Rules for Pyramid Solitaire

Pyramid Solitaire is a well-known solitaire card game built around a pyramid-shaped layout. The goal is to clear all the cards from the pyramid by pairing cards that add up to 13. Luck plays a big part, but some planning helps too. With the strictest rules, the odds of winning are roughly 1 in 50.

Pyramid Solitaire has been played in various forms since the 1800s and goes by several names. It became widely popular when Microsoft included a version called "Tut's Tomb" in their entertainment pack in the 1990s.

You need a standard deck of 52 cards (no jokers). Deal the cards into a pyramid shape:

• Row 1 (top): 1 card
• Row 2: 2 cards, partially covering the card above
• Row 3: 3 cards, partially covering the cards above
• Row 4: 4 cards
• Row 5: 5 cards
• Row 6: 6 cards
• Row 7 (bottom): 7 cards

The pyramid uses 28 cards in total, all face up. The remaining 24 cards are placed face down next to the pyramid as the stock pile.

In Pyramid Solitaire, cards have the following values:

• Ace = 1
• Number cards (2-10) = face value
• Jack = 11
• Queen = 12
• King = 13

Pairs that add up to 13:

• Ace (1) + Queen (12)
• 2 + Jack (11)
• 3 + 10
• 4 + 9
• 5 + 8
• 6 + 7
• King alone (13)

The goal is to remove all cards from the pyramid by pairing cards that total 13:

• Only fully uncovered cards (not blocked by any card below them) can be selected
• At the start, only the 7 cards in the bottom row are available
• Removing cards uncovers the cards above them
• Kings (value 13) can be removed on their own without a pair
• You can pair two pyramid cards together, or a pyramid card with the top card of the waste pile

When no more moves are available, turn one card at a time from the stock onto the waste pile. The top card of the waste pile is always available for pairing.

Different rules apply to how many times you can go through the stock:

• Strict variant: You can only go through the stock once. When all cards have been turned and no moves remain, the game ends
• Standard variant: You can flip the waste pile back into a new stock up to 3 times in total
• Unlimited variant: You can flip the waste pile as many times as you like

More passes make the game easier.

There are two ways to define a win:

• Classic win: All 52 cards must be removed, including both the pyramid and every card in the stock and waste pile
• Relaxed win: Clearing the 28 pyramid cards is enough to win

The game is lost if you run out of valid moves and still have cards left in the pyramid, with no stock passes remaining.

Pyramid Solitaire is mostly a game of luck, but these tips can improve your chances:

• Remove Kings right away: Kings can be removed on their own, so take them off as soon as they are uncovered
• Look ahead: Study the pyramid before you start and think about which cards are blocking others
• Prefer pyramid pairs: If you can pair two pyramid cards or a pyramid card with the waste pile, the pyramid pair is usually the better choice
• Keep it balanced: Try to remove cards evenly from both sides so cards do not get trapped
• Use the stock sparingly: Make all available moves in the pyramid before turning cards from the stock
• Track discarded cards: Keep note of which cards have already been removed

Pyramid Solitaire has many variations:

• Tut's Tomb: The King of ♠️ is placed first at the top of the pyramid as "King Tutankhamun". Three cards are turned at a time from the stock
• Apophis: Uses three waste piles instead of one
• Giza: After the pyramid is dealt, the remaining cards are laid out in three rows of eight
• Double Pyramid: Two pyramids side by side sharing a single waste pile
• Tri-Peaks: Three overlapping pyramids that must all be cleared
• Par Pyramid: The waste pile can be turned over and used as a new stock twice

Many digital versions include a scoring system to track your progress:

• Remove a pair: 50-100 points
• Remove a King: 100-500 points
• Clear the pyramid: 5000-15000 bonus points
• Time bonus: Starts high and decreases as you play
• Round bonus: Increases for each round completed

The best score comes from removing all cards as quickly as possible with the fewest moves.