Pyramid Solitaire Rules

Pyramid Solitaire is a popular single-player card game that offers a refreshing change from traditional building-style solitaire games like Klondike and FreeCell. Instead of organizing cards into sequences, you remove cards by finding pairs that add up to 13. The game gets its name from its distinctive pyramid-shaped layout, where 28 cards are arranged in 7 overlapping rows that form a triangle. This visual layout is both attractive and functional — the overlapping structure creates a puzzle where you must carefully plan which cards to remove and in what order. Pyramid Solitaire is believed to have been played since at least the early 20th century, though its exact origins are unclear. It gained widespread popularity through computer implementations and is now one of the most-played solitaire variants online. The game appeals to players who enjoy pattern recognition and mental math. It is simpler to learn than Klondike but offers its own unique strategic challenges.

The pyramid is built from 28 cards arranged in 7 rows: Row 1 (top): 1 card Row 2: 2 cards, each partially covering the card above Row 3: 3 cards Row 4: 4 cards Row 5: 5 cards Row 6: 6 cards Row 7 (bottom): 7 cards Each card in rows 1-6 is partially covered by two cards from the row below it. This overlapping structure means that a card can only be removed once both cards covering it have been cleared. The bottom row (7 cards) starts fully exposed and available for pairing immediately. As you remove bottom-row cards, cards in row 6 become exposed, and so on up the pyramid. The remaining 24 cards (52 - 28 = 24) form the stock pile, placed face-down to the side of the pyramid.

Every card in Pyramid Solitaire has a numeric value: Ace = 1 2 through 10 = face value (2=2, 3=3, ... 10=10) Jack = 11 Queen = 12 King = 13 Suits (hearts, diamonds, clubs, spades) do not matter in Pyramid Solitaire. Only the numeric value of each card is relevant for making pairs. Memorizing the face card values is essential for fast play: Jack = 11, Queen = 12, King = 13. These come up constantly when forming pairs.

The goal of Pyramid Solitaire is to remove all 28 cards from the pyramid by matching pairs of cards whose values sum to exactly 13. You win by completely clearing the pyramid. The stock pile and waste pile cards do not need to be cleared — only the 28 pyramid cards matter for victory. If you run out of valid moves (no pairs available and the stock is empty), the game is lost. The challenge is finding the right sequence of pairings to systematically dismantle the pyramid from bottom to top.

Two cards can be removed together if their values add up to exactly 13. Here are all the valid pair combinations: Ace (1) + Queen (12) = 13 2 + Jack (11) = 13 3 + 10 = 13 4 + 9 = 13 5 + 8 = 13 6 + 7 = 13 King (13) = removed alone (no pair needed) Kings are special — since they already equal 13, they are removed individually without needing a matching card. Removing Kings is always a good move because it costs nothing and frees up space. Both cards in a pair must be "exposed" (not covered by other cards) to be removed. You can pair two pyramid cards together, a pyramid card with the top waste card, or a pyramid card with a newly drawn stock card.

A card is "exposed" when no other cards are covering it. In the pyramid structure, each card (except those in the bottom row) is partially covered by two cards in the row below. A card becomes exposed when both of the cards that were covering it have been removed. For example, the single card at the top of the pyramid (row 1) is covered by the 2 cards in row 2. You cannot touch the top card until both row 2 cards are removed. The entire bottom row (row 7, with 7 cards) starts exposed and available for play from the beginning. These are your starting options, and the choices you make here determine which cards become available next. Understanding the covering relationships is the key strategic element. Before removing a pair, consider: "What cards will become exposed after this removal? Do those newly exposed cards help me make more pairs?"

The 24 cards not in the pyramid form the stock pile. When you cannot find any valid pairs among the exposed pyramid cards, you draw a card from the stock. Drawn cards go face-up onto a waste pile. The top card of the waste pile is always available for pairing with any exposed pyramid card. If the stock runs out, that is it — you cannot recycle the waste pile back into the stock (in standard Pyramid rules). This makes stock management critical. Every card you draw from the stock is one fewer option available later. You can pair the waste pile top card with an exposed pyramid card at any time. You can also pair the waste pile top card with a newly drawn stock card in some variants, but in standard Pyramid, stock-to-waste pairing is not allowed. Strategic stock usage means not drawing blindly. Before drawing, scan the pyramid for any possible pairs you might have missed. Drawing from the stock should be a last resort, not a first instinct.

You win Pyramid Solitaire when all 28 pyramid cards have been removed. The waste pile and any remaining stock cards are irrelevant — only the pyramid matters. You lose when all of these conditions are true simultaneously: No exposed pyramid cards can be paired with each other. No exposed pyramid card can be paired with the top waste card. The stock pile is empty (no more cards to draw). Pyramid Solitaire is one of the harder solitaire games. Only about 1 in 30 games (roughly 3%) can be won with perfect play. This low win rate is part of the appeal — each victory feels earned, and the challenge keeps players coming back. Do not be discouraged by frequent losses. Even expert players lose most Pyramid games. The satisfaction comes from recognizing winnable deals and executing the correct sequence of moves to clear the pyramid.