Pyramid Thirteen
French deck · 52 cardsPairs to thirteenPyramid Thirteen is the French-deck cousin of Volcano Eleven: clear a seven-row pyramid of 28 cards by removing pairs that add up to thirteen.
Rules
One French deck of 52 cards: 28 face up in a pyramid of seven rows, 24 in the stock.
- Number cards count their value. The Ace counts 1, the Jack 11, the Queen 12 and the King 13.
- A card is free when no card of the row below rests on it.
- Remove two free cards that add up to 13: Ace and Queen, 2 and Jack, 3 and 10, 4 and 9, 5 and 8, 6 and 7.
- A King is worth 13 by itself and leaves alone as soon as it is free.
- Tap the stock to turn a card onto the waste. The top card of the waste can pair with a free card of the pyramid. You have three passes through the stock.
- Clear the pyramid to win.
Strategy and tips
Kings first
A free King costs nothing to remove and frees the cards under it. Take it as soon as it is free.
Mind the locked pairs
A card that lies across its own partner – a 9 resting on the 4 it needs – blocks that pair for good. Plan another partner for each of them early.
Clear the rows evenly
Working down one side tends to strand the deep cards of the other side. Alternate between left and right when the choice is otherwise equal.
Learn the stock, then use it
On the first pass, notice which values come up and in what order. On the later passes you can wait for exactly the partner you need.
Keep a partner for the summit
The top card is the last to come free. If all four of its partners are gone by then, the pyramid cannot be finished, so leave one in the stock or the waste.
Numbered deals of Pyramid Thirteen
Thirty fixed deals of Pyramid Thirteen, each won by the solver before it was listed. Start with an easy one or jump straight to the hard ones.
- Deal #2Easy · 57 moves in the solver's line · 42% quick wins
- Deal #6Easy · 74 moves in the solver's line · 64% quick wins
- Deal #3Medium · 66 moves in the solver's line · 22% quick wins
- Deal #4Medium · 61 moves in the solver's line · 26% quick wins
- Deal #1Hard · 74 moves in the solver's line · 1% quick wins
- Deal #5Hard · 70 moves in the solver's line · 0% quick wins
Questions and answers
How does it compare with Volcano Eleven?
It is the same idea on a bigger deck: thirteen values and a total of thirteen, Kings that leave alone and a pyramid of seven rows instead of six. If you know one, you can play the other – only the pair table changes.
Is every deal winnable?
With “Only winnable deals” on (the default), each new deal has already been won by the solver or comes from a list checked in advance. The daily deal and the numbered deals are checked too.
Can two cards from the waste be paired?
No. Only the top card of the waste is free, so it can pair with a free pyramid card, but never with the card below it on the waste.
How do I know how many passes are left?
The stock shows how many cards it still holds. When it is empty, a circular arrow means you can turn the waste over for another pass; a cross means the passes are used up.
Go further
- Pairs that add upStrategy for pyramid solitaire: reading the pyramid as a map, locked pairs, counting partners, using three stock passes and saving a partner for the summit.
- Daily dealToday's daily deal for seven solitaire games: the same shuffle for every player, checked as winnable. Play one a day and keep your streak going.
Other games
- Italian deck · 40 cardsVolcano Eleven
A six-row volcano of 21 cards. Remove two free cards that add up to eleven until the mountain is gone.
- Italian deck · 40 cardsSeven Alleys
Klondike-style building on the Italian deck: seven alleys, hidden cards to uncover, four suits to bring home.
- Italian deck · 40 cardsTwo Balconies
Every card face up, eight columns, two little balconies for parking. Pure planning on the Italian deck.
- Italian deck · 40 cardsHillside Steps
Climb up and down the values of the Italian deck – 7, Fante, Cavallo, Re – to clear five columns.
- French deck · 52 cardsMarina Golf
Seven columns, one pile and the question of which neighbouring value to play next. Golf solitaire, French deck.
- French deck · 52 cardsThree Hills
Three hills of cards, one pile and long runs up and down. King and Ace connect, hidden cards turn over as you go.