The goal of Pyramid Solitaire
The goal is to remove all 28 cards from the pyramid. You remove two available cards when their ranks total 13. Kings are worth 13 by themselves, so an available king can be removed without a partner.
Only exposed cards may be selected. A card in the pyramid becomes exposed after both cards overlapping it in the row below have been removed. The top card of the waste pile is also available.
Card values and pairs that total 13
Aces count as 1, numbered cards use their face value, jacks count as 11, queens as 12, and kings as 13. Suits do not matter.
- Ace + Queen
- 2 + Jack
- 3 + 10
- 4 + 9
- 5 + 8
- 6 + 7
- King by itself
How a turn works
Choose two exposed cards whose values total 13, or choose an exposed king. Removed pyramid cards stay gone and may uncover cards above them. If no pair is available, draw one card from the stock to the waste.
The version at Made Simple Games allows two redeals after the first trip through the stock. That makes the order of waste cards important: using one waste card changes which card becomes available next.
Plan around blocked cards
Look at the cards that cover the largest number of other cards. Removing a pair from the bottom row may expose one new card; completing both sides beneath a card can expose that card and open several later moves. When two pairs are possible, prefer the pair that frees more of the pyramid.
Also watch for duplicate values. If two exposed 8s are competing for one 5, check what each 8 blocks before choosing. A move that releases a needed card is usually stronger than one that removes cards without changing access.
Useful strategy
- Remove kings as soon as they are exposed unless leaving one briefly creates a specific advantage.
- Favor pyramid-to-pyramid pairs when they uncover cards; waste cards may still help on a later pass.
- Before pairing with the waste, check whether the same value is available in the pyramid.
- Track scarce partners. If several 10s remain, protect access to 3s.
- Use redeals deliberately. A waste card you skip now may return in a more useful sequence.
When the game is over
You win as soon as every pyramid card has been removed; cards left in the stock do not matter. You lose when cards remain in the pyramid and there are no available pairs, no stock cards, and no redeals.
Pyramid Solitaire contains luck, but good play still matters. Learning to compare which cards a move will uncover is the biggest step from simply matching pairs to playing strategically.