Pyramid Solitaire
Pair cards that add up to 13 and clear the whole pyramid before the deck runs out. Kings go on their own.
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How to play Pyramid Solitaire
Pyramid is pure arithmetic under pressure. Twenty-eight cards are stacked in a pyramid and you clear them in pairs that add up to 13 — Queen and Ace, Jack and two, and so on. Kings are worth 13 on their own and leave the board immediately. Short games, hard wins, extremely easy to start another one.
Rules
- Twenty-eight cards are dealt face up in a seven-row pyramid.
- A card can be played only when nothing covers it.
- Remove pairs that total 13: Ace counts 1, Jack 11, Queen 12, King 13.
- A King is removed on its own because it is already worth 13.
- The card on top of the waste pile can be paired with any uncovered pyramid card.
- You get three passes through the stock — two recycles.
- Clearing the whole pyramid wins the game.
Tips to win more often
- Work out which cards block the most of the pyramid and aim at those, not at the easiest pair.
- Do not spend a King the moment you see it unless it unblocks something — it is free value at any time.
- Keep an eye on which 13-partners are still buried. If both Sevens you need are stuck under each other, the deal is already lost.
- Use the waste pile as a holding area: sometimes it is better to draw than to take the pair sitting in front of you.
- Count your passes. On the last pass, every card you skip is gone for good.
Pyramid Solitaire at a glance
| Deck | 1 deck (52 cards) |
|---|---|
| Layout | 28-card pyramid + stock and waste |
| Goal | Clear the pyramid in pairs totalling 13 |
| Difficulty | Hard |
| Winnable deals | Roughly 1 deal in 20 without redeals; far more with three passes |
Playing on a phone or Chromebook
The board resizes to whatever screen you are on. Drag a card with your finger, or simply tap it and it moves to the first place it legally fits. On a keyboard, N starts a new game, U undoes, H gives a hint and Space draws from the stock.
More free solitaire games
Klondike Solitaire, Spider Solitaire, FreeCell Solitaire, TriPeaks Solitaire, Golf Solitaire, Yukon Solitaire — or see all twelve on the solitaire hub.
Frequently asked questions
How does Pyramid solitaire work?
Remove uncovered cards in pairs that add up to 13. Kings are 13 by themselves, Queens are 12, Jacks are 11 and an Ace is 1.
Why can I not select a card?
A card is locked while any card still rests on top of it. Clear the two cards below it first.
How many times can I go through the deck?
Three passes in total — after the stock empties you may recycle the waste twice.
Is Pyramid solitaire winnable every time?
No. It is one of the least forgiving solitaires: many deals are unwinnable from the moment they are dealt, which is why rounds are short.
Do Kings need a partner?
No. A King is already worth 13, so tapping it removes it on its own.
What is a good time for Pyramid?
Most completed games take two to five minutes. The leaderboard on this page shows the fastest finished games.