How to Play Pyramid Solitaire

Getting Started with Pyramid Solitaire

Pyramid Solitaire is one of the quickest and most accessible solitaire games you can play. Instead of building foundations or sequencing tableau columns, you simply pair cards that add up to 13 and remove them. A typical game takes just 3–10 minutes, making it perfect for a quick break.

What You Need

A standard 52-card deck. Playing online is the easiest way to start — the game calculates pairs for you and handles the rules automatically.

Step 1: Understand the Layout

The board has three areas:

1. Pyramid — 28 cards arranged in a triangle with 7 rows. The top has 1 card, and each row adds one more card. All cards are face-up, but not all are immediately playable.
2. Stock — A pile of 24 remaining cards. Click to draw one at a time.
3. Waste — Where drawn cards go. Only the top card is usable.

Step 2: Learn the Card Values

Every card has a number value:

• Ace = 1
• Number cards (2–10) = their face value
• Jack = 11
• Queen = 12
• King = 13

Your goal is to find pairs that add up to exactly 13.

Step 3: Learn Which Pairs Work

Memorize these combinations — there are only six:

• Ace + Queen (1 + 12)
• 2 + Jack (2 + 11)
• 3 + 10 (3 + 10)
• 4 + 9 (4 + 9)
• 5 + 8 (5 + 8)
• 6 + 7 (6 + 7)

Kings are special — they equal 13 on their own and are removed with a single click.

Step 4: Understand Exposed Cards

Here's the key rule that makes Pyramid strategic: you can only remove exposed cards. A card is exposed when nothing is covering it.

• Bottom row — All 7 cards are always exposed
• Upper rows — A card becomes exposed when both cards below it (the two that partially overlap it) have been removed

For example, to reach the card at the very top of the pyramid, you need to remove every other card first.

Step 5: Start Removing Pairs

Look at the exposed cards and find pairs that add to 13:

1. Click an exposed card to select it
2. Click a second exposed card that pairs with it
3. Both cards disappear

If you see an exposed King, just click it — it's removed immediately.

Step 6: Use the Stock

When you can't find any more pairs among the exposed pyramid cards, click the stock pile to draw a card to the waste. The waste card can be paired with any exposed pyramid card.

For example, if the waste shows a 3 and there's an exposed 10 in the pyramid, click the waste card then the 10 (or vice versa) to remove both.

You can draw through the stock one card at a time. Once the stock is empty, you're on your own with whatever moves remain.

Step 7: Clear the Pyramid

Keep pairing cards and drawing from the stock. You win when all 28 pyramid cards are removed. You don't need to clear the stock or waste — only the pyramid matters.

If you run out of moves with cards still in the pyramid, the game is lost. Don't worry — Pyramid has a low win rate (about 5%), so losing is normal.

Beginner Tips

• Remove Kings immediately — There's never a reason to leave an exposed King sitting. Click it right away.
• Scan before drawing — Always check for available pyramid pairs before drawing from the stock.
• Think about what you'll uncover — Removing a pair from the bottom row exposes cards in row 6. Consider which uncovered cards will be most useful.
• Watch for chains — Sometimes removing one pair exposes a card that enables another pair, which exposes another card, and so on. Look for these chain reactions.
• Don't waste good pairs — If a card can pair with two different partners, think about which pairing uncovers more useful cards.
• Use undo — If a move doesn't work out, undo it and try something different.

Common Mistakes

• Drawing from stock too quickly — Buried stock cards can't be accessed later. Make sure you've paired everything you can first.
• Ignoring Kings — A King sitting exposed is a free removal. Always take it.
• Random pairing — Pairing the first match you see isn't always best. Consider which pair will open up more of the pyramid.
• Giving up too early — Sometimes a draw from the stock opens up a whole new chain of moves. Keep trying.

A Quick Example

Imagine the bottom row of the pyramid has: 3, K, 7, 5, 9, 2, 6

1. Remove the King immediately (it equals 13)
2. Pair the 3 + 10 if there's an exposed 10 elsewhere
3. Pair the 7 + 6 (both in the bottom row)
4. Pair the 5 + 8 if there's an exposed 8
5. Pair the 9 + 4 if there's an exposed 4
6. The 2 needs a Jack — draw from stock if needed

Each removal potentially exposes cards in row 6, giving you new options.

Further Reading

• Pyramid Solitaire Rules — the complete rulebook with variations
• Pyramid Solitaire Strategy — advanced tips for winning more games
• Best Card Games to Play Alone — discover more single-player card games

Your First Game

Ready to try? Play Pyramid Solitaire online for free — no account or download needed. Just click pairs that add to 13 and see how far up the pyramid you can clear.