Pyramid Solitaire is a quick, satisfying game of matching pairs. You clear a pyramid of cards by finding pairs that add up to 13, and the trick is working out which pairs to take first. A game takes just a few minutes, which makes it a good break any time of day. Play it free in your browser, on your computer or phone, with no download and no sign-up.
You can undo any move, ask for a hint when you are stuck, choose how many times you may go through the stock, and your statistics are saved in your browser.
How to Play Pyramid Solitaire
Setup. One standard 52-card deck is used. 28 cards are dealt face up into a pyramid of seven rows, with one card in the top row, two in the next, and so on down to seven in the bottom row. Each card overlaps the two cards below it. The remaining 24 cards form the stock, with a waste pile beside it.
Goal. Remove all 28 pyramid cards. The game is won as soon as the pyramid is gone, even if cards are left in the stock or the waste pile.
Card values. Ace is 1, numbered cards are worth their number, Jack is 11, Queen is 12 and King is 13. Suits do not matter.
Moves.
- Remove a pair of available cards that add up to 13. For example: Ace and Queen, 2 and Jack, 3 and 10, 4 and 9, 5 and 8, 6 and 7.
- A King is worth 13 on its own, so it is removed by itself.
- A pyramid card is available only when no other card covers it. The bottom row is available from the start.
- Tap the stock to turn its top card onto the waste pile. The top waste card is available too, so you can pair it with a pyramid card.
- When the stock runs out, tap its empty spot to turn the waste pile over and go through it again, if your mode allows another pass.
Controls. Tap a card to select it, then tap its partner to remove the pair. You can also drag one card onto the other. Tap a King to remove it, or drag it to the discard pile in the top-right corner. Tap the selected card again to cancel.
Game Modes
This page offers the classic Pyramid game with the 28-card pyramid, a one-card draw from the stock and a waste pile. Choose how many times you may go through the stock:
- 3 passes (default): go through the stock three times in all, turning the waste pile over twice.
- 1 pass: the strict version. You go through the stock once.
- Unlimited: turn the waste pile over as often as you like.
Every game shows its deal number. Restart replays the same deal, and adding ?deal=NUMBER to the page
address opens a specific deal, for example Deal #1. Add
?passes=1 or ?passes=unlimited to open a mode directly.
Pyramid Solitaire Strategy Tips
- Look at the whole pyramid before you draw. Pairs exist right now that you may not see. Scan the bottom row and available cards first.
- Free the cards that cover the most. Removing a card that blocks two others opens more options than removing a card at the edge.
- Protect the cards you need. If there is only one Jack left and you need it for a buried 2, do not spend it on a different 2.
- Count the ranks. There are four of each rank. If three of the 5s are gone, the last 5 needs one of the remaining 8s. Keeping track tells you which cards are essential.
- Do not rush to the stock. Make every pyramid-only pair first, then turn the next card.
- Clear Kings quickly. Kings need no partner, so take them as soon as they are uncovered. They are free moves that open the pyramid.
- Reach the top cards. Aim to open the apex early. A buried card in the top rows can end a game.
- Use the waste pile wisely. Each draw covers the current waste card. Before you draw, check whether that card pairs with something you are about to uncover.
A Little History
Pyramid Solitaire is a classic of the genre that appears in many solitaire collections, both in print and on computers. Its simple rule, pairing cards that add up to 13, has made it popular with players who like short, tidy games. If you enjoy clearing a layout with a stock and a waste pile, try TriPeaks Solitaire next.
Pyramid Solitaire FAQ
What is the goal of Pyramid Solitaire?
Clear all 28 cards from the pyramid by removing pairs that add up to 13, plus Kings on their own. Cards left in the stock or waste pile at the end do not matter.
What pairs make 13?
Ace and Queen, 2 and Jack, 3 and 10, 4 and 9, 5 and 8, and 6 and 7. A King is worth 13 by itself, so it is removed alone.
Is Pyramid Solitaire free to play here?
Yes. It is free, with no download and no sign-up.
Can every Pyramid deal be won?
No. Pyramid is a game of luck as well as skill, and many deals cannot be cleared, especially in 1 pass mode. Choosing your pairs carefully and using undo to try another order wins far more games.
When is a card available?
When no other card is lying on top of it. All the cards in the bottom row are available at the start, and a card in a higher row becomes free once both cards covering it are removed. The top card of the waste pile is always available.
Can I go through the stock more than once?
Yes, depending on the mode. The default mode gives you 3 passes through the stock, so you can turn the waste pile over twice. 1 pass mode deals the stock only once, and Unlimited lets you go through it as often as you like.
Is there an undo button, and are there hints?
Yes. Undo any move, and press Hint when you cannot spot a pair. The hint points to a King or a pair to remove, or tells you to draw when a card in the stock can help.
Can I play Pyramid Solitaire on my phone?
Yes. It works in any modern mobile browser. Tap one card and then its partner to remove the pair, or drag one card onto the other.
Read more
- Pyramid strategy Count partners before you pair, use the waste card first, and make every pass through the stock count.
- Types of solitaire games Klondike, Spider, FreeCell, Pyramid, TriPeaks, Golf and four more, compared by difficulty, luck and time per game.
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