Pyramid Solitaire Rules

How to Play Pyramid Solitaire

Pyramid Solitaire is a card-matching game played with a single standard 52-card deck. Unlike traditional solitaire games that rely on sequencing cards by rank and suit, Pyramid challenges you to find and remove pairs of cards whose values add up to 13. Twenty-eight cards are dealt into a pyramid-shaped tableau of seven rows, and the goal is to clear every card from the pyramid by pairing them off.

The Pyramid Layout

The game begins by dealing 28 cards face-up in a triangular arrangement:

• 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 (base) — 7 cards, all fully exposed at the start

Each card in rows 1 through 6 is partially covered by two cards in the row below it. A card is considered exposed only when both cards covering it have been removed. The remaining 24 cards are placed face-down to form the stock pile.

Card Values and Pairing

The core mechanic of Pyramid Solitaire is removing pairs of cards whose rank values total exactly 13. Each card has a fixed numerical value:

• Ace = 1
• Number cards (2–10) = face value
• Jack = 11
• Queen = 12
• King = 13

The valid pairing combinations are:

• King (13) — removed alone, no partner needed
• Queen (12) + Ace (1) = 13
• Jack (11) + 2 = 13
• 10 + 3 = 13
• 9 + 4 = 13
• 8 + 5 = 13
• 7 + 6 = 13

Suit does not matter in Pyramid Solitaire. A Heart 8 pairs equally well with a Spade 5, a Diamond 5, or a Club 5. Only the numerical values need to total 13.

Exposed Cards

Only fully exposed cards in the pyramid can be selected for pairing. A card is exposed when neither of the two cards that overlap it from the row below are still present. At the start of the game, only the seven cards in the bottom row are exposed. As you remove pairs from the base, cards in the sixth row become exposed, then the fifth row, and so on up to the apex. Planning which pairs to remove first is essential — removing the wrong pair early can block access to critical cards deeper in the pyramid.

Stock and Waste Piles

The 24 cards not dealt into the pyramid form the stock pile. Here is how the stock and waste piles work:

• Draw one card at a time from the stock pile and place it face-up on the waste pile.
• The top card of the waste pile is always available for pairing with an exposed pyramid card.
• You may also pair the top waste card with the next card drawn from the stock if the two cards sum to 13.
• When the stock pile is empty, you may flip the waste pile over to form a new stock pile. In standard rules, this recycle is allowed once. Some variations permit unlimited recycling.
• If the stock and waste are both exhausted and no more moves remain in the pyramid, the game is over.

Winning the Game

You win Pyramid Solitaire by removing all 28 cards from the pyramid. Cards remaining in the stock and waste piles do not need to be cleared — the pyramid is the only area that must be completely emptied. Not every deal is winnable. Estimates vary, but computer analysis of standard Pyramid Solitaire (with one stock recycle) suggests a theoretical win rate of roughly 1 in 50 deals. Relaxed rule sets that allow unlimited stock recycling or additional card access raise the win rate considerably. The low baseline win rate is part of what makes Pyramid a compelling puzzle — winning genuinely requires careful planning and a favorable deal.

Scoring Variations

Pyramid Solitaire can be played with or without a scoring system. Common scoring methods include:

• Card removal scoring — Each card removed from the pyramid earns points equal to its rank value (Ace = 1, King = 13). Clearing the entire pyramid awards a bonus.
• Remaining card penalty — At the end of the game, the sum of all cards left in the pyramid is subtracted from your score. A lower penalty means a better result even when you cannot fully clear the pyramid.
• Timed scoring — A time bonus rewards faster completion. Points decrease the longer the game takes, encouraging efficient decision-making.
• Round scoring — In multi-round variants, your cumulative score carries across several deals. The player with the highest total after a set number of rounds wins.

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