How to play Pyramid
A practical guide to the objective, legal flow, and decisions that matter in this playable version.
Objective
Pyramid Solitaire removes pairs whose ranks total thirteen. Kings count as thirteen and leave by themselves; Queens pair with Aces, Jacks with Twos, Tens with Threes, and so on. Clear every pyramid card to win.
How a turn works
Only uncovered pyramid cards can be selected. Pair two available cards totalling thirteen, remove an exposed King, or combine an available pyramid card with the current waste card. Draw from the stock when no useful pair is available, while remembering that overlapped cards remain blocked until both covering cards leave.
Strategy that changes the outcome
Prioritise pairs that uncover two different cards or release a deeply buried blocker. Compare duplicate ranks before choosing which copy to remove, because one may cover a much more valuable card. Preserve flexible waste matches when a pyramid counterpart is about to become exposed.
First decision: Reserve flexible pairs for buried cards and remember that an exposed King can leave the pyramid by itself.
A common mistake to avoid
A correct total is not enough if one card is still covered. The pyramid’s overlap structure decides availability, so a tempting buried pair cannot be used early.
Three useful table habits
- Learn the six rank pairs that total thirteen.
- Remove exposed Kings promptly unless another move opens more cards.
- Choose between duplicate ranks by examining what each one covers.
A question players ask
What happens when the Pyramid stock is exhausted?
If pyramid cards remain and no available pair can be made under the deal’s stock-pass rule, the deal is lost. Restarting the same deal lets you test whether a different pairing order could clear it.
About this guide
We compare the rules shown in the game with the implemented legal moves, complete representative deals, and review desktop and mobile presentation. If a house rule changes play, the in-game How to play panel takes precedence. Read How games are researched and tested.