About Pyramid Solitaire
Pyramid Solitaire swaps the usual stacking and sorting for a bit of quick arithmetic. Twenty-eight cards are dealt into a seven-row pyramid, and you clear it by removing pairs of exposed cards whose values add up to 13. Jacks count as 11 and queens as 12, while kings, already worth 13, can be removed all by themselves.
Each game moves briskly, and the math is simple enough that you'll soon spot 6-and-7 or 4-and-9 pairs at a glance. The real thinking lies in the order you take them, since freeing the right card can open up a whole row while the wrong pair leaves you stranded. A draw pile helps when you're stuck, but it won't last forever. It's a lovely pick for short sessions and for players who like a game that's easy to learn yet rewards careful planning.
How to play Pyramid Solitaire
- Look at the exposed cards; a card is available only when no cards from the row below overlap it.
- Select two available cards whose values total 13 to remove them. Kings are worth 13 and are removed alone.
- When the pyramid offers no pairs, draw from the stock and try to match the drawn card. Unmatched draws are discarded.
- Clear every card in the pyramid to bring your score to zero and win. The game ends when the stock is empty and no pairs remain.
Pyramid Solitaire controls
| Input | Action |
|---|---|
| Mouse / Tap | Select cards to pair or remove |
| Click / Tap the stock | Draw a card |
Tips and tricks
- Favor pairs that uncover new cards in the pyramid over pairs that don't open anything up.
- Before matching, check whether the card you're about to use is needed to free a more important blocked card.
- Remove kings as soon as they're exposed, since they never need a partner.
- Use the stock deliberately: because unmatched draws are discarded, look for every possible pyramid pair before you draw.
