Rules of the game
Clear all 28 pyramid cards by removing exposed pairs whose values total 13.
- Only cards with no card overlapping them are exposed and playable.
- Pair Ace with Queen, 2 with Jack, 3 with 10, and continue up to 6 with 7.
- A King is worth 13 and can be removed on its own.
- Use the stock and waste to form pairs. The stock allows 3 passes.
Understand the layout
Pyramid
28 face-up cards form 7 overlapping rows. A card is exposed only after the 2 cards covering it are removed.
Stock and waste
The remaining 24 cards are drawn 1 at a time and may be paired with an exposed pyramid card or the top waste card.
Passes
This implementation allows 3 passes through the stock.
Concrete move examples
Legal move
Remove a Queen with an Ace, a Jack with a 2, or an exposed King by itself.
Illegal move
Pair cards whose values do not total thirteen, or select a pyramid card still covered by another card.
How to play well
Not every pair has the same value. Prefer a pair that exposes 2 new cards or removes a central blocker, because those moves reveal more of the pyramid and create future combinations.
Before using the waste, compare it with every exposed pyramid card. Spending a scarce stock card on an easy pair can leave an essential covered card without a partner later.
The 3 stock passes are a memory challenge. Notice useful cards that pass through the waste and remember which pyramid cards must be uncovered before the next pass reaches them.
Useful tips
- Look for Kings as soon as they become exposed.
- Compare every waste card with all exposed pyramid cards.
- Remember blocked pairs before starting another stock pass.
Mistakes to avoid
- Do not spend a waste card on a weak pair if it can release a key pyramid card.
- Do not exhaust the stock without checking the full exposed row.
How the game ends
You win when all 28 pyramid cards are removed. You lose after the final stock pass when no exposed pair or King remains.
Common questions
Which pairs total thirteen?
Ace-Queen, 2-Jack, 3-10, 4-9, 5-8 and 6-7.
Does a King need a pair?
No. A King is worth thirteen and is removed alone when exposed.
How many stock passes are available?
This implementation provides three passes in total.