To start the game, examine the bottom row of the pyramid and see if the value of any pair of cards can be added together to make 13. You cannot fill empty spaces – Unlike traditional Klondike Solitaire, the gaps left behind by removing cards can't be used to move or store other cards – you must play from the pyramid as is. However, players may only do this three times – exceeding three cycles counts as a loss. Limited pile recycling – Typically, players can cycle through the stockpiles to find matches for exposed cards in the pyramid and progress. Use the waste pile – If the face-up card on the waste pile matches with any of the exposed cards on the pyramid, they can both be moved to the foundation pile. If a card is overlapped with another one, it isn't in play – the face card overlapping it will need to be removed first to expose it.Ĭards in the foundation pile cannot be reused – Once a pair that adds to 13 is placed on the foundation piles, they are eliminated from play and cannot be used further or brought back in. Only exposed cards can be removed – Only cards that are not overlapped by cards below are in play, meaning you can pair them with other exposed cards. Kings can be removed from the pyramid without a pair – Because a king is valued at 13, it can be removed from the pyramid on its own – letting you open up options across tableau. There are certain rules specific to this type that you need to bear in mind. Pyramid Solitaire is different from other forms of Solitaire.

However, understanding how to navigate the pyramid is crucial to improving your game. Its fast-paced tempo and short game length make it a perfect mental challenge for when you've got moments to spare. Pyramid Solitaire is a simple variant to get to grips with.

To win Pyramid Solitaire, you need to remove pairs of exposed cards that add up to 13 and clear the entire tableau – compared to traditional Klondike Solitaire, in which you can organize cards into stacked piles. Although they have similar end goals, the two are radically different games.

It's similar to other solitaire games like Spider and FreeCell where the objective is to clear the tableau by organizing cards into foundation piles. Pyramid Solitaire is a unique spin on traditional Klondike Solitaire, in which the cards are arranged in a pyramid format in separate columns.

Simple solitaire card games