Pyramid Golf Solitaire
A hybrid card game that combines the pyramid layout of Pyramid Solitaire with the chain-matching mechanic of Golf Solitaire, creating a unique uncovering puzzle.
What is Pyramid Golf Solitaire?
Pyramid Golf Solitaire (also known as Escalator) arranges 28 cards in a seven-row pyramid. Only the fully exposed cards at the bottom of the pyramid can be played. Instead of pairing cards that sum to 13 (as in standard Pyramid Solitaire), you use the Golf Solitaire chain mechanic: play an exposed card that is exactly one rank higher or lower than the current waste top.
Upper pyramid rows are dealt face down and flip face-up once both covering cards below them are removed. The remaining 24 cards split between one starting waste card and a 23-card stock pile. Your goal is to clear the entire pyramid by chaining cards to the waste pile.
How to play Pyramid Golf Solitaire
Setup
- Shuffle a standard 52-card deck.
- Deal a seven-row pyramid (1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 = 28 cards). Only the bottom row of 7 cards is face-up; the rest are face-down.
- Place one card face-up to start the waste pile.
- The remaining 23 cards form the stock pile.
Rules
- Tap an exposed pyramid card that is one rank higher or lower than the waste top.
- A card is exposed when both cards covering it (in the row below) have been removed.
- Face-down cards flip automatically when they become exposed.
- Aces are low (play on 2 only); Kings are high (play on Queen only). No wrapping.
- Draw from the stock when no exposed card can be played.
- The game is won when all 28 pyramid cards are removed.
Winning strategy
- Focus on uncovering new cards to increase your options before drawing from stock.
- When two exposed cards can both be played, choose the one that uncovers a face-down card in a higher row.
- Avoid drawing from stock while playable cards remain in the pyramid.
- Track which ranks are still hidden in the pyramid to anticipate whether stock draws will help.
- Chains through the center of the pyramid open the most new cards.
Difficulty and win rate
Pyramid Golf Solitaire has a win rate of approximately 25%. The pyramid layout creates significant blocking, since upper rows cannot be reached until lower covering cards are removed. Face-down cards add hidden information, making early choices partially blind. Skilled players who prioritize uncovering new rows and conserving stock draws can tilt the odds meaningfully.
Pyramid Golf vs. other solitaire games
| Feature | Pyramid Golf | Pyramid Solitaire | Golf Solitaire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Layout | 7-row pyramid | 7-row pyramid | 7 x 5 columns |
| Match rule | +/- 1 rank chain | Sum to 13 | +/- 1 rank chain |
| Face-down cards | Yes (rows 1-6) | No (all face-up) | No (all face-up) |
| Stock size | 23 | 24 | 16 |
| Win rate | ~25% | ~5% | ~40% |
Pyramid Golf Solitaire FAQ
Is Pyramid Golf the same as Escalator Solitaire?
Yes. Pyramid Golf and Escalator are two names for the same game. Both use a pyramid layout with the Golf chain-matching mechanic (play cards that are one rank higher or lower than the waste pile top).
Why are some pyramid cards face down?
Only the bottom row of the pyramid is dealt face-up. Cards in rows 1 through 6 start face-down and flip automatically once both cards covering them (in the row directly below) are removed. This hidden information makes the game more challenging and strategic than standard Golf.
Can I play any exposed card or only bottom row cards?
You can play any exposed card from anywhere in the pyramid. As lower cards are removed, upper-row cards become exposed and flip face-up. A card is exposed when neither of the two overlapping cards in the row below it remains.
Do Aces and Kings wrap around?
No. In standard Pyramid Golf, Aces can only be played on 2s and Kings can only be played on Queens. If you prefer wrapping, try Putt Putt Solitaire, which allows Ace-King connections.
Is Pyramid Golf easier than standard Pyramid Solitaire?
Significantly, yes. Standard Pyramid Solitaire (sum-to-13 pairing) has a win rate of only about 5%, while Pyramid Golf sits around 25%. The chain mechanic creates more matching opportunities than strict sum pairing, and the stock pile gives a steadier stream of recovery options.