How to Play Pyramid Solitaire—Your Quick-Fire, Add-Up-to-13 Adventure

Klondike and FreeCell are logic marathons—great, but sometimes you just want a two-minute dopamine hit. Pyramid is that hit. Part basic math, part card-clearing zen, it’s the solitaire you can finish before the microwave beeps.

1. Setting Up the Pyramid (Literally)

1. Grab a 52-card deck—ditch the Jokers.

2. Build a pyramid of overlapping cards, face-up:

   • Row 1 (top) = 1 card

   • Row 2 = 2 cards (slightly overlapping)

   • Row 3 = 3 cards … keep going until Row 7 has 7 cards

3. You’ll have 28 cards in the pyramid.

4. Place the remaining 24 cards face-down in a draw pile; flip the top card face-up to start a waste pile.

That’s your entire board: one visible triangle, a draw pile, and a waste pile top card.

2. Goal in One Line

Remove every card in the pyramid by pairing exposed cards that add up to 13. (Kings count as 13 solo—easy bonus clears.)

3. Card Values Cheat Sheet

Card Value

King: 13 (auto-remove)

Queen: 12

Jack: 11

Ace: 11

0–2: Face value

No fancy math—just simple addition.

4. What “Exposed” Means

A card is exposed when no card is overlapping its lower corners. In early rows, that means both supporting cards beneath must be cleared first.

5. Playing a Turn (The Flow)

1. Look for pairs in the pyramid that add to 13. Remove them.

2. Check for a lone King—instantly discard it.

3. If stuck, flip a card from the draw pile onto the waste pile.

4. You can pair the waste-pile top with any exposed pyramid card or with the previous waste-pile top (two-card waste pair).

5. Cycle through the draw pile once (classic rules) until either:

   • All 28 pyramid cards are gone → You win 🎉

   • No moves and no draw cards remain → Try again 😅

(Some apps let you redeal the waste back into the draw once; house rules vary.)

6. Speed vs. Chill—Average Play Time

• Total newbie: 3-5 minutes per game while double-checking sums.

• Experienced: 1-3 minutes—rapid scans, quick flips.

• Score junkie: under 60 seconds, hunting combo bonuses.

Perfect tiny brain snack.

7. Rookie Mistakes (Skip These, Thank Me Later)

• Flipping too fast. Always scan for fresh pyramid pairs before drawing.

• Ignoring waste-pile combos. Two waste cards can pair to 13 too—don’t overlook them.

• Burning Aces early. Sometimes holding a 1 lets you pair with a 12 later and extend your run.

• Forgetting Kings. Spot ’em, clear ’em—free real estate!

8. Pro Tips to Boost Your Win Rate

1. Work from the bottom rows up. Clearing supports unlocks more exposed cards quickly.

2. Leave flexible cards on the waste. An exposed 8 in the pyramid? Maybe keep that 5 on top of the waste until you draw a 5 or 8 partner.

3. Count what’s missing. Lots of 9s showing? You’ll need 4s—maybe hold one when it appears.

4. One draw-cycle rule: if your version allows only a single pass, think twice before flipping.

9. Fun Variations

• TriPeaks – three smaller peaks, play cards one rank up/down (faster combo flow).

• Relaxed Pyramid – unlimited passes through the draw pile; great for learning.

• Timed Mode – beat the clock for extra points; panic meets arithmetic.

10. Why Pyramid Rocks

• Math + Matching – gentle arithmetic keeps the brain awake.

• No hidden cards – everything’s face-up; success feels earned.

• Ultra quick rounds – perfect during ads, queues, or coffee brew time.

• Satisfying collapse – the triangle literally melts as you play. Feels good every time.

Ready to Topple a Pyramid?

Fire up any solitaire app, select “Pyramid,” and start pairing to 13 like a pro. When you fancy something longer—and love a renovation side quest—slide over to Solitaire Home Story for cozy Klondike levels, guaranteed-winnable deals, and a story that unfolds with every victory.

Now go unleash your inner math ninja. Happy stacking!