Logo

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

Perfect tiny brain snack.


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


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


10. Why Pyramid Rocks


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!

How to Play Pyramid Solitaire: Quick Add-to-13 Guide