Pyramid Solitaire Rules: Complete Guide

Learn the complete rules of Pyramid Solitaire. Covers setup, pairing cards to 13, exposed cards, Kings, stock pile, and winning strategies.

What Is Pyramid Solitaire?

Pyramid Solitaire is a popular single-player card game where cards are arranged in a pyramid shape and removed by pairing cards that add up to 13. Unlike Klondike or FreeCell, there's no foundation building or tableau sequencing — just simple arithmetic and strategic card selection.

The game is quick to learn, fast to play, and satisfyingly different from other solitaire variants. It's sometimes called Pyramid, King Tut, or Tut's Tomb.

The Setup

Cards

A standard 52-card deck is used. No jokers.

Card Values

Each card has a numerical value for pairing purposes:

Ace = 1
2 through 10 = face value
Jack = 11
Queen = 12
King = 13

Dealing the Pyramid

28 cards are dealt face-up in a pyramid of 7 rows:

Row 1 (top): 1 card
Row 2: 2 cards
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 2–7 overlaps two cards in the row below, creating the pyramid shape. The remaining 24 cards form the stock (draw pile).

Key Areas

Pyramid — The 28-card triangle where the main gameplay takes place
Stock — 24 face-down cards you can draw from one at a time
Waste — Where drawn stock cards go face-up
Foundation — Where removed pairs are placed (usually handled automatically)

How to Play

Pairing Cards

The core mechanic is simple: select two exposed cards whose values add up to exactly 13, and both are removed from the game.

Valid pairs:

Ace (1) + Queen (12) = 13
2 + Jack (11) = 13
3 + 10 = 13
4 + 9 = 13
5 + 8 = 13
6 + 7 = 13

Removing Kings

Kings have a value of 13, so they are removed alone — no pairing needed. Simply click an exposed King to remove it.

Exposed Cards

A pyramid card is exposed (available for pairing) when it is not covered by any cards below it. In practice:

All 7 cards in the bottom row are always exposed
A card in any other row becomes exposed when both cards overlapping it from the row below have been removed

Using the Stock

Click the stock pile to draw a card to the waste pile. The top card of the waste pile can be paired with any exposed pyramid card. You can draw through the stock once.

Pairing Combinations

You can pair:

Two pyramid cards — Both must be exposed
A pyramid card and the waste top — The pyramid card must be exposed
A King — Removed alone from either the pyramid or waste

Winning the Game

You win when all 28 pyramid cards have been removed. The stock and waste cards don't need to be cleared — only the pyramid matters.

Key Differences from Other Solitaire Games

| Feature | Pyramid | Klondike | FreeCell | Spider | |---|---|---|---|---| | Mechanic | Pair to 13 | Build foundations | Build foundations | Build sequences | | Layout | Triangle | 7 columns | 8 columns | 10 columns | | Cards used | 52 (1 deck) | 52 (1 deck) | 52 (1 deck) | 104 (2 decks) | | Win rate | ~5% | ~25% | ~99% | ~60% (1-suit) | | Game length | 3-10 min | 5-15 min | 5-20 min | 10-30 min | | Primary skill | Card selection | Tableau management | Planning | Sequence building |

Variations

Relaxed Pyramid — Allows cycling through the stock multiple times, making the game easier
Giza — Three waste piles instead of one, giving more pairing options
Apophis — All pyramid cards dealt face-up, but otherwise standard rules
TriPeaks — Three overlapping peaks instead of one pyramid, with different uncovering rules

Quick Reference

Deck: Standard 52 cards, no jokers
Players: 1
Pyramid: 7 rows, 28 cards, all face-up
Stock: 24 cards, drawn one at a time
Goal: Remove all pyramid cards by pairing to 13
King: Removed alone (value = 13)
Win condition: All 28 pyramid cards removed
Win rate: Approximately 5% with standard rules

Ready to Play?

Now that you know the rules, give it a try. Play Pyramid Solitaire right here in your browser — no download required.