How to Play Pyramid Solitaire: Complete Rules and Strategy

Long before mobile apps and digital decks, Pyramid Solitaire quietly earned its place as a go-to card game for solo players. It is a special variant of the classic solitaire. If you're curious about how to play Pyramid Solitaire, you're in the right place.

Believed to date back to the 18th century, its exact origins remain a mystery; however, its enduring presence is undeniable. The game experienced a resurgence in the 1980s with the release of its first computer version. Since then, Pyramid Solitaire has become a familiar name on millions of Windows desktops.

It is a great game for leisure time, while presenting a good challenge. This quick guide will help you with learning how to play Pyramid Solitaire.

Pyramid Solitaire Rules

• Pyramid Solitaire is played with a standard 52-card deck. The goal is to remove all cards from the pyramid-shaped tableau by pairing cards that add up to 13 and placing them in foundation piles.
• Shuffle the deck and deal 28 cards in a pyramid shape with seven rows; each row overlaps the one above it (the previous row).
• Place the remaining cards face down as a draw pile to be used during gameplay.
• Kings are worth 13 and can be discarded alone; Queens are 12, Jacks are 11, Aces are 1, and other cards carry their face value.
• Only exposed cards (those not overlapped by others) can be paired and removed.
• Use the top card from the draw pile to form a pair with an exposed pyramid card, totalling 13.
• If a draw pile card is not used, it gets covered by the next one and becomes unavailable unless uncovered later.
• As an alternate version, draw three cards at a time into three piles, keeping only the topmost card of each pile playable.
• The game is won by clearing all the cards from the pyramid.

How to Play Pyramid Solitaire: Card Game Rules

Objective

The objective of Pyramid Solitaire is to clear all the cards from the pyramid layout. You do it by pairing up two exposed cards that add up to 13. For example, a 4 and a 9 or a 7 and a 6 would make valid pairs. Face cards follow specific values when playing. But kings can be removed as single cards since they already total 13. You can win the game when all cards are successfully paired and removed.

What You Need

• A standard 52-card deck (remove jokers before starting).
• A flat surface to lay out the pyramid and draw pile.
• 1 player (this is a solo card game).
• The goal is to remove all cards by forming pairs that add up to 13.
• A bit of focus and thinking to plan your moves.

Game Setup

With everything set, how do I play Pyramid Solitaire?

Start by shuffling the deck thoroughly. Then, deal 28 face-up cards into a pyramid formation: one card at the top row, then two beneath it, then three, and so on, until you have a row of seven cards. Each card is slightly covered by two cards from the next row. It is the tableau. Each card must slightly overlap the two cards beneath it.

The remaining 24 form your draw or stockpile cards. They are placed face down beside the pyramid. If you're looking for an easier challenge, you can build a six-row pyramid instead, with only 21 cards.

Card Values

Among pyramid solitaire rules, it’s important to know the value of each card:

• Kings = 13 (can be removed on their own)
• Queens = 12
• Jacks = 11
• Aces = 1
• Numbered cards retain their face value (e.g., 8 = 8)

You remove cards in pairs that add up to 13. Legal pairings include Queen + Ace, Jack + 2, 10 + 3, 9 + 4, 8 + 5, and 7 + 6.

Gameplay

According to the card game pyramid rules, only “free” cards, those not overlapped by any others, can be selected for play. At the start, only the bottom row of the pyramid is accessible. If you see a pair of cards that total 13, remove and set them aside in the foundation pile. Kings can be removed immediately once they’re free, as they’re worth 13 alone.

After examining the pyramid, turn over the top card of your stockpile. You can use that stock card to create a valid pair with an exposed card in the pyramid. If no match is possible, move it to the face-up waste pile. Only the top card of the stockpile or the waste pile is usable at any given time.

Using the Stock and Waste Pile

Continue drawing from the stockpile. Place each next card onto the waste pile when not used. The top card of the waste or discard pile is the only card playable. If you cycle through all the cards in the stockpile, you may flip the waste pile face down to form a new stock. However, you can only do this three times in total. The game ends if cards remain after the third cycle.

Winning

How do you play Pyramid Solitaire to win when there's no score? Continue playing the game by making pairs and removing all the cards from the tableau, along with the remaining cards in the stock and waste piles. Of course, only the cards from the tableau should be moved. You will win the game once you remove all the cards.

Not every game of Pyramid Solitaire can be won. Sometimes, important cards get trapped in positions that make pairing impossible. Imagine an Ace sits at the top of the pyramid, and all the Queens are in the lower rows; there’s no way to make a valid pair.

Strategies to Win Pyramid Solitaire

Knowing how to play Pyramid Solitaire well means more than just matching cards. It involves timing your moves, preserving the stockpile, and recognizing which cards to clear first to win the game.

• Focus on clearing one row at a time: Try removing as many cards from a single row before jumping across the pyramid. It reveals cards beneath more efficiently. For example, clearing three cards from the bottom row might expose two new playable cards above it.
• Play Kings Immediately: How do you play the Pyramid card game with Kings? Since they are worth 13 on their own, they don’t need a pair. Play them the moment they’re exposed. It opens up space and increases your options on the board.
• Prioritize pairs in the pyramid: Always try to make matches using the pyramid cards first. You'll be able to remove more cards early. The stockpile is limited and can only be cycled three times. It's best saved for when no matches are left in the tableau.
• Focus on pairs that reveal the most hidden cards. If you can choose between a card covering one and another covering two, always go for the card covering two. It reveals more cards and increases your chances of making future moves.
• Look ahead before making a move: Don’t rush into discarding cards. Check which cards are covering others and plan a few moves ahead.
• Keep track of card values: There are four of each card in the deck. If you’ve already used or seen three Queens, you’ll know there’s only one left to pair with an Ace. Maintain the awareness to avoid relying on unlikely matches.
• Take advantage of the undo option (if available): In digital versions, the undo button lets you test different combinations. Use it to explore alternate paths or correct mistakes without restarting the entire game (only for beginners!)

Pyramid Solitaire Variations