You might remember the scene from The Mummy (1999) where scarabs burrow under the skin of some explorers and eat them from the inside out. Those bugs terrified me, and seeing a Solitaire variant named after those nasty insects didn’t entice me at first. That said, I couldn’t help but wonder how the game earned its name and what gameplay might be involved.
As far as the name is concerned, Scarab Solitaire reflects its Ancient Egyptian theme. Scarabs are one of the most common symbols in Ancient Egyptian culture. From jewelry to clothing, these beetles were something of a hot trend 5,000 years ago. Real-life scarabs are, in fact, harmless dung beetles, and have (thankfully) never been observed eating anything other than plants and dung.
The question of why this Solitaire variant is associated with Egyptian mythology is answered by its gameplay. Bearing a notable similarity to TriPeaks Solitaire, Scarab Solitaire features three ‘pyramids’ of six face-down cards each, with a layer of ten face-up cards at the base of the pyramids. So, if you’re already familiar with TriPeaks Solitaire, then this game should come easily. But, if you’re a newbie, then this blog post will guide you through everything you need to know.
How to Play Scarab Solitaire?
Scarab Solitaire is a simple game to understand and play. On an especially boring and uneventful day, I decided to give this variant a shot. And, just like that, I started my journey to mastering the skills required to win consistently at this game. Now it’s your turn!
The following points highlight all the rules you need to know to begin playing Scarab Solitaire:
Game Setup
- The game requires a standard 52-card deck.
- Place three cards face-down to form the ‘Scarabs’ or the three peaks of the pyramids.
- Then, place two face-down cards, slightly overlapping each of the three peak cards.
- Then, place three face-down cards, slightly overlapping the previously placed cards.
- Finally, place a row of 10 face-up cards, slightly overlapping the previously placed cards.
- Keep the remaining deck face-down; this forms the stock.
- Flip up the stock’s top card to start a discard pile.
Game Rules
- The objective in the game is to move all the cards from the three pyramids into the discard pile.
- You can move a card from the pyramids to the discard pile if it’s one rank higher or one rank lower than the rank of the top card on the discard pile. For instance, you can move a Five of Spades onto a Six of Hearts or a Four of Diamonds.
- Extending this rule, you can also place a King on an Ace and vice versa.
- The game begins when you start moving suitable cards from the pyramids to the discard pile.
- A face-down card becomes available when it doesn’t have any other card overlapping it; it can then be flipped over.
- When you can’t discard any cards from the pyramids, then you can place the deck’s top card on the discard pile.
- Scarab Solitaire is a timed game. If the timer runs out before you make a move, then the top card from the stock must be drawn to the top of the discard pile. The timer is typically set for 12 seconds.
Scoring Rules
- For each card you move down from the pyramids, you receive 10 points (in addition to the current time bonus).
- For each card you move in a row, you receive an extra 10 points. For example, the sixth card in a row will earn you 60 points (plus the time bonus).
- Each Scarab card is worth 1,000 points.
- The game awards the most efficient plays. So, for each card left in the stock, you receive 10 points (plus 10 extra points for each card before that). For example, if you have five cards left in your stock, you’ll earn 150 points (10+20+30+40+50).
You win the game when you get all the cards from the pyramids into the discard pile. Tallying the total score gives you a measure of your performance compared to other players and your past plays.
Tips and Strategies to Win at Scarab Solitaire?
Despite my experience playing TriPeaks Solitaire, the little clock ticking away in Scarab Solitaire bumped up my heart rate when I was still new to the game. I can only imagine how intimidating the timer must be for players who are completely new to Solitaire.
Thankfully, Scarab Solitaire has been around for quite a while now. Veterans of this game have come up with some handy tips and strategies. These are an absolute must for anyone thinking of playing the game. These tips have helped me a lot. I’m sure that they’ll do the same for you.
| Strategy | Details |
| Don’t forget about the face-down cards. | Prioritize freeing up face-down cards, especially from the largest stacks. This allows you to free up even more cards. It also often unveils cards that might help you get out of a stuck game. |
| Don’t let the stock tempt you. | Try to exhaust all options related to moving cards from the pyramids to the discard pile before turning to the stock. |
| Don’t let the timer intimidate you! | The presence of a timer sometimes makes even experienced players falter. Stay calm while making moves – 12 seconds is often more than enough time. |
Conclusion
It’s fair to call Scarab Solitaire a timed version of TriPeaks Solitaire. This is precisely why it has garnered a considerable fanbase in recent years. It breaks the traditional ‘calm and easy’ Solitaire playstyle. Instead, it adopts a high-stakes approach due to its timed nature and scoring system. I recommend this game to Tripeaks Solitaire players who believe that they’ve mastered the game. It turns out there’s always something new to learn in the world of Solitaire!
