Pyramid Solitaire
A solitaire built on arithmetic instead of sequencing. Twenty-eight cards form a triangular pyramid; the remaining twenty-four become a stock. Your job is to clear the pyramid by removing pairs of exposed cards that sum to 13. Kings count as 13 and come off alone. Suits don't matter.
How to Play Pyramid
Deal seven rows: row 1 has one card, row 2 has two cards… row 7 has seven cards. Each card overlaps the two below it, so only the bottom row of the pyramid is initially exposed. The remaining 24 cards become the stock.
- Goal: Remove every card from the pyramid.
- Card values: Ace=1, 2=2, …10=10, Jack=11, Queen=12, King=13.
- Pair rule: Any two exposed cards whose values sum to 13 can be removed together. A Jack and a 2. A Queen and an Ace. A 6 and a 7.
- Kings: A King is worth 13 by itself — click to remove.
- Stock: Click to flip a card to the waste. The top waste card is available for pairing.
3 Pyramid Strategy Tips
- Prioritize the bottom rows. Only the bottom row is exposed at first. Every pair you make there unlocks two cards in the row above.
- Watch the King distribution. Four Kings, two on the table and two in the stock is balanced. All four Kings buried in the same column means trouble.
- Don't waste matches. If a pyramid card could pair with either a waste card or another pyramid card, pair it with the other pyramid card — that clears two pyramid cards at once.
FAQ
What's the win rate?
Skilled play wins around 14% of hands. A high fraction of Pyramid deals are simply unwinnable due to bad King distribution.
Can I pair a pyramid card with a waste card?
Yes. Any two exposed cards that sum to 13 can be paired, regardless of where they are.
How is Pyramid different from TriPeaks?
Pyramid uses the sum-to-13 pairing rule and one large triangle. TriPeaks uses a one-rank-above-or-below rule and three small peaks. They share a shape but play very differently.