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Like classic Solitaire, Pyramid Solitaire is a single-player game. The primary goal is to clear the pyramid by matching cards that form a total of 13 from their values. You’ll also get a stockpile to help clear the pyramid.
It’s not compulsory to use every card in the stockpile, as you’ll win once you clear the pyramid. However, when it comes to the number of times you can cycle between the stockpile and the waste pile, there are limitations. This comprehensive guide will explain all the game rules and, above all, include my recommended tips and sites for playing.
In regular solitaire and many other variants, the tableau forms a straight horizontal line. However, in this variant, the tableau is pyramid-shaped. Your goal is to clear the pyramid-shaped tableau without running out of cycles between the stockpile and the waste pile. To clear the tableau, simply pair cards until they form a total value of 13.
There are, however, rules on which cards you can pair. You can’t pair cards from anywhere on the pyramid. Also, you have only one deck of 52 cards, just like in Klondike Solitaire and other classic versions. The card values in this game are as follows:
| 🃏 Card Type | 💎 Card Value |
|---|---|
| King | 13 points |
| Queen | 12 points |
| Jack | 11 points |
| Ace | 1 point |
All the numbered cards have their face values.
Once loaded, you’ll find four primary sections in the play area of the Pyramid Solitaire game. The pyramid has 28 cards, and only the last row is unlocked for pairing when you start playing.
All remaining cards (24 cards) are in the stockpile. You can use cards in the stockpile and pair them with unlocked cards in the pyramid. Or you can send them directly to the foundation pile in the case of kings.
Beside the stockpile is the waste pile. This section is where unwanted cards from the stockpile go. In other words, any face-up card in the stockpile that you don’t need will go to the waste pile. It will go on that way until you have no more cards in the stockpile.
The last section in the setup of this game is the foundation pile. Like in the free Klondike Solitaire and other classic versions, all paired cards will go to this section until you’ve cleared the pyramid.
The setup above is typical of all Pyramid Solitaire games. However, game providers may position the sections differently in their layout. Some might even keep the foundation pile off-screen as you play. In that case, the paired cards will leave the game screen.
Here’s a quick step-by-step guide on how to play this game:
As for the rules governing how you pair the cards in the Solitaire Pyramid game, here’s how they work:
You can only pair unlocked cards. These are cards that have no other cards on top of them. When you load the game for the first time, the unlocked cards will be those on the last (bottom) row and the first face-up card on the stockpile.
There’s no need to pair kings, as they have a value of 13. As such, simply click to remove them from the pyramid or stockpile.
The stockpile will have only one face-up card when the game begins. If needed, you can use this card to pair with another one in the pyramid. Otherwise, you can discard it into the waste pile.
Once discarded, a card will remain face-up in the waste pile until you discard another card. The face-up card can be used to pair with cards in the stockpile or on the pyramid, but here’s where the gameplay really matters.
Once you discard all the piles into the waste pile, you can cycle them back to the stockpile and start again. Some Pyramid Solitaire free options allow only two cycles, while others allow up to three cycles. This variation primarily depends on the game provider. If you run out of cycles, you’ll have to work with only the face-up cards you have in the stockpile and waste pile.
The key is in clearing the pyramid of all the cards. It doesn’t matter whether you run out of cycles in the stockpile and waste pile or not, as long as you have moves to make. If you, however, run out of moves after using all the cycles, you’ll lose the game.
Some versions, especially when playing for free, allow you to undo moves. This function can help you retrace your steps and try another card pair. However, note that some versions will remove points from your balance if you use the undo option.
You will get a timer on some versions, like the Pyramid Solitaire Ancient Egypt variant. This version not only features an Ancient Egypt theme but also includes a timer that shows you how long you have to clear the pyramid. The timer can be set to a couple of minutes to clear each level in the game. You’ll also have different rules for card pairing.
To make it more competitive, the Ancient Egypt version and some other timer-based variants award points to unused cards. The Joker typically has the highest points in the game. You’ll also get points for the unused time within each level.
The top variants of the Pyramid Solitaire game include the following:
With the Ancient Egypt Solitaire Pyramid game, you’ll still have the pyramid in the first level, but the cards are not laid out like in the classic Pyramid Solitaire. The cards are arranged so you don’t have to pair cards from the first row right from the start. You can pair face-up cards from other rows, provided they do not have other cards on top of them.
As for the shape, the first level lays the card out like a pyramid. Other levels will come with different shapes.
Other more challenging variants I tried out include the following:
| 📍 Variant | 👀 Brief Description |
|---|---|
| Tri Peaks | This variant features three small pyramids instead of one large one. Also, you remove cards by forming an ascending or descending chain in the waste pile. |
| Pyramid Thirteens | You’ll get two decks of cards in this variant. The pyramid will feature 13 levels, and you remove cards by pairing them. |
Traditional casinos typically feature the free casino Solitaire only in demo mode. That means you can’t win real money from it. Sweepstakes casinos are your best choice if you want a shot at real prizes while playing for free. You just have to meet playthrough requirements and other conditions before exchanging your Sweepstakes Coins. My top recommended alternative sites to play Pyramid Solitaire online for free are as follows:
Real Prize offers 100,000 Gold Coins and 2 Sweeps Coins in its sign-up bonus. Even better, you’ll get daily login bonuses to play Solitaire, its variants, and many other casino-style games. The daily login bonus coins increase depending on your level in the site’s VIP program.
Social media giveaways and referral bonuses are also available at Real Prize. You get both Gold Coins and SCs from these offers, which you can then use to play games. However, only SCs can be redeemed after fulfilling the 1x wagering requirement and meeting the 100 SC minimum balance needed. For the redemption, you can pick cash or gift cards.
This site is another top alternative where you don’t have to make any purchases to play Solitaire or other Sweepstakes casino games onboard. That is because you’ll receive bonus Gold Coins and Stake Cash to to kickstart your free gaming sessions. These bonuses begin when you sign up to the regular daily login deals, races, and rewards.
The Stake.us welcome offer is one of the few that includes rakeback. You qualify for a 5% rakeback plus 260K Gold Coins and 25 Stake Cash when you use the bonus code JAXONSOCIAL. Once you have enough GCs and SCs in your balance, you can play multiple games, including those that use the provably fair system.
For Sweepstakes slots, McLuck is one of the best sites to go to. The platform various options, ranging from those with Megaways, hold and wins, or cascading reels to classic options You’ll also get jackpot games, game shows, roulette, and blackjack on the platform.
To get started at McLuck, sign up with the bonus code JAXONGG for a 7,500 Gold Coins and 2.5 Sweeps Coins sign-up bonus. Other bonuses include four mega jackpots on selected games, daily login rewards, and loyalty perks.
MegaBonanza is a popular gaming destination for mega jackpots, including Pragmatic jackpot play. Notwithstanding, you’ll find other casino-style games like slots, Megaways, feature games, unlimited play games, and exclusive GC games. The exclusive GC games are only accessible with the Gold Coins.
Speaking of Gold Coins, MegaBonanza rewards new players with 7,500 Gold Coins and 2.5 Sweeps Coins, just like McLuck. You’ll also get daily login bonuses, which can be claimed once a day. Besides the exclusive GC games, you can use the Gold Coins and SCs on all the games, including Solitaire or other similar games.
With Jackpot, you get jackpots in every game. These include mini, minor, major, and grand jackpots. The site also offers exclusive Pragmatic Play jackpot plays with even more coins. Other games in the lobby include classic slots, hold-and-win games, roulette, Sic Bo, and blackjack.
The sign-up offer for new players is 7,500 Gold Coins with an additional 2.5 Sweeps Coins when you complete the verification process. These can be used on all the casino-style games onboard. Even better, you can redeem the SCs after fulfilling the 1x playthrough requirement and reaching the minimum SC balance needed.
Here are my top tips to increase your winning chances in this game:
Learn how to play Solitaire from the easy mode before moving to tougher levels. The card distribution in this mode is typically easier to pair and remove from the pyramid. You can also use demo modes to learn the game. For Sweepstakes sites, I recommend using Gold Coins first before switching to Sweepstakes Coins.
The more cards you remove on a single row, the more cards you’ll get on the next row. These cans can be handy for future pairs.
Removing Kings from the pyramid unlocks other cards you can use for more pairs. The same goes for Kings in the stockpile.
The following are the pros and cons of this Solitaire variant:
Pyramid Solitaire is no doubt engaging, entertaining, and competitive if you go for the more challenging versions. The basic levels are also easy to learn, making it ideal for beginners who want to try something besides the classic Solitaire.
For experts, I recommend going for variants with slight twists, like the Egyptian Pyramid Solitaire. You can play for free on my recommended Sweepstakes sites while you perfect your strategies.
Yes, you can count the cards as you play. All cards are of the same type in the 52-card deck.
Not all game providers include an undo button in their Pyramid Solitaire variant. For those who do, use the button prudently.
Yes, you can pair the face-up cards on the stockpile and waste pile.
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