Pyramid Solitaire

Pyramid solitaire is a one-player card game where you clear a pyramid of 28 cards by removing pairs that add up to 13. This free version runs in your browser, with no download and no sign-up, so you can play pyramid solitaire online right from this page.

Ace counts as 1, the number cards count as their face value, Jack is 11, Queen is 12, and King is 13. Suit does not matter. Kings are removed on their own with a single tap.

Each deal has a number, so you can replay a deal or share it with someone else. The game keeps your current deal, score and best scores in your browser. The steps below explain how to play with the controls, and the rules section covers setup, scoring and strategy.

How to play pyramid solitaire online

1. Look at the pyramid. A card is free when no card covers it. The whole bottom row is free at the start, and covered cards are greyed out and cannot be picked.
2. Tap or click a free card to select it. It gets a blue outline and lifts.
3. Tap a second free card. If the two ranks add up to 13, both are removed. If not, a message explains the total, and the second card becomes the new selection.
4. Tap a free King to remove it at once.
5. Tap the stock, the face-down pile, to turn one card onto the waste. The top card of the waste can be used like a pyramid card.
6. When the stock is empty, tap it again to redeal the waste into a new stock, if a pass is left.
7. Use Undo to take back any move, Hint to see one suggested removal, and Restart this deal to start the same deal over.

Open the Redeals menu to choose 1 pass (none), 3 passes (the default) or Unlimited; changing it starts a new game.

On a keyboard, Tab moves between free cards, the stock and the waste. Enter or Space selects a focused card, and Space or Enter turns the stock when no button is focused. U or Ctrl/Cmd+Z undoes, H gives a hint, N starts a new game, F toggles fullscreen and Esc closes a message.

To share a deal, copy the address: it ends with ?seed= and the deal number.

Pyramid solitaire rules and setup

One standard 52-card deck is used. 28 cards form the pyramid, in seven rows of 1, 2, 3 up to 7 cards, where each card overlaps the two cards below it. The other 24 cards form the face-down stock, and the waste starts empty.

The goal is to clear the pyramid. Cards left in the stock or waste do not matter for winning.

What are the pyramid solitaire game rules?

A pyramid card is free when both cards of the next row that overlap it are gone. You can only pick free cards, and the top card of the waste. The stock is face down, so you must turn a card onto the waste before you can use it. Two cards cannot both come from the waste, but one pyramid card and the waste top can form a pair.

You win when the pyramid is empty. The game is stuck when no removal is possible now and none can appear by turning the stock or redealing. A “No more moves” message then appears.

Pyramid solitaire card game rules: values and pairs

Pairs are two free cards whose values total 13. The valid pairs are:

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

Kings (13) are removed alone. Suit never matters.

Pyramid solitaire tips

Look at the pyramid before you tap anything. Removing a card can free two or more cards below it, so start with moves that uncover the most cards. The Hint button picks the removal that frees the most cards, which makes it a useful check on your own choice.

Turning the stock costs nothing and is reversible with Undo. Use it to find cards you need, but do not turn through it in a hurry.

Pyramid solitaire strategy

When you can, clear pairs made only from pyramid cards first; the hint does the same. Keep an eye on which Queens, Jacks and Aces are still in play, because each one needs a partner.

Scoring rewards pairs and Kings. Each pair gives 10 points, each King gives 5, and clearing the pyramid adds a 100-point bonus plus 5 points for every card left in the stock and waste.

Can every pyramid solitaire deal be won?

No. There is no guarantee that a deal can be cleared. The game has no solver, so a stuck deal may simply have no way forward. Restart this deal or try Undo to explore another line.

Worked example from deal #3

The bottom row of deal #3 is 2♦ 4♣ J♠ 7♥ 2♣ 3♦ 9♣, the apex is 3♥, and the stock holds 24 cards. Since 2 + J = 13, the first hint suggests 2♦ and J♠. Removing them gives 10 points and leaves 26 cards in the pyramid. Undo puts both cards back, the score returns to 0, and the pyramid again holds 28 cards.

With 1 pass there is no redeal. With 3 passes there are two redeals, and with Unlimited you can redeal as often as you need.

Frequently asked questions

Is pyramid solitaire free, and do I need to sign up?

Yes. You can play straight away with no sign-up, because the game has no accounts or leaderboards.

Can I play pyramid solitaire on a phone?

Yes. The pyramid scales to the screen width, so the cards are about 45 px wide on a 375 px phone. Tap cards to select them, and the layout does not scroll sideways at 320 px.

Is my game saved?

Your game in progress is saved in this browser after every move, so a reload continues it. Your Redeals setting and best scores are saved too. Nothing is sent to a server. The selected card is not saved.

Does the redeal option change the deal?

No. It only changes how many times the waste can be turned into a new stock. Changing it starts a new deal, so to replay a layout with another setting, open that deal’s ?seed= link again.

Why did my two cards not pair?

A message shows the two cards and their total, such as the 4 of clubs and 7 of hearts making 11, not 13. The second card then becomes your selection, so you can try another pair.

Can a deal be shared?

Yes. Copy the address of the page while the deal is on screen. It includes the deal number after ?seed=, and opening that link starts the same deal.

More games

• Golf Solitaire: another solitaire card game for when you want a different card layout to clear.
• Spider Solitaire: a solitaire card game with its own card layout, for when you want to try something similar but different.
• Memory Game: a card game for matching pairs, for when you want to test your memory instead.
• Dice Game: a game played with dice, for a quick round that relies on chance.
• 2048: a number puzzle, for when you want a different kind of puzzle.
• Tower of Hanoi: a stacking puzzle, for when you want to plan several moves ahead.
• TriPeaks Solitaire: clear three peaks of cards one rank higher or lower than the open card.
• Klondike Solitaire: the classic solitaire with seven columns and four Ace-to-King foundations.