Pyramid Solitaire
Pyramid is Solitaire as a numbers puzzle: 28 cards are dealt into a seven-row pyramid, and you remove them in pairs that add up to 13. Kings count 13 and leave alone; Queens are 12, Jacks 11, Aces 1. Clear the entire pyramid to win — quick to play, easy to learn, surprisingly tricky to finish.
Pyramid Rules
- Only fully uncovered cards can be played — a pyramid card is blocked while any card overlaps it from below.
- Remove pairs of open cards that add up to 13: Ace + Queen, 2 + Jack, 3 + 10, 4 + 9, 5 + 8, 6 + 7.
- Kings (13) are removed on their own with a double-click or by dragging to the discard.
- Click the stock to turn one card onto the waste; the waste's top card can pair with any open pyramid card.
- The stock may be recycled twice.
Pyramid Strategy
Memorize the pairs — 6+7, 5+8, 4+9, 3+10, 2+Jack, Ace+Queen — until they are automatic. Before removing anything, scan for cards whose partners all sit above them in the pyramid; those bottlenecks decide the game.
Work symmetrically down the pyramid rather than tunneling one side, and never waste a pair both of whose cards are still in the stock — pyramid cards always take priority. Prefer removing pyramid cards over waste cards when both options exist.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the pairs that make 13?
Ace + Queen, 2 + Jack, 3 + 10, 4 + 9, 5 + 8, and 6 + 7. Kings are worth 13 by themselves and are removed alone.
Is every Pyramid deal winnable?
No — Pyramid has one of the lower solvability rates of popular Solitaire games. If a key card is buried under both of its partners, the deal cannot be cleared.
How many times can I go through the stock?
Three passes in total: the initial pass plus two redeals.