Everything you need to know about Pyramid Solitaire. Rules, pairing mechanics, win rates, strategy tips and common questions answered.
Everything you need to know about Pyramid Solitaire. Rules, pairing mechanics, win rates, strategy tips and common questions answered.
Q: How do you set up Pyramid Solitaire?
Pyramid Solitaire uses a single standard 52-card deck. Twenty-eight cards are dealt face-up in a pyramid shape of seven rows: one card in row one at the top, two in row two, three in row three, and so on down to seven cards in the base row. Each card in rows one through six is partially covered by the two cards in the row below it. A card is only accessible — available to be played — when both cards covering it have been removed. The remaining 24 cards form the stock pile. A waste pile sits beside the stock and receives cards as they are drawn. For a full setup guide see our how to play Pyramid Solitaire page.
Q: What are the basic rules of Pyramid Solitaire?
The goal is to remove all 28 pyramid cards by pairing them with another card that together sum to 13. Accessible pyramid cards can be paired with other accessible pyramid cards, with the current waste pile top card, or removed individually if they are a King (value 13 on their own). Kings are the only cards that can be removed without a partner. Card values are: Ace = 1, numbered cards at face value, Jack = 11, Queen = 12, King = 13. Valid pairs are: Ace + Queen, 2 + Jack, 3 + 10, 4 + 9, 5 + 8, 6 + 7, and King alone. Stock cards are drawn one at a time to the waste pile; only the top waste card is accessible at any given moment.
Q: What makes a card accessible in Pyramid Solitaire?
A pyramid card is accessible when no other pyramid card is resting on top of it — that is, when both cards that were placed on it in the row below have already been removed. In the base row (row seven), all seven cards are accessible from the start of the game since nothing covers them. In row six, each card becomes accessible only after both of the two base-row cards below it are removed. The apex card (row one) is accessible only after all 27 cards below it have been removed. Stock and waste pile cards are accessible as they are drawn or exposed.
Q: How many times can you go through the stock in Pyramid?
This varies by implementation. Many versions allow two or three passes through the stock — once the stock is exhausted, the waste pile is turned over to become a new stock. Some implementations allow unlimited passes; others allow only one. Our free Pyramid Solitaire game shows the stock pass rules in effect for each session. The number of available passes significantly affects strategy: with unlimited passes, conservative pairing that preserves access is more important; with a single pass, aggressive removal of accessible cards before they become unavailable is higher priority.
Q: Do Kings remove themselves automatically in Pyramid?
No — Kings must be actively selected and removed by the player. They are not removed automatically when exposed. Because a King is worth 13 on its own, it does not need a pairing partner, but the player must still choose to remove it as a deliberate action. Kings should almost always be removed as soon as they become accessible: they serve no pairing function (no card pairs with a King to reach 13 unless you count the King itself) and their continued presence in the pyramid blocks access to the cards beneath them.
Q: Can you pair a waste pile card with another waste pile card?
No. Only the top card of the waste pile is accessible at any given time. You can pair the waste pile top card with an accessible pyramid card, or remove it alone if it is a King, but you cannot pair two waste pile cards with each other. Similarly, you cannot pair two stock cards directly — each stock card must pass through the waste pile top position to be eligible for pairing.
Q: What happens when the stock runs out in Pyramid?
When the stock is exhausted, the waste pile is typically turned face-down and becomes the new stock, allowing another pass through the same cards. The number of times this is permitted depends on the implementation — some allow one redeal, others two, others unlimited. When no more redeals are permitted and no accessible pyramid card can be paired, the game is over. See our free Pyramid Solitaire game for the specific rules in effect.
Q: What percentage of Pyramid Solitaire games are winnable?
Pyramid Solitaire has one of the lowest theoretical win rates of any mainstream patience game. Approximately 25–40% of randomly dealt Pyramid hands are theoretically winnable, depending on stock pass rules — more passes available means more hands become winnable. In practice, strategic players win roughly 15–25% of hands with unlimited passes; the win rate drops significantly with limited passes. Pyramid is a game where a meaningful proportion of losses are genuinely unwinnable regardless of play quality. See our solitaire win rates guide for a full comparison.
Q: Is Pyramid Solitaire always solvable?
No — Pyramid has a higher proportion of genuinely unwinnable deals than most other patience games. A deal is unwinnable when the pairing dependencies in the pyramid and stock create circular conflicts that cannot be resolved regardless of play order or stock pass sequence. The most common unwinnable pattern is when two cards that must be paired with each other are both blocking access to each other — neither can be reached without first removing the other. Recognising this pattern early and resigning to start a fresh deal is more efficient than exhausting every possible combination.
Q: What is a good Pyramid Solitaire win rate?
Given the relatively low theoretical winnability of Pyramid, win rates are lower than most other patience games. With unlimited stock passes: below 10% is beginner level; 15–20% is competent strategic play; above 25% is strong. With two stock passes: below 8% is beginner; 12–18% is competent; above 20% is strong. Because Pyramid's unwinnable-deal rate is high — roughly 60–75% of deals cannot be won regardless of skill — even expert play produces win rates that appear low by the standards of other patience games. A 20% win rate in Pyramid represents very strong strategic play.
Q: Why do I lose Pyramid Solitaire so often?
Three factors combine to produce Pyramid's high loss rate. First, a large proportion of deals are genuinely unwinnable — no strategy can clear the pyramid. Second, pairing decisions made early in the game can eliminate the only valid partner for a card that will be needed much later, creating an unresolvable block. Third, Kings are often left in the pyramid longer than necessary, blocking access to the cards beneath them and reducing the accessible card pool. The most impactful improvements are: removing Kings immediately when accessible, tracking which specific pairs remain available before making each pairing decision, and passing through the stock conservatively rather than drawing aggressively. See our Pyramid beginner strategy guide for the full framework.
Q: What is the most important Pyramid Solitaire strategy tip?
Before making any pairing decision, check whether the pair you are about to make is the only available pairing for either card involved. If card A can only be paired with card B and you pair card B with card C instead, card A becomes permanently unremovable and the pyramid cannot be cleared. This single-partner check — asking "does this card have any other valid partner accessible?" before every pair — prevents the most common category of avoidable Pyramid losses. For the full beginner strategy framework see our Pyramid beginner strategy guide.
Q: Should I remove Kings immediately in Pyramid?
Almost always yes. Kings are worth 13 alone and have no valid pairing partner — no card combines with a King to sum to 13. A King left in the pyramid blocks access to all cards it covers, reducing the accessible card pool and limiting pairing options. The only situation where holding a King briefly is justified is when removing it immediately would expose a card whose only valid partner has already been used, creating an immediate unresolvable block — but this situation is rare and usually identifiable with a quick scan. As a default habit, remove every King as soon as it becomes accessible.
Q: What is the best order to pair pyramid cards?
Prioritise three-tier pairing in this order: pyramid-to-pyramid pairs first (both cards in the pyramid, removing two pyramid cards in one action); pyramid-plus-waste pairs second (one pyramid card paired with the waste pile top); stock-to-stock pairs via the waste pile last (using drawn stock cards to pair with each other indirectly). Pyramid-to-pyramid pairs are the highest value because they clear two pyramid cards simultaneously and do not consume stock draws. Within pyramid-to-pyramid pairs, prioritise the combination that uncovers the most new accessible cards in the row above — typically the pair that reveals a card in a higher row with more blocked cards beneath it.
Q: How should I manage the stock in Pyramid Solitaire?
Treat stock draws as a finite resource that should be used to enable pyramid pairings rather than consumed reactively. Before drawing from the stock, scan all accessible pyramid cards to check whether any pyramid-to-pyramid pair is available — if one is, make it before drawing. When drawing is necessary, draw specifically to create a waste pile top card that can pair with an accessible pyramid card, rather than drawing aimlessly hoping for a useful card. In games with limited stock passes, preserve stock cards for the pyramid's most difficult later rows rather than using draws to clear easy base-row cards that could be handled by pyramid-to-pyramid pairs. For advanced stock pass management techniques see our Pyramid beginner strategy guide.
Q: How do I know when a Pyramid game is unwinnable?
The clearest indicator of an unwinnable position is a mutual dependency: two pyramid cards that must pair with each other but each requires the other to be removed first before becoming accessible. A secondary indicator is rank depletion — when all accessible cards of a specific rank have already been used, and a pyramid card of the complementary rank (summing to 13 with the depleted rank) remains blocked in the pyramid with no other valid partner. When both conditions apply simultaneously, the deal is almost certainly unwinnable. Spending more than two full stock passes without clearing a new pyramid row is a strong signal to evaluate whether the game can still be won.
Q: Does the order I draw stock cards matter in Pyramid?
Yes — significantly. The waste pile top card is the only stock-derived card accessible at any moment, so the sequence in which stock cards are drawn determines which pairing opportunities are available and when. Because the stock sequence is fixed (determined by the deal), the player cannot change which card will appear next, but can control when to draw by choosing to make pyramid-to-pyramid pairs or pass on drawing until the pyramid is in the right state to use whatever the next stock card will be. Experienced Pyramid players often pause before drawing to evaluate whether the current waste pile top card — before it is covered by the next draw — might still be useful for an accessible pyramid pair that has not yet been made.
Q: What are the main Pyramid Solitaire variants?
The primary variants differ in stock pass rules (one pass, two passes, three passes, or unlimited) and in the target sum. Standard Pyramid uses a sum of 13; some variants use a different target. Giza is a variant that uses three overlapping pyramids. Relaxed Pyramid (also called Pyramid Golf) uses a more permissive version where cards from both the stock and waste can be played at the same time. Tut's Tomb is a harder variant with a more complex pyramid structure. Our solitaire variants guide covers the broader family of matching patience games.
Q: How is Pyramid Solitaire different from Klondike?
Pyramid and Klondike share almost no structural features. Klondike builds descending alternating-colour sequences across a tableau; Pyramid matches pairs of cards that sum to 13 within a fixed triangular layout. Klondike has a face-down card mystery element; Pyramid deals all cards face-up. Klondike's win condition is building four suit foundations; Pyramid's is removing all 28 pyramid cards by pairing. Klondike wins roughly 35–45% of games with good strategy; Pyramid wins roughly 15–25%. Play Klondike in our free Klondike Solitaire game.
Q: How is Pyramid Solitaire different from Golf Solitaire?
Both Pyramid and Golf are stock-based matching games with no tableau building, but their matching logic is opposite in structure. Pyramid matches pairs that sum to a target (13); Golf plays single cards that are one rank higher or lower than the current waste pile top, building a chain. Pyramid removes cards in pairs; Golf removes them individually. Both games are significantly affected by stock order, and both have higher unwinnable-deal rates than sequence-building games like Klondike or FreeCell. Golf is generally considered slightly more winnable than Pyramid because its chain-building mechanic produces more flexible matching opportunities. Play Golf in our free Golf Solitaire game.
Q: Is Pyramid Solitaire a game of luck or skill?
Both, with luck playing a larger role than in most patience games. Pyramid's high unwinnable-deal rate (roughly 60–75%) means that a majority of deals cannot be won regardless of skill, which makes luck of the deal a significant factor in any short-term win rate. Within winnable deals, skill matters substantially — the single-partner check, King management, pyramid-to-pyramid pairing priority, and stock pass conservation all measurably improve the win rate on winnable deals. The honest assessment: Pyramid rewards skill within the constraint of what the deal permits, but no amount of skill can overcome a genuinely unwinnable deal configuration.
Q: Can Pyramid Solitaire be played with physical cards?
Yes — Pyramid is one of the most naturally suited patience games for physical play because its layout is visually intuitive and requires no complex sequence tracking. Deal 28 cards into the pyramid shape as described above, set aside the remaining 24 as the stock, and play according to the standard rules. The main difference in physical play is that the waste pile management is handled manually and redeals must be executed by hand. Keeping track of which cards have been played and which pairs remain available requires slightly more attention in physical play than in digital versions where the game enforces accessibility rules automatically.
Q: How is Pyramid Solitaire scored?
Scoring varies by implementation. A common approach awards points for each card removed from the pyramid — with bonus points for clearing entire rows, and a larger bonus for clearing the apex. Some implementations award a streak bonus when multiple pairs are removed consecutively without drawing from the stock. Our free Pyramid Solitaire game shows the scoring system in use at the start of each session.
Q: What does it mean when Pyramid Solitaire says no more moves?
A no-more-moves notification means no accessible pyramid card can currently be paired — either with another accessible pyramid card or with the current waste pile top — and either no stock cards remain or no further redeals are permitted. This state may indicate a genuinely unwinnable deal, or it may indicate that an earlier pairing decision eliminated the only valid partner for a remaining pyramid card. When the notification appears after only one stock pass, it is worth evaluating whether an earlier decision caused the blockage; when it appears after multiple passes with no new cards cleared, the deal is almost certainly unwinnable.
Pyramid Solitaire uses a single standard 52-card deck. Twenty-eight cards are dealt face-up in a pyramid shape of seven rows: one card in row one at the top, two in row two, three in row three, and so on down to seven cards in the base row. Each card in rows one through six is partially covered by the two cards in the row below it. A card is only accessible — available to be played — when both cards covering it have been removed. The remaining 24 cards form the stock pile. A waste pile sits beside the stock and receives cards as they are drawn. For a full setup guide see our how to play Pyramid Solitaire page.
The goal is to remove all 28 pyramid cards by pairing them with another card that together sum to 13. Accessible pyramid cards can be paired with other accessible pyramid cards, with the current waste pile top card, or removed individually if they are a King (value 13 on their own). Kings are the only cards that can be removed without a partner. Card values are: Ace = 1, numbered cards at face value, Jack = 11, Queen = 12, King = 13. Valid pairs are: Ace + Queen, 2 + Jack, 3 + 10, 4 + 9, 5 + 8, 6 + 7, and King alone. Stock cards are drawn one at a time to the waste pile; only the top waste card is accessible at any given moment.
A pyramid card is accessible when no other pyramid card is resting on top of it — that is, when both cards that were placed on it in the row below have already been removed. In the base row (row seven), all seven cards are accessible from the start of the game since nothing covers them. In row six, each card becomes accessible only after both of the two base-row cards below it are removed. The apex card (row one) is accessible only after all 27 cards below it have been removed. Stock and waste pile cards are accessible as they are drawn or exposed.
This varies by implementation. Many versions allow two or three passes through the stock — once the stock is exhausted, the waste pile is turned over to become a new stock. Some implementations allow unlimited passes; others allow only one. Our free Pyramid Solitaire game shows the stock pass rules in effect for each session. The number of available passes significantly affects strategy: with unlimited passes, conservative pairing that preserves access is more important; with a single pass, aggressive removal of accessible cards before they become unavailable is higher priority.
No — Kings must be actively selected and removed by the player. They are not removed automatically when exposed. Because a King is worth 13 on its own, it does not need a pairing partner, but the player must still choose to remove it as a deliberate action. Kings should almost always be removed as soon as they become accessible: they serve no pairing function (no card pairs with a King to reach 13 unless you count the King itself) and their continued presence in the pyramid blocks access to the cards beneath them.
No. Only the top card of the waste pile is accessible at any given time. You can pair the waste pile top card with an accessible pyramid card, or remove it alone if it is a King, but you cannot pair two waste pile cards with each other. Similarly, you cannot pair two stock cards directly — each stock card must pass through the waste pile top position to be eligible for pairing.
When the stock is exhausted, the waste pile is typically turned face-down and becomes the new stock, allowing another pass through the same cards. The number of times this is permitted depends on the implementation — some allow one redeal, others two, others unlimited. When no more redeals are permitted and no accessible pyramid card can be paired, the game is over. See our free Pyramid Solitaire game for the specific rules in effect.
Pyramid Solitaire has one of the lowest theoretical win rates of any mainstream patience game. Approximately 25–40% of randomly dealt Pyramid hands are theoretically winnable, depending on stock pass rules — more passes available means more hands become winnable. In practice, strategic players win roughly 15–25% of hands with unlimited passes; the win rate drops significantly with limited passes. Pyramid is a game where a meaningful proportion of losses are genuinely unwinnable regardless of play quality. See our solitaire win rates guide for a full comparison.
No — Pyramid has a higher proportion of genuinely unwinnable deals than most other patience games. A deal is unwinnable when the pairing dependencies in the pyramid and stock create circular conflicts that cannot be resolved regardless of play order or stock pass sequence. The most common unwinnable pattern is when two cards that must be paired with each other are both blocking access to each other — neither can be reached without first removing the other. Recognising this pattern early and resigning to start a fresh deal is more efficient than exhausting every possible combination.
Given the relatively low theoretical winnability of Pyramid, win rates are lower than most other patience games. With unlimited stock passes: below 10% is beginner level; 15–20% is competent strategic play; above 25% is strong. With two stock passes: below 8% is beginner; 12–18% is competent; above 20% is strong. Because Pyramid's unwinnable-deal rate is high — roughly 60–75% of deals cannot be won regardless of skill — even expert play produces win rates that appear low by the standards of other patience games. A 20% win rate in Pyramid represents very strong strategic play.
Three factors combine to produce Pyramid's high loss rate. First, a large proportion of deals are genuinely unwinnable — no strategy can clear the pyramid. Second, pairing decisions made early in the game can eliminate the only valid partner for a card that will be needed much later, creating an unresolvable block. Third, Kings are often left in the pyramid longer than necessary, blocking access to the cards beneath them and reducing the accessible card pool. The most impactful improvements are: removing Kings immediately when accessible, tracking which specific pairs remain available before making each pairing decision, and passing through the stock conservatively rather than drawing aggressively. See our Pyramid beginner strategy guide for the full framework.
Before making any pairing decision, check whether the pair you are about to make is the only available pairing for either card involved. If card A can only be paired with card B and you pair card B with card C instead, card A becomes permanently unremovable and the pyramid cannot be cleared. This single-partner check — asking "does this card have any other valid partner accessible?" before every pair — prevents the most common category of avoidable Pyramid losses. For the full beginner strategy framework see our Pyramid beginner strategy guide.
Almost always yes. Kings are worth 13 alone and have no valid pairing partner — no card combines with a King to sum to 13. A King left in the pyramid blocks access to all cards it covers, reducing the accessible card pool and limiting pairing options. The only situation where holding a King briefly is justified is when removing it immediately would expose a card whose only valid partner has already been used, creating an immediate unresolvable block — but this situation is rare and usually identifiable with a quick scan. As a default habit, remove every King as soon as it becomes accessible.
Prioritise three-tier pairing in this order: pyramid-to-pyramid pairs first (both cards in the pyramid, removing two pyramid cards in one action); pyramid-plus-waste pairs second (one pyramid card paired with the waste pile top); stock-to-stock pairs via the waste pile last (using drawn stock cards to pair with each other indirectly). Pyramid-to-pyramid pairs are the highest value because they clear two pyramid cards simultaneously and do not consume stock draws. Within pyramid-to-pyramid pairs, prioritise the combination that uncovers the most new accessible cards in the row above — typically the pair that reveals a card in a higher row with more blocked cards beneath it.
Treat stock draws as a finite resource that should be used to enable pyramid pairings rather than consumed reactively. Before drawing from the stock, scan all accessible pyramid cards to check whether any pyramid-to-pyramid pair is available — if one is, make it before drawing. When drawing is necessary, draw specifically to create a waste pile top card that can pair with an accessible pyramid card, rather than drawing aimlessly hoping for a useful card. In games with limited stock passes, preserve stock cards for the pyramid's most difficult later rows rather than using draws to clear easy base-row cards that could be handled by pyramid-to-pyramid pairs. For advanced stock pass management techniques see our Pyramid beginner strategy guide.
The clearest indicator of an unwinnable position is a mutual dependency: two pyramid cards that must pair with each other but each requires the other to be removed first before becoming accessible. A secondary indicator is rank depletion — when all accessible cards of a specific rank have already been used, and a pyramid card of the complementary rank (summing to 13 with the depleted rank) remains blocked in the pyramid with no other valid partner. When both conditions apply simultaneously, the deal is almost certainly unwinnable. Spending more than two full stock passes without clearing a new pyramid row is a strong signal to evaluate whether the game can still be won.
Yes — significantly. The waste pile top card is the only stock-derived card accessible at any moment, so the sequence in which stock cards are drawn determines which pairing opportunities are available and when. Because the stock sequence is fixed (determined by the deal), the player cannot change which card will appear next, but can control when to draw by choosing to make pyramid-to-pyramid pairs or pass on drawing until the pyramid is in the right state to use whatever the next stock card will be. Experienced Pyramid players often pause before drawing to evaluate whether the current waste pile top card — before it is covered by the next draw — might still be useful for an accessible pyramid pair that has not yet been made.
The primary variants differ in stock pass rules (one pass, two passes, three passes, or unlimited) and in the target sum. Standard Pyramid uses a sum of 13; some variants use a different target. Giza is a variant that uses three overlapping pyramids. Relaxed Pyramid (also called Pyramid Golf) uses a more permissive version where cards from both the stock and waste can be played at the same time. Tut's Tomb is a harder variant with a more complex pyramid structure. Our solitaire variants guide covers the broader family of matching patience games.
Pyramid and Klondike share almost no structural features. Klondike builds descending alternating-colour sequences across a tableau; Pyramid matches pairs of cards that sum to 13 within a fixed triangular layout. Klondike has a face-down card mystery element; Pyramid deals all cards face-up. Klondike's win condition is building four suit foundations; Pyramid's is removing all 28 pyramid cards by pairing. Klondike wins roughly 35–45% of games with good strategy; Pyramid wins roughly 15–25%. Play Klondike in our free Klondike Solitaire game.
Both Pyramid and Golf are stock-based matching games with no tableau building, but their matching logic is opposite in structure. Pyramid matches pairs that sum to a target (13); Golf plays single cards that are one rank higher or lower than the current waste pile top, building a chain. Pyramid removes cards in pairs; Golf removes them individually. Both games are significantly affected by stock order, and both have higher unwinnable-deal rates than sequence-building games like Klondike or FreeCell. Golf is generally considered slightly more winnable than Pyramid because its chain-building mechanic produces more flexible matching opportunities. Play Golf in our free Golf Solitaire game.
Both, with luck playing a larger role than in most patience games. Pyramid's high unwinnable-deal rate (roughly 60–75%) means that a majority of deals cannot be won regardless of skill, which makes luck of the deal a significant factor in any short-term win rate. Within winnable deals, skill matters substantially — the single-partner check, King management, pyramid-to-pyramid pairing priority, and stock pass conservation all measurably improve the win rate on winnable deals. The honest assessment: Pyramid rewards skill within the constraint of what the deal permits, but no amount of skill can overcome a genuinely unwinnable deal configuration.
Yes — Pyramid is one of the most naturally suited patience games for physical play because its layout is visually intuitive and requires no complex sequence tracking. Deal 28 cards into the pyramid shape as described above, set aside the remaining 24 as the stock, and play according to the standard rules. The main difference in physical play is that the waste pile management is handled manually and redeals must be executed by hand. Keeping track of which cards have been played and which pairs remain available requires slightly more attention in physical play than in digital versions where the game enforces accessibility rules automatically.
Scoring varies by implementation. A common approach awards points for each card removed from the pyramid — with bonus points for clearing entire rows, and a larger bonus for clearing the apex. Some implementations award a streak bonus when multiple pairs are removed consecutively without drawing from the stock. Our free Pyramid Solitaire game shows the scoring system in use at the start of each session.
A no-more-moves notification means no accessible pyramid card can currently be paired — either with another accessible pyramid card or with the current waste pile top — and either no stock cards remain or no further redeals are permitted. This state may indicate a genuinely unwinnable deal, or it may indicate that an earlier pairing decision eliminated the only valid partner for a remaining pyramid card. When the notification appears after only one stock pass, it is worth evaluating whether an earlier decision caused the blockage; when it appears after multiple passes with no new cards cleared, the deal is almost certainly unwinnable.