Read the pyramid first
Every card is face up from the start, so take a moment before your first move. Look for the cards that will be hard to free: low rows hold the cards that block everything above them.
- Spot the blockers. A card sitting directly on its own partner (say a 4 resting on a 9) can never pair with it. You'll need another 9 or 4 from somewhere else.
- Count how many partners each awkward card has left in the stock and the pyramid.
Pair inside the pyramid when you can
A pair made of two pyramid cards clears the pyramid twice as fast as a pair with the waste. When a pyramid card could go with either the waste or another pyramid card, the pyramid partner is usually the better choice.
Choose which copy to use
There are four of every rank. When you can pick between two cards to pair, take the one that uncovers something. A pair that frees a new card is worth more than one that doesn't.
- Prefer cards in the middle of a row. They hold up two cards above them.
- Leave a waste card in place if a pyramid card of the same rank will soon be free to take its job.
Use the stock with a plan
- On the first pass, note where useful cards sit in the stock. On later passes you'll know what's coming.
- Don't rush to pair a waste card the moment you can. Once it's gone, the card under it comes back, which may be the one you really needed.
- Kings clear themselves, so never worry about them. Tap them away as soon as they're free.
Work the bottom rows evenly
The pyramid opens from the bottom up. If one side races ahead, the top of the pyramid can end up waiting on a single stubborn card. Spread your pairs across the bottom row so several paths stay open.
When you're stuck
- Undo back a few pairs and try a different copy of the same rank.
- Note the deal number and use Restart. Knowing the stock order makes a second try much easier.
- Want an easier game? Switch to unlimited passes. Want a real challenge? Try 1 pass.