Pyramid Solitaire is a pairing game. Seven rows of cards form a pyramid, and you remove free cards in pairs that total 13 — or a King by itself — until the pyramid is gone. You get three passes through the stock to help.
How a game feels
Start at the bottom row, because those seven cards are the only ones you can reach. Look for obvious pairs first: a 5 beside an 8, a Queen next to an Ace. Tap one card, then its partner, and both vanish. Kings are the easiest wins of the opening — one tap and they are gone.
The waste pile is your safety net. Each time you tap the stock, one card lands on the waste, and that card can pair with any free pyramid card. A sensible habit is to scan the pyramid for a card that is missing its other half before you draw, so you know which values you are hoping to see.
What makes it different
Most solitaire games ask you to build something. Pyramid asks you to dismantle, and the order matters more than it looks. Two 6s may both be free while only one 7 exists; pair the wrong 6 and the other is stranded until a second 7 turns up. The three-pass limit adds a clock, because every redeal costs you a pass you may need later.
Tips from the table
- Prefer pairs that uncover the most new cards, especially from the lower-middle of the pyramid.
- Count how many cards of a value are still hidden before you spend one on a pair.
- Remember the waste top is playable, so a card you just drew is not wasted if a partner is free.
- Use Hint when stuck; it looks ahead for a line that wins, not just any legal pair.
Scoring and the daily deal
| Each card removed | 10 points |
|---|---|
| Clearing the pyramid | 100 bonus plus 50 per unused redeal |
| Daily ranking | Fastest cleared time; a loss ranks by cards left |
The Daily tab deals everyone the same pyramid each day, and only your first attempt counts. New to the game? Read the Pyramid Solitaire rules with a worked example. If you like pairing puzzles, TriPeaks and Golf use a similar tap-and-clear rhythm.
Pyramid Solitaire questions
What does ‘add up to 13’ mean in Pyramid Solitaire?
Ace counts 1, Jack 11, Queen 12 and King 13. Two free cards come off together when their values total 13, such as 6 and 7 or Queen and Ace. A King is already 13, so it leaves on its own.
Which pyramid cards can I touch?
Only cards with nothing overlapping their lower edge. The bottom row is free from the start; a card in any higher row frees up once both cards sitting on it are gone.
How many times can I go through the stock?
Three passes in total. You draw the stock one card at a time, and when it runs out you may turn the waste over twice more. The counter beside the waste shows the redeals you have left.
Is every Pyramid deal winnable?
No. Plenty of ordinary deals cannot be cleared. The Daily deal is different: we search ahead and only offer a layout that has a winning line.
Can I undo a mistake?
Yes, as often as you like. Undo steps back one move at a time and restores the exact earlier position, including the stock and redeal count.