Pyramid Solitaire
Pair cards that sum to 13 to remove them from the pyramid. Kings are worth 13 and can be removed alone!
Explore Game Details
Objective
The goal of Pyramid Solitaire is to remove all cards from the Pyramid by matching pairs of cards whose ranks add up to 13. When you successfully match and remove all 28 cards, you win the game!
Card Values for Matching:
1Game Board Components
The Pyramid
Made up of 28 cards arranged in 7 rows. Each card is partially covered by two cards from the row below. Only uncovered cards (with no cards covering them) can be matched or removed.
The Stock (Draw Pile)
The facedown pile in the bottom-left area. Click it to draw cards and place them onto the Waste pile. When the Stock is empty you can recycle the Waste — but only twice per game (three passes total).
The Waste Pile
The face-up pile next to the Stock. The top card here can be matched with any available Pyramid card. This is your main source of new cards to help clear the Pyramid.
Removing Cards
Matched pairs and solo Kings leave the table for good — there is no discard pile to build. The goal is to remove all 28 Pyramid cards from play.
2How to Play
The purpose of the game is to match cards together so their ranks equal 13. The cards that are available for matching are: (1) any uncovered card on the Pyramid, and (2) the top card on the Waste pile. In the beginning, only the bottom row cards are available. As you remove cards, upper row cards become available.
| Example Matches | Result |
|---|---|
| 3 + 10 | 13 |
| 5 + 8 | 13 |
| 6 + 7 | 13 |
| 2 + Q (12) | 14 ♠♠ |
| K (13) | 13 ♥(alone) |
3Allowed Moves
Draw from Stock: Click on the Stock pile to flip a card onto the Waste pile. Keep drawing to cycle through available cards.
Match Waste + Pyramid: Click a card on the Waste, then click an available Pyramid card that sums to 13 with it. Both cards will be removed! Or drag the Waste card directly onto the matching Pyramid card.
Match Two Pyramid Cards: Click one available Pyramid card, then click another available Pyramid card that sums to 13 with it. Both must be uncovered (no cards covering them).
Match Waste + Stock Top: Draw cards one at a time — each new draw lands on top of the Waste, so time your draws to bring useful values next to available Pyramid cards.
Remove a King: Kings (K=13) can be removed alone without matching! Simply click a King once and it leaves the table.
Recycle the Stock: Once the Stock is empty, click the empty Stock area to recycle all Waste cards back into the Stock. You can do this at most twice per game (three passes total), so spend your passes wisely.
Winning & Scoring
A game is won when all 28 cards from the Pyramid have been removed from play. Not every game is winnable – sometimes the card layout makes it impossible. The game tracks your moves and time so you can compete against your own best scores.
Note: Due to the random shuffle, approximately 80-90% of Pyramid Solitaire games are theoretically winnable with perfect play. Some layouts simply cannot be cleared no matter what.
Strategy Tips
Always check for King removals first! Since Kings can be removed alone, clearing them early opens up more cards underneath and reduces clutter on the board.
Prioritize bottom-row matches. Removing cards from the bottom row reveals more cards above, giving you more options. A single bottom-row removal can unlock 2-3 new playable cards.
Be careful with the Stock. Don't draw too many cards at once. Each card drawn covers potential matches you might miss. Only draw when you're stuck or need specific values.
Plan ahead for 'in-between' values. Cards like 6 and 7 are very flexible (they pair with 7 and 6 respectively). Save these versatile cards for when you might need multiple pairing options.
Count your stock passes. You only get two recycles per game — before burning a pass, make sure no pyramid pair is still available.
Count your remaining options. Before drawing from Stock, scan the entire Pyramid for any possible matches. It's easy to miss a valid pair when focusing on one area of the board.
About Pyramid Solitaire
Pyramid Solitaire is a classic single-player card puzzle game that combines arithmetic skills with strategic thinking. The game dates back to the early 1900s and remains popular due to its simple rules yet deep strategic possibilities. Unlike traditional solitaire games that use foundations by suit, Pyramid focuses on numerical matching, making it an excellent mental math exercise. Whether you're looking for a casual puzzle or a serious strategy challenge, Pyramid Solitaire offers satisfying gameplay for players of all skill levels.
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