Pyramid Solitaire

Pyramid Solitaire is the matching-pairs solitaire game where 28 cards are arranged in a triangular pyramid; you remove pairs of cards that sum to 13 (Ace=1, Jack=11, Queen=12, King=13 by itself). It is an old patience game whose exact origin is unclear; today it ships in Microsoft Solitaire Collection and remains a popular mobile and browser variant. Simple to learn, but many deals can’t be won.

How to play

• Setup: 28 cards in a pyramid: 1 card at top, 2 at second row, 3 at third row, etc. up to 7 cards at the bottom row.
• Cards are only playable if no other cards rest on top of them (each card except those on the bottom row is partially covered by 2 cards).
• The remaining 24 cards form a stock pile.
• Goal: remove pairs of FREE cards that sum to 13:
  • Ace + Queen (1+12)
  • 2 + Jack (2+11)
  • 3 + 10
  • 4 + 9
  • 5 + 8
  • 6 + 7
  • King (13) removes by itself
• You can also draw from stock and try to match with FREE pyramid cards.
• In our version: click the stock (or press Space) to turn one card onto the waste pile; only the top waste card can be played. When the stock runs out, click it again to turn the waste back over. You get 3 passes through the stock in total (the Cycles counter). Each removal (a pair or a King) scores 50 points. Undo (Ctrl/Cmd+Z) and Hint (H) are on the toolbar.
• Clear all 28 pyramid cards to win.

Beginner strategy

• Remove Kings immediately. Kings self-remove. Clear them first.
• Look for pyramid-pyramid pairs. Two free pyramid cards summing to 13 = remove both with one move.
• Save flexible cards. A 7 can pair with 6. A 6 can pair with 7. Save 6s and 7s for when needed.
• Don’t draw from stock greedily. Each draw buries the previous waste card; if nothing pairs with it, that card is out of reach until your next pass.
• Track buried pair partners. If a King is buried under 2 other cards, the path to remove it requires clearing those first.

Intermediate strategy

• Build a “removal plan” from the bottom. Pyramid cards expose new free cards. Plan which pair to remove next to expose deeper cards.
• Pair partners track. Each card type (A through K-1) has 4 copies. If you’ve matched 2 of the 4 Sevens, only 2 are left.
• Stock-to-pyramid matching. Often the best matches are stock + pyramid pairs (especially for low-value cards).
• Don’t bury Aces and Queens. Aces need Queens; Queens need Aces. If both are buried, the pair can’t form.
• Recognize unwinnable layouts. If a card sits in front of every remaining card that could pair with it (say a 9 covering, directly or further up the pyramid, all the 4s still in play), the deal can’t be won.

Advanced strategy

• Win rate math. Win rates depend heavily on the rules, especially how many stock passes you get. Even with perfect play many Pyramid deals can’t be won, whereas almost every FreeCell deal is solvable.
• The “stock recycle” rule. Some versions allow you to cycle through the stock multiple times; others limit you to one pass. Ours gives you 3 passes, so on the last pass every draw counts.
• Memorize key sum-pair card placements. If 6s and 7s are buried near the top of the pyramid, you may need to clear lots of other pairs first.
• Use Undo to explore. When two different copies could complete a pair, try one, and undo if it uncovers nothing useful.

Pyramid Solitaire history

• Origins: Pyramid is an old patience game; who invented it, and when, is not documented.
• 2012 — Microsoft Solitaire Collection: Pyramid becomes one of the bundled games, alongside Klondike, Spider, FreeCell and TriPeaks.
• 2010s — mobile dominance: Pyramid Solitaire variants dominate mobile solitaire apps.
• Present: consistently popular sub-variant of solitaire family.

Why Pyramid is different

• Matching, not building. Unlike Klondike where you build sequences, Pyramid is purely pair-matching.
• Arithmetic-based. Add to 13 — simple math twist.
• Visible layout. Most cards visible from the start. Less hidden information.
• Luck matters. Many deals are unwinnable however well you play, unlike FreeCell, where almost every deal can be solved.
• Quick games. Typically 3-10 minutes per attempt.

Common mistakes

• Not removing Kings first. Kings self-remove and reveal what’s beneath.
• Using the wrong copy. When two different 8s could pair with a 5, remove the one that uncovers more cards.
• Drawing stock without plan. Each draw locks in a card.
• Ignoring pyramid topology. Cards near the top need cards below cleared first.

Variants

• Pyramid (this version). Standard 28-card triangle.
• Triangle / TriPeaks. Three connected peaks — different mechanic.
• Pass limits. House rules range from a single pass through the stock to unlimited passes; ours allows 3.

FAQ

• Q: What sum makes 13? A: A+Q, 2+J, 3+10, 4+9, 5+8, 6+7. King alone = 13.
• Q: Are there always solvable hands? A: No — many Pyramid layouts are unwinnable from the start (buried partners).
• Q: Can I cycle through the stock? A: Depends on the version. Some allow multiple passes; this game gives you 3 passes through the stock.
• Q: Win rate? A: It depends on the pass rules, but even with perfect play a large share of deals can’t be won. Much lower than FreeCell.

For other solitaire variants, try Klondike Solitaire, FreeCell, Spider Solitaire, or Solitaire.