Play Pyramid Solitaire Online Free

How to play Pyramid Solitaire

1. Twenty-eight cards are dealt face up in a pyramid of seven rows, each row overlapping the one above. The other twenty-four are the stock.
2. Cards count: ace 1, two to ten their numbers, jack 11, queen 12, king 13.
3. Take off any two UNCOVERED cards that add up to thirteen: tap one, then a lit partner. A king is thirteen alone, so one tap takes it.
4. A card is uncovered when both cards overlapping it from the row below are gone. The whole bottom row is uncovered to start.
5. Tap the stock to turn a card onto the waste. The top waste card is uncovered too, and pairs with the pyramid or with nothing else.
6. When the stock runs out, tap it to turn the waste back over. You get three passes through the stock in all.
7. Take the whole pyramid down to win. Score: one point for every pyramid card taken. With no pairs, no stock and no passes left, the deal is over.

Pyramid Solitaire strategy

The basics that turn knowing the rules into winning games — what to do first, what to keep, what to avoid.

• Look before you pair: when two different cards could partner the same card, take the one that frees a card higher up the pyramid.
• Work on the cards that cover the most others. The pyramid opens from the bottom up, and a single stuck card can wall off a whole side.
• Pair pyramid cards with each other before pairing with the waste when you can; the stock comes round again, the pyramid does not.
• Count the stock: there are four of each rank, so if all four of a partner rank are already gone, plan for the card that needs it.
• Do not burn the last pass quickly. On the third time through, every card the waste turns up is the last chance at it.

Pyramid Solitaire FAQ

What do the cards count?

Ace is 1, two to ten are their numbers, jack 11, queen 12 and king 13. So a queen pairs with an ace, a jack with a two, a ten with a three, and so on. Kings go alone.

Which cards can I take?

Any card with nothing covering it: the whole bottom row to start with, and a card higher up once both cards overlapping it are gone. The top card of the waste counts too.

How many times can I go through the stock?

Three. When the stock runs out, tap it to turn the waste back over, twice.

Can every deal be won?

No, only a minority can. A deal with no pairs and no passes left ends on its own, and Play Again deals another.

Do I need an account?

No. Type a name and play — no signup, no download, nothing to install. Making an account is optional and only exists to keep your stats, nickname and preferences across devices.

Is it really free?

Yes, all of it. Every game on Board Game Universe is free to play, with no premium tier holding anything back.

Can I play on my phone?

Yes. It runs in a mobile browser on phones and tablets as well as on a desktop — there is no app to download.

How do I play with my friends?

Start a table and send your friends the link. They open it, type a name, and sit down. Moves and table chat happen in real time.

Can I play against the computer?

Yes. Add a bot to any table and it plays a proper game — useful for filling a seat while you wait for a fourth.