, a skilled player can win a large share of deals. Here is how the open Scorpion-family games compare:
| Game | Cards Face-Up | Empty Column | Relative Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wasp | All face-up | Any card fills | Intermediate |
| Scorpion | Some hidden | Kings only | Hard |
| Spider (1 Suit) | Some hidden | Any card fills | Easy |
| Yukon | Some hidden | Kings only | Intermediate |
The full visibility means that, in principle, the outcome of most Wasp deals is determined by how well you play rather than by luck of the draw. That makes Wasp an excellent game for players who want a fair, skill-driven challenge without the steep losses that hidden cards can force.
Wasp vs. Scorpion
Wasp and Scorpion share the same core — a 7×7 layout, same-suit building, and the move-any-card rule — but two differences make Wasp the gentler of the pair:
| Feature | Wasp | Scorpion |
|---|---|---|
| Hidden cards | None — all face-up | First 3 columns partly hidden |
| Empty column rule | Any card | Kings only |
| Reserve cards | 3 (dealt later) | 3 (dealt later) |
| Build rule | Down, same suit | Down, same suit |
| Difficulty | Intermediate | Hard |
If you enjoy Wasp and want a sterner test, Scorpion is the natural step up — the hidden cards and Kings-only empty columns demand more careful play and a willingness to accept that some deals simply cannot be won.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Grabbing the first legal move without scanning the whole board for a better plan.
- Burying a needed low card under a stack you cannot easily move again.
- Filling an empty column with no clear purpose, wasting your most valuable workspace.
- Dealing the three reserve cards too early, before exhausting the moves already available.
- Focusing on one suit while the others become hopelessly tangled — keep all four progressing.
Tips for Beginners
New to Wasp Solitaire? Start by getting comfortable with the move-any-card rule — practice relocating a whole stack to reach a buried card, and use the unlimited undo to explore lines of play. Keep at least one empty column open as workspace, and resist the urge to deal the reserve until you genuinely have no productive moves left. Because every card is face-up, take your time and plan: there is no luck to blame, which means there is real satisfaction in solving each deal through careful thought.
Play Wasp Solitaire Free Online — No Download
You can play Wasp Solitaire free online right here, with no download, no app, and no sign-up. The game runs entirely in your browser and scales to desktop, tablet, and phone, so an open, skill-driven game is always within reach. With all cards face-up and any card allowed in empty columns, Wasp is one of the friendliest ways into the Scorpion family — and unlimited undo means you can learn from every deal. Ready for more? Try the tougher Scorpion, or branch out to one-suit Spider for another same-suit building challenge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Wasp Solitaire?
Wasp Solitaire is a single-deck patience game in the Scorpion family. Forty-nine cards are dealt face-up into seven columns of seven, with three reserve cards dealt later. You build down by same suit, may move any face-up card along with the cards on top of it, and win by forming four complete King-to-Ace suit runs in the tableau.
How is Wasp different from Scorpion?
Wasp is the more open and winnable of the two. In Wasp every card is dealt face-up and any card may fill an empty column. In Scorpion, some cards start face-down and only Kings may be placed in empty columns, which makes it considerably harder.
Is Wasp Solitaire a game of skill?
Largely, yes. Because all cards are face-up, there is no hidden information, so the outcome of most deals depends on how well you plan and sequence your moves rather than on luck. It rewards looking several moves ahead.
How do you win Wasp Solitaire?
Build four complete same-suit sequences from King down to Ace within the columns. Each finished thirteen-card run is removed automatically, and you win once all four suits have been cleared from the board.
What are the three reserve cards for?
The three cards left over after the deal are kept in reserve and dealt later, one onto each of the first three columns, when you choose to use them. Hold them back until you have run out of useful moves, since they can disrupt carefully arranged stacks.
Do I need to download anything to play Wasp Solitaire?
No. This Wasp Solitaire plays directly in your web browser with nothing to download or install and no sign-up required. It works on desktop, tablet, and mobile, and includes unlimited undo.