Pyramid Solitaire Rules
In Pyramid Solitaire you remove cards from a seven-row pyramid, either in pairs that add up to 13 or a King on its own. Only cards with no card overlapping them can be taken. You get three passes through the stock. Clear all 28 pyramid cards to win.
What you start with
Twenty-eight cards are laid out face up in a triangle: one card on the top row, then two, three, four, five, six, and seven on the bottom. Each card overlaps the two cards beneath it. The remaining 24 cards form the stock, face down. Next to it is an empty space for the waste pile.
Card values
| Card | Value | Partner for 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Ace | 1 | Queen |
| 2 | 2 | Jack |
| 3 – 6 | Face value | 10 – 7 |
| Jack / Queen | 11 / 12 | 2 / Ace |
| King | 13 | None; removed alone |
Which cards are free
A pyramid card is free if no card is still overlapping its lower edge. Every card on the bottom row is free at the start. A card higher up becomes free the moment both of the cards below it are gone. The top card of the waste pile is also free at all times.
What you can do on your turn
- Remove a free King by itself.
- Remove two free cards whose values add to 13. Both pyramid cards, or one pyramid card and the top waste card, are fine.
- Draw one card from the stock onto the waste pile.
- When the stock is empty and passes remain, turn the waste over to make a new stock.
The three passes
You go through the stock three times in total: the first pass, then two redeals. Cards you drew and could not use simply stay in the waste pile until the next pass, in the same order. The game ends when the pyramid is clear, or when no pair is possible and no draw or redeal is left.
Scoring in this version
| Every card removed | 10 points |
|---|---|
| Pyramid cleared | 100 points + 50 for each redeal not used |
| Daily ranking | Quickest clear first; failures sort by cards left |
A worked example
Step through a short run of the game. Each step uses only moves that are allowed by the rules above.
Step 1 of 8
The free cards
Five cards are free at this point. Nothing is on the waste pile yet.
Mistakes that cost games
- Using up a card that has the only free partner for another card.
- Ignoring the waste when counting what is left of a value.
- Burning a pass by drawing through the stock without checking the pyramid first.
- Forgetting that the card above a pair is free only when both of its supports are gone.
Looking for a different way to clear a layout? The one-up-one-down of TriPeaks is a nice contrast.
Pyramid Solitaire rules: common questions
Do I have to remove a King from the pyramid right away?
No, but there is rarely a reason to wait. A King needs no partner, so it can come off whenever it is free. Taking it early may uncover cards that help you.
Can two cards from the waste pile pair with each other?
No. Only the top waste card is in play, and it pairs with one free pyramid card. Two cards in the waste never meet.
What if the stock runs out and I still have cards left?
Turn the waste pile over to make a new stock. You can do this twice, giving three passes in all. After the third pass is spent, only pairs already on the table remain.
Is there a way to tell if a deal is hopeless?
Count the values. If both cards of a pair, or all four of a value needed for pairings, are buried under each other, the pyramid cannot be cleared. The Hint button searches for a winning line, so a deal that offers none is likely lost.
Are Jacks and Queens worth the same as face cards in other games?
In Pyramid they are 11 and 12. A Jack pairs with a 2, a Queen with an Ace.