Pyramid Solitaire Strategy Guide

Pyramid Solitaire is a fun solitaire game, with a very distinctive tableau in the shape of a pyramid. There is a large element of luck involved, but certain strategies can be used to dramatically increase your chances of winning.

The Objective

The aim of Pyramid Solitaire is to remove all the cards from the tableau and the talon. Cards are removed in pairs when their combined total equals 13. The exception to this rule is with Kings, which are removed on their own. Cards can only be removed when they are completely exposed, meaning there are no cards on top of them.

Card Pairing Combinations

Ace and Queen
2 and Jack
3 and 10
4 and 9
5 and 8
6 and 7
King (removed on its own)

While the rules for Pyramid Solitaire are easy to understand, the game itself offers some interesting complexities. You must plan which cards to remove in order to maximize your options later in the game. Sometimes, you’ll need to leave a card for later to avoid creating an impasse. Remembering the order of cards in the talon can also be crucial for success.

Identifying Early Impasses

At the start of the game, scan the first four rows for situations that could make the game impossible to complete. This occurs when all the cards that pair with a card are located in the triangle below it. A card cannot be selected until all the cards in the triangle below it are removed.

For example, consider this setup:

. . . 2 . . .. . J . 8 . .Q . J . 8 .6 . J . 4 . J

All the Jacks are located in the triangle below the top 2. To expose the top 2, all the Jacks need to be removed first. However, this is impossible because Jacks can only be removed in combination with 2’s. In this scenario, you’ll never be able to remove the top Jack, making it impossible to finish the game.

If the four combination cards appear below a card, the game cannot be completed, and you may as well redeal.

Managing Three-Card Impasses

If only three of the combination cards appear below a card, you’ll face a potential impasse later in the game. Wherever the fourth combination card is located, it MUST be combined with the top card. If the fourth combination card is in the talon, you need to remember this and be careful not to use it prematurely, or you’ll create an impasse.

General Gameplay Tips

Once you’ve ensured the game is winnable, you can begin planning your moves:

Always remove Kings whenever possible: Since Kings aren’t used in combination with any other cards, there’s no advantage to waiting, so clear them as soon as they’re available.
Don’t rush: You can cycle through the talon up to three times, so take your time and assess the remaining cards before making combinations. This often allows for better decisions later on.
Balance removals between the tableau and talon: Ideally, you want to finish removing cards from the tableau as the talon runs out. This increases the likelihood of clearing the board completely.

By following these strategies, you may not win every game of Pyramid Solitaire, but you will significantly improve your chances of winning more often.