subject: Pyramid Solitaire And Its Variants [print this page] Pyramid Solitaire is a unique and popular solitaire game. When playing with the standard rules, due to bad luck with the initial deal, many games cannot be won. In this guide, I will show you one rule change that greatly increases the number of games that can be won, enhances the element of player skill required and of course makes this particular solitaire variant more fun.
In a game of pyramid solitaire your aim is to remove all of the cards. It starts with the initial 28 dealt in the pyramid shape and then the 24 others that remain in the deck.
When you play pyramid solitaire you will remove pairs of cards that add up to 13, except for the King which you can removed as a single card. The numbered cards carry their face value and the other card values are as follows: Aces = 1, Kings = 13, Queens = 12 and Jacks = 11. So you can combine for example an ace with a queen to get to a total of 13. You need to remove cards that are not covered by any other cards and the cards are removed from the bottom on up.
This deal leaves 24 un-dealt cards left in the deck. These cards can only be turned over 3 at a time. Each time 3 new cards are turned over they cover the previously upturned cards. Once the player goes through the un-dealt cards, they can combine the piles together (without shuffling) and go through them again. In the standard rules the player is allowed to go through the un-dealt cards 3 times.
You will definitely have a great time playing Pyramid solitaire. The problem of a possible bad deal just doesn't go away and this makes it very difficult sometimes to play the game. The small rule change that was brought in, allows players to remove a single card from the dealt cards or from the pyramid and to put it next to them for a while.
This card can then be used when it is needed. The option of not having this single card in the mix allows players to either open up the pyramid to help them advance or to do the same with the upturned deck giving them many more options. You can however only place one card to the side at a time.
With this advantage, another rule has been introduced which restricts the player on another level. It is that they are only allowed to work through the un-dealth deck of cards once.
