Pyramid Solitaire Rules

Pyramid belongs to the "elimination" family of solitaire games: instead of building sequences onto foundations as in Klondike, you discard cards from the table in pairs whenever they meet a condition — here, whenever two cards add up to a fixed total. Its triangular layout makes it one of the most instantly recognisable patience games.

Players and equipment

Pyramid is a one-player game played with a standard 52-card deck (jokers removed). All you need beyond that is a reasonably wide surface, since the pyramid spreads over seven rows.

Object of the game

The goal is to clear the whole 28-card pyramid. Cards are removed in pairs whose values add up to exactly 13. Card values are:

• Ace = 1
• 2 through 10 = face value
• Jack = 11
• Queen = 12
• King = 13

Because a King is worth 13 on its own, it is discarded alone with no partner. The other possible pairs are: Ace + Queen, 2 + Jack, 3 + 10, 4 + 9, 5 + 8, 6 + 7. Suit and colour are irrelevant — only the rank matters.

Setup

Shuffle the deck and deal 28 cards face up in a pyramid of seven rows: one card in the first row, two in the second, and so on down to seven cards in the bottom row. Each card overlaps the two cards below it.

            X
          X   X
        X   X   X
      X   X   X   X
    X   X   X   X   X
  X   X   X   X   X   X
X   X   X   X   X   X   X

The remaining 24 cards form the stock, placed face down to one side. Next to it, leave room for the waste pile, where turned cards are stacked face up.

How to play

A card is "available" when no other card covers it. At the start, only the seven cards of the bottom row are available. As soon as a card is removed, the cards it was covering become available in turn.

1. First look for two available cards in the pyramid adding up to 13 and remove both. An available King can be removed on its own at any time.
2. You may also match an available pyramid card with the face-up card on top of the waste pile.
3. When no move suits you, turn the top card of the stock onto the waste pile. It becomes available immediately and can be paired at once with an available pyramid card.

Play continues until the pyramid is empty (you win) or the stock runs out with no legal move left (you lose).

Scoring and end of the game

Tabletop Pyramid has no official scoring system: you either clear the pyramid or you do not. Computer adaptations usually add a score based on the number of cards removed and the time taken, but that is a layer added by software publishers rather than a traditional rule.

Be aware that not every deal is winnable: the position of the cards can lock a pair away permanently. Pyramid has a fairly low win rate, which is a large part of its appeal.

Common variants

Most well-known variants concern the stock:

• Number of passes: the strict version allows a single pass through the stock; other versions let you gather the waste back into a new stock and go through it two or three times.
• Matching within the waste: some versions also let you pair the newly turned card with the card immediately beneath it in the waste, which makes the game considerably easier.

These relaxations combine freely — the more passes you allow, the higher the proportion of games you will win.

Where to get the game

solitaire playing cards on Amazon

Beginner mistakes to avoid

• Taking a pair too quickly: an available card can often be matched with several partners. Grabbing the first pair you see can strand a buried card whose only partner you just discarded.
• Forgetting the waste: the top card of the waste stays available until something covers it. Beginners often keep drawing mechanically and waste perfectly good matches.
• Not prioritising the pyramid: given an equal choice, remove a pyramid card rather than a waste card — the pyramid cards are the ones blocking everything else.
• Sitting on Kings: a King still in place covers two cards. Removing it as soon as it becomes available is almost always right.

FAQ

How many cards make up the pyramid?

The pyramid holds 28 cards over seven rows (1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7). The remaining 24 cards of the 52-card deck form the stock.

Does a King need a partner?

No. A King is worth 13 by itself, so it is removed alone as soon as it is available.

Can I remove a card that is covered by another?

No. A card can only be played when nothing rests on top of it. That is the core difficulty: you must clear the lower rows to reach the higher ones.

Is every deal winnable?

No. Depending on the deal, some pairs can be permanently blocked — for example two matching cards stacked in the same column of the pyramid.

Do suits matter in Pyramid?

No. Only the rank counts when adding to 13; a 5 of clubs and an 8 of hearts is a perfectly legal pair.

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