How to Play Pyramid Solitaire

Pyramid Solitaire is a classic card matching game where your goal is to remove all 28 cards arranged in a pyramid shape. You do this by matching pairs of cards whose values add up to exactly 13.

Game Setup

The game begins with 28 cards dealt face-up in a pyramid formation of 7 rows:

• Row 1 (top): 1 card
• Row 2: 2 cards
• Row 3: 3 cards
• And so on until Row 7 (bottom): 7 cards
• The remaining 24 cards form a stock pile you can draw from

How to Play - Two Ways to Remove Cards

Method 1: Click to Pair (Classic)

1. Find Uncovered Cards: Only cards that are completely exposed (not covered by two cards below them) can be selected.
2. Click First Card: Click on any uncovered card to select it. It will be highlighted with a golden border.
3. Click Second Card: Click another uncovered card that adds up to 13 with your first card. Both cards will flash green and be removed!
4. Kings are Special: Kings have a value of 13, so they can be removed by clicking them once (no pairing needed).

Method 2: Drag and Drop (Intuitive)

1. Drag Any Uncovered Card: Click and hold any uncovered card (from pyramid or waste pile).
2. Drop on Target Card: Drag it over another uncovered card and release.
3. Valid Pair (Sum = 13): Both cards flash green and are removed automatically! ✅
4. Invalid Pair (Sum ≠ 13): Target card shakes, and the dragged card returns to its original position. ❌

💡 Tip: Both methods work simultaneously! Use whichever feels more comfortable.

Using the Stock Pile

1. Draw Cards: Click the stock pile (left) to draw a card to the waste pile (right).
2. Pair with Pyramid: The waste card can be paired with any uncovered pyramid card (click or drag).
3. Reload When Empty: When stock runs out, a green ♻️ reload icon appears. Click it to move all waste cards back to stock!
4. Unlimited Reloads: You can reload as many times as needed to find winning combinations.

Win Condition

Goal: Remove all 28 pyramid cards to win! The game tracks your moves and time.

Card Values

• Ace = 1 (lowest value)
• 2 through 10 = Face value (2 is worth 2, 3 is worth 3, etc.)
• Jack (J) = 11
• Queen (Q) = 12
• King (K) = 13 (can be removed alone!)

All Valid Pairs That Add to 13

• Ace (1) + Queen (12) = 13
• 2 + Jack (11) = 13
• 3 + 10 = 13
• 4 + 9 = 13
• 5 + 8 = 13
• 6 + 7 = 13
• King (13) = 13 - Click once to remove!

Understanding Covered vs Uncovered Cards

A card is "uncovered" (playable) when:

• BOTH cards directly below it have been removed
• Bottom row (row 7) cards are all uncovered from the start
• Each card in rows 1-6 needs both its "child" cards removed to become playable
• Covered cards cannot be clicked or dragged - they'll have a "not-allowed" cursor

Visual Feedback Guide

• 🟢 Green Flash: Valid pair (sum = 13) - cards will be removed
• ⚠️ Shake Animation: Invalid pair (sum ≠ 13) - try a different combination
• 🟡 Golden Border: Card is selected (click method)
• 🟢 Green Glow: Valid drop zone when dragging
• ♻️ Green Reload Icon: Click to recycle waste cards back to stock

Strategy Tips

• Choose Your Method: Use drag-and-drop for quick experimentation (invalid pairs shake) or clicking for precise planning
• Uncover Strategically: Try to expose cards that create more pairing options - remember both cards below must be removed
• Remove Kings Early: Kings can only be removed alone, so clear them when possible to avoid blocking other cards
• Plan Ahead: Think about which cards you'll expose when removing pairs - you need to remove BOTH covering cards
• Use Stock Wisely: Don't draw from stock until you've exhausted pyramid options
• Leverage Unlimited Reloads: Don't worry about running out of stock - you can reload as many times as needed!
• Focus on Bottlenecks: Clear cards that are blocking multiple other cards first
• Experiment with Drag-Drop: The shake animation helps you quickly test combinations without committing