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How To Play And Win Pyramid Solitaire

Pyramid Solitaire
Pyramid Solitaire is a popular, fun variant of solitaire that plays in a different manner to other classics like Klondike Solitaire and Spider Solitaire. If you've got bored of those two solitaire games then pyramid solitaire may be for you! Here you will learn how to play two variations of the game and you will receive tips on how to win.

About Pyramid Solitaire
Solitaire has always been the perfect game for killing a few minutes in an entertaining way, long before computers were invented. In this card game your goal is to remove the pyramid of cards that is dealt before you begin by finding pairs that add up to 13. Like all solitaire games you will require some luck to succeed but intelligence and planning are rewarded!

Setting Up a Game
So if you want to play without a computer, you'll simply need a pack of cards with all jokers removed. After thoroughly shuffling the cards, you will deal some of them out all face up in the shape of a pyramid, seven cards tall. So for example you would deal one card at the top, two cards underneath, three cards underneath that and so on until the pyramid is complete. This will leave you with 24 undealt cards.

Classic Rules
There are two versions of the game. The classic rules reward intelligence and planning less than the modern rules. However they both show the same basic principles.

- The goal is to remove all the cards in pyramid, or for an extra challenge all the cards including the the undealt cards left over.
- To remove cards you must find pairs of free cards that add up to 13. They are then discarded. So for example a Queen and Ace adds up to 13 and can be removed.
- The only exception is the King, as it is equal to 13 it can be removed on its own.
- You can deal the remaining cards in groups of three under the pyramid. Every time you deal three cards, you must cover the cards you have dealt before.
- If you run out of cards and cannot remove any more, then bad luck it's game over! (But if you want to make it easier on yourself you can try putting those cards under the pyramid together and dealing them out two more times).
- Not every game is beatable and the classic rules mean that you will most likely lose more often than you win!

Modern Rules
The modern rules were designed to improve pyramid solitaire by reducing the importance of luck. It rewards planning.

- The main change is the addition of the temporary card slot. You can put any free card to the side from either pyramid or the dealt cards. That card can be used later when you need it.
- You should only go through the deal once.

Win Pyramid Solitaire
There are a few important strategies that should be used so that you can remove all the cards from the pyramid. Most of the winning tips apply to both the classic and modern versions.

- The most obvious element is to always remove a King as soon as it's free. So keep an eye out for these moments!
- Plan several moves ahead. Sometimes you might have two options on which cards to remove. Of course you should be looking ahead to see what cards you will open up and if they will help you in any way.
- It is always more useful to remove cards from the pyramid than from the ones you deal. In fact sometimes you might notice in the pyramid that certain cards can't be reached unless you hold onto some of the cards you have dealt yourself.

Mark makes free solitaire games. You can play Pyramid Solitaire on his website.

By: Solitaire

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Mark makes free solitaire games. You can play Pyramid Solitaire on his website.

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