One of the most unique solitaire games to ever exist is the Pyramid Solitaire, also known as Solitaire 13. While traditional solitaire games involve building sequences or matching suits by moving cards between piles, this variant focuses on card elimination, revolving around a single target number: thirteen (13). This casino guide will help you understand how to play Pyramid Solitaire.
The inclusion of arithmetic in the Pyramid Solitaire challenges players’ strategic thinking, which makes some shy away from this game. However, there is no need to do so. It is a fun game to play.
How To Play Pyramid Solitaire: Setup, Rules & Strategy Guide
The Pyramid Solitaire classic card game was apparently first discussed in a book by Albert Hodges in 1949. The purpose of the game is to remove all cards (arranged in a signature pyramid shape) by pairing them strategically. And you can only remove pairs that total 13.
Following the Solitaire guide, every move you make aims to find exposed card pairs that add up to this number. Each card pair you remove exposes previously blocked cards, creating more opportunities. You can only play cards that are fully uncovered.
Card Requirements
All you need to play the Solitaire 13 card game is a standard 52-card deck with no jokers. Some of the top 10 popular casino card games utilize a similar deck.
Each card has a fixed value:
- Ace = 1
- Number cards (2–10) = face value (i.e. 2 = 2, 3 = 3, and so on)
- Jack = 11
- Queen = 12
- King = 13 (this means it can be removed without pairing)
Try your hand at popular online casino table games to further understand card values.
The Pyramid Setup
A typical Pyramid Solitaire setup requires 28 cards arranged in 7 rows. One card occupies the top row and increases by 1 card per row, down to 7 cards in the bottom row, but only the cards in the bottom row are initially exposed for pairing. As you remove the cards, the cards above them become revealed for play.
As you play, you’ll also have 24 cards not used in the pyramid. These cards form a stockpile where you can flip one or three cards at a time to pair with exposed pyramid cards for elimination.
Unpairable cards drawn from the stock stay in the waste pile. According to the Pyramid Solitaire rules, once you exhaust the stockpile, the game ends (unless you fully clear the pyramid first). You can learn how to play Klondike solitaire to know how to manage the stock and waste piles.
Creating Pairs
You can create pairs in several ways:
- 2 exposed cards from the pyramid
- 1 exposed pyramid card and the top card from the stockpile
- 1 uncovered pyramid card and the top card from the waste pile
- The top cards of both the stockpile and the waste pile
Step-by-Step Gameplay: How To Play Pyramid Solitaire
Here’s how to play Pyramid Solitaire:
Step 1: Scan the pyramid to remove the Kings immediately.
Step 2: If you see any exposed card pairs that add up to 13, remove them.
Step 3: Work from the bottom up by targeting the lowest rows first. This action helps expose upper-level cards faster.
Step 4: Draw from the stockpile and/or waste pile when no more pyramid-only moves are possible, as described above.
Victory or Deadlock!
You win when you clear the pyramid (win!) or lose when no more valid pairs can be made with the remaining stock and exposed cards.
Learning how to play Pyramid Solitaire boils down to understanding the strategic flow, setup, and general rules. Whether you’re dealing cards by hand or playing digitally, you can always have mentally stimulating fun with the Solitaire variant. And remember, the best site to place wagers is at Slots Paradise Casino.
FAQs
How to win Pyramid Solitaire?
To win, remove all cards from the pyramid by pairing cards that sum to 13 before running out of moves or stockpile cycles.
How to set up Pyramid Solitaire?
Shuffle a deck, deal 28 cards face-up in a pyramid of 7 rows with overlapping cards, and place the remaining cards as a stockpile.
What is the goal of Pyramid Solitaire?
The goal is to clear all cards from the pyramid by pairing exposed cards that add up to 13.