Pyramid Solitaire
Pyramid Solitaire Card Game. Pyramid Solitaire is a popular solitaire card game where the player is trying to remove all the cards from a pyramid by pairing them together so that the total value of the pair is 13. Here's a list of all the pairs that can be made in a game of Pyramid: Queen and Ace; Jack and 2; 10 and 3. Pyramid Solitaire: Ancient Egypt at PrimaryGames Help Pharoah build the spectacular pyramids of Ancient Egypt in this atmospheric pyramid solitaire game. Are you looking for unblocked games? PrimaryGames is the fun place to learn and play!
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Pyramid Solitaire game info
- Family: Adding & Pairing Solitaire Games
- Decks: One deck (52 cards)
- Game time: Short
- Chance of winning: Medium
Pyramid Solitaire Rules
Table of contents
Goal
The objective in Pyramid Solitaire is to remove all cards in the pyramid by pairing cards that add up to 13.
Layout & deal
First, 28 cards are dealt face-up in the shape of a pyramid, with the cards partially overlapping. The remaining cards are put face-down in the stock.
Allowable moves
- Pair cards that add up to 13. Pairing is done by first clicking on the first card and then on the second card. Only cards that are open, i.e. don’t have another card on top of them, can be paired. It doesn’t matter where the cards are, you can pair cards that are in the pyramid, in the waste or in the temporary card storage.
- Aces count as 1, Jacks as 11 and Queens as 12. The valid pairs are: Ace & Queen, Two & Jack, Three & Ten, Four & Nine, Five & Eight, Four & Nine.
- Kings count as 13 and can be removed by simply clicking on them.
- Flip the stock to reveal three additional cards that will be added to the three waste piles. Note that resetting the stock is not possible. You can only loop through it once.
- Move an open card from the pyramid or the waste to the temporary card storage in the bottom left.
- Undo a move by clicking the undo button in the bottom right corner. Note that you can only go back one move.
If you are still unsure about which moves are allowed, follow the in-game tutorial.
Scoring
Pyramid Solitaire Ancient Egypt has several scoring rules that reward quick play and good strategy. Complete different rounds after each other to improve your score.
- Removal of a pair of cards or a King: 500 points
- Completion of a round: 10,000 points
- (Bonus) Removal of all cards, so not only the pyramid but also the cards in the stock & waste: 15,000 points
- (Bonus) Time bonus shown in the top left corner: counts down from 20,000 points to 0 while playing
- (Bonus) Incremental round number bonus: round number * 1,000 points
Note that using the undo button does not impact your score.
Strategy
- Remove Kings immediately: Always remove the Kings immediately. There is no reason to keep them in the pyramid or waste piles and removing them will earn you 500 points.
- Plan ahead: Look at the pyramid before starting to play and identify which cards are blocking other cards.
- Play cards in the middle of the pyramid: If you can choose, it can be beneficial to play cards in the middle of the pyramid because they cover two other cards, while cards at the edges of the pyramid only cover one other card.
- Keep the pyramid balanced: If you have the choice, remove cards from the pyramid so that its both sides remain balanced in terms of height.
- Avoid pairing two cards in the waste piles: Pairing two cards that are in the waste piles does not really help you progress towards clearing the pyramid, except in some cases.
- Use your memory: Try to remember which cards have already been played, so you know whether the card you need is still in the stock or not.
- Use the temporary card storage: Make sure to use the temporary card storage as it will allow you to reach cards that can otherwise not be reached. The temporary card storage acts like a cell in FreeCell, so it can only hold one card at a time. Keep this in mind and use the temporary card storage strategically.
- Use the undo button: Feel free to use the undo button if you are not happy with your move or if you want to have a look at which cards will be dealt from the stock. Note that using the undo button does not impact your score.
History
There is no factual information about when Pyramid Solitaire was first invented, but it might have been as early as the 18th century. The game gained in popularity by being included in the Microsoft Entertainment Pack in 1990, although under a different name (Tut's Tomb). This name was a reference to the tomb of the famous Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun.
Variants
There are many different versions of Pyramid Solitaire. Variations allow to reset the stock and/or they only have one waste pile. There are no official or right rules for Pyramid Solitaire, but we prefer the rules we used for our implementation because they are a good combination of skill and luck.
Pyramid Solitaire was used as inspiration for Giza Solitaire. If you like playing Pyramid Solitaire Ancient Egypt, you can also have a look at TriPeaks Solitaire, which is also in the Adding & Pairing solitaire games category.
FAQ
How do you play Pyramid Solitaire?Remove cards in the pyramid by pairing cards of which the ranks add up to 13. If you get stuck, turn the stock to reveal new cards. The game is won when all cards in the pyramid are removed.
How to win Pyramid Solitaire?You can increase your chances of winning at Pyramid Solitaire by following some strategy rules. Look at the pyramid before playing and plan your moves ahead. Always remove Kings immediately. If you have the choice, play cards in the middle of the pyramid and keep the pyramid balanced in height. Try to remember which cards have been played. Use the undo button and temporary card storage to your advantage.
Pyramid Solitaire Hd
What is an Ace worth in pyramid solitaire?An Ace is worth 1 in pyramid solitaire. To remove an Ace, you need to pair it with a Queen, which is worth 12. A Jack is worth 11 and has to be paired with a Two.
Is every game of Pyramid Solitaire winnable?No, not every game of Pyramid Solitaire is winnable. The easiest way to prove this is to give an example of an unwinnable deal. Imagine a deal with an Ace on the lowest row of the pyramid and all four Queens in the higher rows, blocked by this Ace. There is no way to remove this Ace, so the deal is not solvable.
Can I switch off hints?Yes, you can switch off hints. Go to the options menu via the main menu or via the pause menu and uncheck Auto hint.