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Official Pyramid Solitaire Rules
Here are the rules for Pyramid Solitaire, a patience or solitaire card game. One of the most popular solitaire variants of all time.
Objective
Discard all 52 cards from the pyramid arrangement by pairing them to reach a total of 13.
Setup
1. Shuffle the Deck: Shuffle the deck thoroughly.
2. Build the Pyramid: Deal cards face-up to form a pyramid shape on the playing area. The first row has one card, the second row has two cards partially overlapping the first, and so on, building down to a row of seven cards completely overlapping the lower rows. This creates a pyramid with 28 cards (6 rows).
3. Remaining Deck (Stock): Place the remaining cards (24) face down next to the pyramid. This is your stock pile. You can mark this pile with a token or coin (optional).
Gameplay
Exposed Cards:Â Only cards that are not overlapped by other cards are considered "exposed" and playable.
Matching Pairs: Discard two exposed cards by clicking or tapping on them if they add up to 13. Kings (K) have a value of 13 and can be discarded by themselves. Aces (A) have a value of 1.
Stock Pile: If you can't find any playable exposed cards, you can draw a new card from the stock pile (face down deck). The newly drawn card becomes exposed and playable if it's not overlapped by another card in the pyramid. You can only have one face-up card from the stock pile at a time.
Discard Pile: Discarded cards are placed face-up in a separate discard pile (optional). You can mark this pile with a token or coin (optional). Discarded cards are removed from the game and cannot be used again.
Winning the Game
You win the game if you successfully discard all 52 cards (all cards in the pyramid and the stock pile) by pairing them to reach a total of 13.
Notes/Variations
In some versions of Pyramid Solitaire, Jacks (J) have a value of 11 and Queens (Q) have a value of 12.
The game is mostly based on luck and revealing the right cards from the stock pile. However, some strategic elements involve prioritizing discarding higher value cards (Queens and Jacks) first,  as they offer fewer matching possibilities.
There are mobile apps and online versions of Pyramid Solitaire that might automate card movements and scoring.
Enjoy the challenge of dismantling the pyramid and see if you can discard all the cards!
