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Pyramid Solitaire
Pyramid Solitaire (also called Pyramid 13) is a pairing card game where 28 cards are arranged in a 7-row pyramid. Your goal is to remove all pyramid cards by finding pairs that sum to 13. It's a game of quick pattern recognition — spotting which combinations are available and planning your draws from the stock pile. Simple to learn, but winning requires both strategy and a bit of luck.
Pyramid Solitaire Rules
28 cards are dealt face-up in a pyramid of 7 rows (1 card in the top row, 7 in the bottom). The remaining 24 cards form the stock pile. Only exposed cards — those not covered by cards in the row below — can be played.
Remove pairs of exposed cards that add up to 13. Card values: Ace = 1, 2-10 = face value, Jack = 11, Queen = 12, King = 13. Kings are removed by themselves (single click) since they already equal 13.
Click the stock pile to draw a card to the waste pile. The top waste card can be paired with any exposed pyramid card. You win by removing all 28 pyramid cards from the pyramid.
Common pairs: A+Q, 2+J, 3+10, 4+9, 5+8, 6+7, and K alone. Plan ahead — removing the wrong card can block access to cards you need later.
Pyramid Solitaire Strategy & Tips
Remove Kings immediately
Kings are free points — they remove themselves without needing a partner. Never leave a King sitting in the pyramid when you can click it away. Every King removed opens up the cards beneath it.
Work from the bottom up
Prioritize removing cards from the bottom rows first. Each bottom-row card you remove exposes two cards in the row above. Clearing the base creates a cascade of newly available cards.
Keep the pyramid balanced
Don't focus all your removals on one side. A lopsided pyramid means cards on the neglected side stay buried. Spread your removals across the width of the pyramid to maximize the number of exposed cards.
Think before drawing from stock
Each draw is irreversible — the card you skip is gone. Before drawing, scan the entire pyramid for possible pairs. Only draw when no useful pairs are available among exposed cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of Pyramid Solitaire games are winnable?
Roughly 1 in 50 Pyramid Solitaire games can be won — the win rate is around 2-5% depending on the variant and player skill. This makes it one of the harder solitaire games. Don't be discouraged by losses — even experienced players lose most games.
What cards add up to 13 in Pyramid Solitaire?
The pairs are: Ace (1) + Queen (12), Two (2) + Jack (11), Three (3) + Ten (10), Four (4) + Nine (9), Five (5) + Eight (8), Six (6) + Seven (7). Kings (13) are removed alone without a partner.
What happens if you get stuck in Pyramid Solitaire?
If no pairs are available in the pyramid and you've gone through the entire stock pile, the game is over. You can undo moves to try a different approach, or start a new game. Part of the challenge is recognizing early when a game is headed for a dead end.