Pyramid Solitaire Strategy: 8 Tips to Win More Games
The key to winning Pyramid Solitaire is to pair cards inside the pyramid before using the stock, because waste cards come back on the next pass but pyramid cards only leave when you pair them. Clear the bottom rows first, since each low card covers two above it. Before taking a pair, check what it uncovers, and watch for blocked pairs, like a 4 lying on top of the only 9 that could clear it.
1. Pair pyramid cards with each other first
Every card in the stock comes round again on the next pass (as long as you have passes left), but a pyramid card only leaves when you pair it. So when an uncovered pyramid card can pair with another pyramid card, that's usually the best move on the table. Save the stock for the cards that have no partner in the pyramid.
2. Work from the bottom up
Each card in the pyramid is covered by two cards in the row below. Clearing the bottom row opens the most new cards, while removing a card near the top opens nothing at all. If you have a choice between two equal pairs, take the one lower down.
3. Look at what a pair uncovers
Before you remove a pair, look at the cards it will free. The best pairs uncover new partners for cards you can already reach.
A pair that uncovers nothing new is fine when there's nothing better, but a pair that uncovers a card you can play straight away is worth two moves.
4. Spot blocked pairs early
The most common way to lose: a card sits on top of a card it would pair with. A 4 covering a 9 can never be paired with that 9, because the 9 only becomes free once the 4 is gone. Each of them needs a different partner, so you must keep the other 4s and 9s available for them.
The same goes for a King: it never blocks anything because it leaves alone, so Kings in the pyramid are never a problem. But a Queen covering an Ace, a Jack covering a 2, and so on, are worth noticing on the first look.
5. Count the partners you have left
There are four cards of each rank. If three 9s are already gone and two 4s are still in the pyramid, one 4 will never be cleared, and the game can't be won. Keeping a rough count of the pairs (especially 6–7, 5–8 and 4–9, which are easy to waste on the stock) tells you when to hold back from using a partner on the waste.
6. Use waste cards when you're short on passes
With unlimited passes (GameLake's Easy level), there's no rush: let a waste card go by if the pyramid might need it later. On Medium and Hard, every pass counts, so a waste card that fits should usually be used, especially on the last pass, when it won't come back.
7. Don't spend a card the pyramid needs
Pairing a waste card with another waste or stock card clears it, but it also removes a partner the pyramid might have needed. If the pyramid still holds a lot of 6s and 7s, think twice before throwing away a 6 and 7 from the stock together.
8. When you're stuck, undo and look again
Most lost games can be traced back to one pair taken a few moves too early. On GameLake you can undo, and Teach me asks the solver for a move that keeps the deal winnable: Hops highlights it and tells you why. If no winning line is left, he'll suggest undoing a few moves.
New to the game? Start with how to play Pyramid Solitaire, then try a deal. Every deal can be won.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best strategy for Pyramid Solitaire?
Pair pyramid cards with each other before using the stock, clear the bottom rows first, and look at what each pair uncovers before you take it.
Why can't I win Pyramid Solitaire?
Often because a card sits on top of its only partner, or partners were spent on the stock. Also, many random deals can't be won at all; GameLake only deals winnable ones.
What percentage of Pyramid Solitaire games can be won?
With random deals and limited passes, only a minority can be won. Allowing more passes through the stock raises the odds a lot.
Should you remove Kings right away?
Yes. A King leaves on its own and never needs a partner, so removing it as soon as it's uncovered costs nothing.