About Pyramid Solitaire
How to Play Pyramid Solitaire
Remove two exposed cards when their values add up to 13. Aces count as 1, number cards count their printed value, Jacks count as 11 and Queens count as 12.
A King is worth 13 on its own, so you can remove an exposed King with a single tap.
Tap the stock to turn one card at a time onto the waste pile. Only the top waste card can be played.
When the stock runs out, you can redeal the waste pile twice. That gives you three passes through the stock in total.
Clear all 28 cards from the pyramid to win.
Pyramid Solitaire Strategy and Tips
Expose Kings early
A King does not need a matching card. Look for pairs that uncover a King so you can remove it and free the cards it covers.
Look for chain reactions
Before making a pair, check which cards it will expose. A good move may reveal another playable pair, letting you clear several cards before drawing from the stock.
Compare available pairs
The first legal pair is not always the best one. If a card has more than one possible partner, choose the pairing that reveals useful cards or preserves a scarce match for later.
Keep track of Aces, Queens, Jacks and 2s
Queens pair only with Aces, and Jacks pair only with 2s. Before using an Ace or 2 elsewhere, check whether you may need it for a Queen or Jack. Aces always count as 1 in this version.
Learn the stock order
You can redeal the waste pile twice, giving you three passes through the stock. Notice when useful cards appear on early passes so you can try to expose their matching pyramid cards before they come around again.
Take care on the final pass
Once you begin the third pass, there are no redeals left. Check the exposed pyramid before each draw so you do not pass a stock card you need.
Pyramid Solitaire FAQs
Can every Pyramid Solitaire game be won?
No. Some deals cannot be cleared even with perfect play. Cards you need may remain covered in the pyramid or appear in an unusable order in the stock, so a loss does not necessarily mean you missed a move.
Can I pair two cards from the waste pile together?
No. A pair must include an exposed pyramid card. You can pair it with another exposed pyramid card or the top waste card, but you cannot pair two waste cards or use a card buried in the waste pile.
Why do pairs have to total 13?
A King is worth 13 and can be removed on its own. Every other rank has a matching value that brings the pair to 13: for example, a Queen pairs with an Ace, and a Jack pairs with a 2.
Do I have to empty the stock to win?
No. You win as soon as all 28 pyramid cards have been removed, even if cards remain in the stock or waste pile.
How is Pyramid different from TriPeaks Solitaire?
Pyramid removes pairs of cards that add up to 13. TriPeaks removes exposed cards by playing one rank higher or lower than the current waste card. In these versions, Pyramid allows two redeals, while TriPeaks gives you one pass through its stock.