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Pyramid Solitaire Strategy: Save Your Kings for Last

Pyramid Solitaire has a deceptively simple rule: remove pairs of cards that sum to 13, plus Kings alone (which equal 13). But unwinnable deals are common, and casual players win only 3-8% of hands. Strong players push this to 15-20% using one core strategy: protect Kings.

The King Problem

Pyramid has 4 Kings. Each King is worth 13 alone — meaning each King clears as a single tile, requiring no partner. Sounds easy, right?

Wrong. Kings only clear when they're free — meaning no cards stacked above them in the pyramid. A King buried under two pyramid cards can't be removed until those cards come off first.

Most Pyramid losses come from Kings stuck in the pyramid blocking access to other cards.

Strategy #1: Identify King Positions First

Before making any move, find all 4 Kings. Where are they?

• In the waste pile already: Free, no problem.
• On the bottom row of pyramid: Free, click to remove.
• In upper pyramid rows: Blocked — must clear cards above first.
• In stock: Will come up later; plan around it.

If 2+ Kings are buried in upper pyramid rows, the game is often unwinnable from the start.

Strategy #2: Save Kings for Critical Moments

Kings clear alone, which means you can hold them in the waste pile until you need a "free clear" — a moment when removing any card opens up the pyramid significantly.

Don't immediately click a free King. Hold it. Use it when a tactical King-clear unblocks a critical pyramid pair.

Strategy #3: Pair Pyramid Cards With Pyramid Cards When Possible

Each pair can be made between any two free exposed cards — but if you have a choice between pairing a pyramid card with a waste card vs. pairing two pyramid cards together, almost always pair the two pyramid cards.

Why: clearing 2 pyramid cards at once doubles your progress. Clearing 1 pyramid card and 1 waste card only progresses the pyramid by 1.

Strategy #4: Cycle the Stock Once Before Committing

In most Pyramid variants, the stock cycles indefinitely. Before making any pyramid moves, cycle through the stock once and memorize what's in it.

Knowing the stock order lets you plan: "I have a 9 buried in position 4 of the stock — I need to save the 4 of clubs in my waste pile to pair with it when it comes up."

Strategy #5: Recognize Dead Deals

Pyramid has unwinnable deals. Warning signs:

• Two or more Kings are buried in the top three pyramid rows.
• All four cards needed to pair a deep buried card are also buried.
• The stock is exhausted and the pyramid still has 10+ cards remaining.

Walking away from a dead deal saves time. Click "New Game" without guilt — Pyramid often deals impossible hands.

The Stock Pairing Trick

Most experienced Pyramid players use the stock as a buffer:

1. Cycle the stock until you see a specific card you want.
2. Pair it with a pyramid card that's holding up the puzzle.
3. Continue cycling.

The risk: each cycle takes time and doesn't change the cards in the stock. You can spend forever waiting for the right moment.

Win-Rate Benchmarks

Pyramid has a low ceiling because so much depends on what cards you're dealt. Even oracle play (perfect strategy + full information) tops out around 33%.

Play Now

Open Pyramid Solitaire. The Kings strategy alone should double your win rate in the first 30 hands. After 100 hands you'll start recognizing dead deals in 30 seconds.