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Three Blind Mice
Three Blind Mice is a challenging single deck solitaire game from the Scorpion family. It gets its name from the three tableau columns that begin with hidden cards. These face down cards are the three blind mice and must be revealed as you reshuffle the deck. The objective is to create four complete same suit sequences arranged from King down to Ace. When a full sequence is completed it is removed from the tableau automatically. Clear all four suits to win the game. Three Blind Mice is more difficult than many traditional solitaire variants. The key to success is to plan your moves carefully protect your good cards and decide when to reveal hidden parts of the layout.
Explore the Card Layout
The game uses one standard deck containing 52 cards:
Ten Tableau Columns
Fifty cards are dealt into ten tableau columns with five cards in each column. The seven columns on the left begin completely face up. Every card in these columns is visible from the start.
Three Blind Columns
The three columns on the right each contain three face down cards with two face up cards placed above them. These nine hidden cards are the three blind mice. You reveal them by moving away all face up cards that cover them.
Two Reserve Cards
The final two cards are placed face up in a small reserve area sometimes called the mousehole. These cards can be moved into the tableau whenever they have a legal destination. However cards cannot be moved back into the reserve after they leave it. There is no stock pile so no additional cards are dealt during the game.
Build Sequences by Matching Suits
Cards in the tableau must be arranged downward by rank within the same suit. For example the Jack of diamonds may be placed on the Queen of diamonds. It cannot be placed on a Queen from another suit even if the rank is correct. The usual alternating color rule found in Klondike Solitaire does not apply. Both the suit and the rank must match the required sequence.
Move Cards with the Scorpion Rule
Any face up card in a tableau column can be selected and moved. Every card resting above the selected card moves with it even when those cards are not arranged correctly. Only the first card in the moving group must follow the placement rule. It must land on the card one rank higher in the same suit. For example you may move the 5 of hearts with every card above it onto the 6 of hearts. The game does not require the rest of the moving group to form a valid sequence. This flexible movement rule makes it possible to reach deeply buried cards. However moving an unordered group may cover other important cards and create a new obstacle elsewhere.
Use the Reserve Carefully
The two reserve cards are available throughout the game until you decide to play them. A reserve card may be moved onto a legal tableau card at any time. Once moved it cannot return to the reserve and the empty reserve space cannot hold another card. Before releasing a reserve card consider whether it will complete a useful connection uncover another card or provide a destination for a difficult group.
Reveal All Hidden Cards
A face down card turns over when every face up card above it has been removed.
Uncovering the nine hidden cards should be one of your main early goals. Once all three blind columns are fully revealed you can examine the entire deal and plan with complete information.
Open Columns Require Kings
Only a King may move into an empty tableau column. You may move a King by itself or move a group whose first card is a King. No other rank can begin a new column. Empty columns are especially useful because every completed same suit sequence must begin with a King and continue downward to an Ace.
Complete the Four Winning Runs
You win when all four suits have been arranged into full King to Ace sequences.
As soon as a complete same suit sequence appears in one column the game moves it to the foundation automatically. Complete all four runs to clear the tableau and finish the deal.
Controls and Game Tools
Cards can be moved by clicking and dragging with a mouse or by using touch controls on a compatible device.
Depending on the game version available controls may include:
- New Deal
- Undo and Redo
- Hint
- Auto Finish
- Double click or double tap movement
- Unlimited Undo
- Seed numbers for replaying the same deal
Seed numbers allow you to return to an identical shuffle and test a different approach.
A Simple Way to Start Playing
Check the Blind Columns
Inspect the three right hand columns first. Look for moves that remove their exposed cards and reveal the hidden cards underneath.
Build Down Within One Suit
Place each movable card on the next higher card from the same suit.
Move Complete Groups
Select any face up card and move it together with every card above it provided the selected card has a legal destination.
Save Empty Spaces for Kings
Do not clear a column unless you have a King or a King led group that can use the space.
Finish Each Suit
Connect cards from King down to Ace. A complete run will leave the tableau automatically.
Strategy Tips for Three Blind Mice
Uncover the Three Blind Mice Early
The hidden cards are the only unknown part of the deal. Revealing them early gives you more information and reduces the risk of building a plan around cards that are not yet available.
When you have to choose between two legal moves the one that reveals a face down card is often more useful than one that just rearranges visible cards.
Keep the Reserve Available
The reserve acts as a limited source of flexible cards but each card can only be released once.
Avoid moving a reserve card simply because a legal destination is open. Keep it in place until it creates a useful same suit link helps free a blocked card or solves a difficult position.
Protect Useful Kings
Kings are required to begin complete runs and are the only cards that can enter empty columns.
Avoid burying a King under a large mixed group unless you already know how to free it. A trapped King may prevent you from using an empty column or finishing its suit.
Check What a Move Will Cover
Scorpion style movement allows you to move messy groups but every move places those cards on top of something else.
Before moving a group inspect the card that will be buried. Ask whether you will need it soon and whether the new pile can be separated later.
Create Empty Columns with a Purpose
An empty column is valuable only when a suitable King can use it.
Try to clear a column when doing so creates a workspace for a King led sequence. Clearing a column without a useful King available may reduce your options rather than improve them.
Replay Difficult Deals
Three Blind Mice is designed to be demanding and some layouts may require several attempts.
Use Undo to test different move orders and replay the same seed when you want to study a difficult deal. A change in the timing of one reserve card or one Scorpion move can completely alter the result.
Take On the Three Blind Mice Challenge
Three Blind Mice combines visible card planning with hidden card discovery and flexible Scorpion style movement. Every move has the potential to unlock new opportunities or create a deeper obstacle so patience and careful sequencing are rewarded with success.
Start a new game reveal the blind columns protect your Kings and complete all four suits from King to Ace.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many decks does Three Blind Mice use?
One standard deck of 52 cards. Fifty cards are dealt into ten columns of five, and the last two cards are placed face up in the reserve.
What are the "three blind mice"?
They are the three columns on the right side of the table. Each of those columns hides 3 face-down cards under 2 face-up ones, nine hidden cards in all. They are "blind" because you cannot see them until you uncover them, and flipping them is a big part of the game.
Do runs have to be in the same suit?
Yes. You build down by suit only: the 10 of hearts goes on the Jack of hearts and nowhere else. Winning runs are also one suit each, from King all the way down to Ace.
Can I move a group of cards that is out of order?
Yes. Any face-up card can be moved along with every card stacked on top of it, no matter how jumbled that stack is. Only the bottom card of the moving group has to land legally on the next-higher card of its suit.
Can I put cards on the reserve?
No. The reserve is one-way. Its two cards start there face up and may be played to the tableau whenever you like, but no card can ever be placed onto the reserve, so it is not a parking space like a FreeCell cell.
What goes in an empty column?
Kings only. You may move a single King into an empty column, or a King carrying any group of cards on top of it. No other rank can start a new column.
Is Three Blind Mice free, and does it work on phones?
Yes to both. The game is completely free, with no download or account needed, and it plays in the browser on phones, tablets, and desktops. On touch screens you drag with a finger or double-tap to move a card automatically.
What is a seed?
A seed is the number that identifies one exact shuffle. Because Three Blind Mice is hard, seeds are especially handy: you can replay a deal that beat you and try a smarter line, or share the seed with a friend and race on the same layout.