How to play pyramid solitaire: rules and tips

Pyramid solitaire is a quick, satisfying solitaire game: all you have to do is add up to 13.

The setup

• One 52-card deck.
• Deal 28 cards face up in a pyramid of 7 rows: 1 card at the top, 7 at the bottom. Each card is partly covered by the two cards below it.
• The other 24 cards form the stock.

Card values

How to play

• Remove two uncovered cards that add up to 13: Q + A, J + 2, 10 + 3, 9 + 4, 8 + 5, 7 + 6.
• Kings are 13 on their own: remove them alone.
• A card is uncovered when no card from the row below overlaps it.
• Turn cards from the stock onto the waste pile one at a time. The top waste card can pair with a pyramid card (or with the next stock card).

How to win

Clear every card of the pyramid.

Tips

1. Look ahead before pairing. When two different cards could pair with the same card, choose the one that uncovers more of the pyramid.
2. Work on the bottom rows evenly. Clearing from one side only can leave cards you can’t reach.
3. Note which cards are still in the stock. If all four 6s are in the pyramid, the 7s can only pair there.
4. Remove Kings right away. They don’t need a partner, and they free the cards above them.

Play pyramid solitaire online

Kepo Pyramid Solitaire is free in your browser with no ads. You get three passes through the deck, every deal is checked by a solver, and clearing a pyramid deals a new one while your score keeps going: +20 for a pair, +15 for a King, and a bonus for clearing it.