Pyramid Solitaire
Added 02/2026
Pyramid Solitaire: The Classic Math-Based Puzzle
By Martin Petroff
If you want to step away from the traditional sequence-building of Klondike or Spider and engage a completely different part of your brain, Pyramid Solitaire is a brilliant palate cleanser. Instead of carefully stacking alternating colors, this variation is entirely about simple, fast-paced mathematics. Your goal is to dismantle a towering structure of cards by finding pairs that add up to exactly 13. It is a highly visual, satisfying game that tests your quick-addition skills and your ability to spot combinations hidden within the overlapping rows.
How to Play
The Rules
The layout is arguably the most iconic and recognizable in the entire solitaire family. Here is exactly how to set up the board and start tearing down the pyramid.
The Objective: Your goal is to remove every single card from the pyramid (and ideally, the stockpile) by matching pairs of fully exposed cards whose combined values equal exactly 13.
Card Values: Before you play, you must memorize the numerical value of the face cards:
Aces: 1
Numbers 2-10: Face value
Jacks: 11
Queens: 12
Kings: 13
The Setup (The Pyramid):
Shuffle a standard 52-card deck.
Deal the cards face up to form a pyramid shape.
Start with 1 card at the very top (Row 1).
Place 2 cards overlapping the bottom half of the first card (Row 2).
Place 3 cards overlapping Row 2 (Row 3).
Continue this overlapping pattern until you reach Row 7, which will have 7 cards. (You will use 28 cards in total to build the pyramid).
The remaining 24 cards become your face-down Stockpile.
How to Play:
Making Pairs: You can only select cards that are completely uncovered (meaning no other cards are overlapping them). If two exposed cards add up to 13 (e.g., an 8 and a 5, or a Jack and a 2), select them both to remove them from the board.
The King Rule: Because a King is already worth exactly 13, it does not need a partner. Simply click or tap an exposed King to remove it instantly.
Uncovering Cards: As you remove pairs from the bottom rows, the cards positioned beneath them in the higher rows will gradually become uncovered and available to play.
The Draw: When you cannot find any pairs of 13 in the pyramid, draw a card from your Stockpile and place it face up in a Waste pile.
Using the Waste Pile: You can pair the top, exposed card of the Waste pile with any exposed card in the pyramid to make a 13. You can also pair the top card of the Waste pile with the top card of the Stockpile if they equal 13.
Winning: You win the game when the entire pyramid has been successfully dismantled. (In some strict variations, you must clear the Waste and Stock piles as well!)