Play Pyramid Solitaire Online for Free
Play unlimited games of Pyramid Solitaire online for free. No download or registration required – play directly in full screen mode on desktop, tablet, or mobile. Challenge your maths skills and clear the 28-card pyramid by pairing cards that sum to 13!
What is Pyramid Solitaire?
Pyramid Solitaire (sometimes referred to as Pyramid Patience or the pyramid patience card game) is a unique and fast-paced puzzle game that tests your quick-maths skills. Instead of building descending sequences like in Klondike or Spider, your goal is to pair cards that add up to exactly 13. The cards are dealt in a distinctive overlapping pyramid shape, and you must dismantle it piece by piece from the bottom up.
Pro Tip: Keyboard Shortcuts
Play faster and more comfortably like a pro using these quick hotkeys.
How to Play Pyramid Solitaire
The Setup
The game uses a standard 52-card deck:
- The Pyramid: 28 cards are dealt face-up in a pyramid shape. The top row has 1 card, the second has 2, and so on down to the bottom row of 7 cards. A card is “uncovered” if no other cards are overlapping its bottom corners.
- The Stock: The remaining 24 cards are placed in a stock pile. You can draw from this pile to help find matches.
At the start of the deal, 28 cards are placed face-up to form a seven-row pyramid. The remaining cards are set aside in the stock pile. Only cards that are completely uncovered (having no cards overlapping their bottom corners) can be clicked and selected for pairing. As you remove cards from the bottom row, you expose the cards in the row above, slowly working your way to the peak.
Card Values
Understanding the pyramid card game rules is key. To make pairs of 13, you need to know the value of the face cards:
- Numbers 2-10: Face value
- Aces: 1
- Jacks: 11 (Pairs with a 2)
- Queens: 12 (Pairs with an Ace)
- Kings: 13 (Does not need a pair; remove it with a single click!)
The Rules
If you are learning how to play pyramid patience, the core pyramid rules solitaire players follow are very straightforward:
- Making Matches: Click any two completely uncovered cards that equal 13 to remove them. You can match two cards in the pyramid, or one from the pyramid and one from the waste pile.
Pairs must sum to exactly 13 to be discarded. In the screenshot above, you can see how pairing a Jack (11) with a 2, or a Queen (12) with an Ace (1), removes both cards from play. You can also pair a card from the pyramid with the active card in your waste pile, helping you clear paths when no matches are available within the pyramid itself.
- Using the Stock: Click the stock to reveal cards. If you cannot make a match with the current waste card, click the stock again to draw the next one.
- Winning: You win the game when all 28 cards from the original pyramid have been completely removed.
Pyramid Solitaire vs. Classic Klondike
To understand the core differences between card pairing and sequencing, review this comparison:
| Feature / Rule | Pyramid Solitaire | Classic Klondike |
|---|---|---|
| Objective | Pair cards that sum to 13 | Build foundations Ace to King by suit |
| Layout Shape | 28-card overlapping triangular pyramid | 28-card tableau of 7 columns |
| Stock Pile | 24 cards, drawn to waste | 24 cards, drawn 1 or 3 to waste |
| Card Pairing / Matching | Pairs equaling 13 (Kings removed solo) | Ascending build by suit, descending on tableau |
| Estimated Solvability | ~1% - 2% (low without extra draws) | ~80% (high) |
| Primary Skill | Basic addition, pathfinding | Sequence building, sorting |
Want to win more often?
Learn the secret strategies that top players use to beat Klondike Patience. From exposing hidden cards to smart stock management, we have you covered.
Learn Winning StrategiesTips for Winning
Pyramid is notoriously difficult because of the overlapping cards. Use these tips to improve your odds:
- Remove Kings Immediately: Since a King is worth 13 on its own, it never needs a partner. Remove it the second it becomes uncovered.
A King can be clicked and discarded immediately without selecting a second card, as depicted in the gameplay screenshot. Doing this as soon as they are exposed is highly recommended, as it immediately unblocks any cards resting under them without consuming other cards from the board.
- Prioritise the Pyramid: If you have the choice between matching a card in the pyramid with the waste pile, OR matching two cards within the pyramid, ALWAYS choose the two in the pyramid. Your goal is to dismantle the structure, not empty the stock.
- Look Ahead: Before making a match, look at what cards it will uncover. Try to uncover cards that will immediately pair with each other.