Play TriPeaks Solitaire Online for Free (Three Peaks)
TriPeaks Solitaire is one of the most popular fast-play solitaire games, with a distinctive three-peaked tableau and a satisfying chain-removal mechanic. Clear cards from three overlapping peaks by playing them in sequence, one rank up or down from the current waste top. Wrap freely from King to Ace. Build streaks for bonus points. Play free, instant, no download required.
What is TriPeaks Solitaire?
TriPeaks Solitaire (also written Tri Peaks or Three Peaks) is a single-player card game played with one standard 52-card deck. Twenty-eight cards are arranged in a three-peaked tableau with an exposure rule: only cards that are not covered by other cards may be played. The remaining 24 cards form a face-down stock. One card from the stock starts the waste pile.
A tableau card or stock card may be played to the waste pile if it is exactly one rank higher or one rank lower than the current waste top, with the sequence wrapping freely from King to Ace and back. Covered cards become available only when all cards covering them are removed. The game rewards finding long chains of sequential cards because each consecutive play in a chain adds a streak bonus to your score.
TriPeaks Solitaire history
TriPeaks Solitaire was invented by Robert Hogue and published by Microsoft in 1994 as part of Microsoft Entertainment Pack for Windows, though some earlier implementations existed in other card game collections. The game became widely known through the Microsoft version and was later included in Microsoft's dedicated solitaire application. Its combination of a visually appealing tableau layout, fast gameplay, and streak-based scoring made it a staple of digital solitaire suites throughout the late 1990s and 2000s. Unlike Klondike or Spider, TriPeaks was designed specifically for digital play rather than being a digitization of an existing physical card game. The three-peak shape became immediately recognizable and gave the game a distinct identity within the sequential removal family alongside Golf Solitaire.
How to Play TriPeaks Solitaire
TriPeaks has simple rules but rewards careful chain planning. Here is how each game works:
- Twenty-eight cards are arranged in three overlapping peaks. Each peak has four rows: the apex card at the top, two cards in the second row, three in the third, and four in the fourth (base). Base cards across all three peaks form a connected row of ten cards at the bottom.
- The remaining 24 cards are placed face-down as the stock. Turn the top card face-up to start the waste pile.
- Only tableau cards that are not covered by any other tableau card are available to play. Base-row cards are always available. Upper-row cards become available as covering cards are removed.
- Tap any available tableau card that is one rank higher or one rank lower than the current waste top to play it. King connects to Ace and Ace connects to King (wrapping allowed).
- Each consecutive card you play without drawing from the stock extends your streak. Streak bonuses add to your score: longer streaks score more points per card.
- When no available tableau card is one rank away from the waste top, tap the stock to draw one card. Drawing resets the streak counter.
- One redeal is allowed: when the stock is exhausted, you may flip the waste pile back over to form a new stock once.
- Win by clearing all 28 tableau cards. Lose if the stock is exhausted (including the one redeal) and no moves remain.
Strategies to win TriPeaks Solitaire
TriPeaks rewards both win-rate optimization and score optimization. The following tactics improve both:
- Think in chains, not single cards. Before playing any card, look at what follows it in rank. If you play a 7, is there a 6 or 8 available next? And after that a 5 or 9? Planning three to five steps ahead before breaking a chain is the single biggest factor in high scores.
- Expose peak apexes as the top priority. The three apex cards are the hardest to reach because they require two full underlying rows to be cleared first. Identify which peak has the most exploitable exposure path early and focus on that peak first.
- Use stock draws strategically. Drawing from the stock breaks your streak, which reduces your score. Delay stock draws as long as any chain option exists. However, drawing at the right moment can unlock a rank that enables a new long chain immediately.
- Save the redeal for a crisis. The one redeal is most valuable when the tableau still has many cards and the current stock has run dry. Using it early wastes its value.
- Balance peak clearing across all three peaks. Focusing all effort on one peak can leave you with two untouched peaks and no way to chain across them when cards from the completed peak are no longer available.
TriPeaks Solitaire rules and objective
The objective is to clear all 28 tableau cards. Cards are removed by playing them onto the waste pile in sequential rank steps (one rank up or down, wrapping from King to Ace). Only uncovered tableau cards are available. One card is drawn from the stock when no tableau move is possible. A single redeal is permitted when the stock is exhausted. Consecutive plays without drawing award streak bonuses. The game is won when all 28 tableau cards are removed.
Game setup
Shuffle a 52-card deck. Deal the three-peak layout: place one apex card for each of the three peaks (three cards). Below each apex, place two overlapping cards (six cards). Below those, place three cards per peak (nine cards). The bottom row holds ten cards spanning all three peaks as a connected base. All tableau cards are face-up. Place the remaining 24 cards face-down as the stock. Turn the top stock card face-up to start the waste pile.
TriPeaks Solitaire variants and similar games
TriPeaks Solitaire is part of the sequential removal family. Here is how the main variants in this family compare:
| Variant | Layout | Redeals | Streak scoring | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TriPeaks (this game) | 3 overlapping peaks (28 cards) | 1 | Yes | ~50% |
| Double TriPeaks | 2 full TriPeaks sets, 2 decks | 1 | Yes | ~45% |
| Golf Solitaire | 7 cols x 5 cards | None | No | ~40% |
| Black Hole Solitaire | 17 cols x 3 + center Ace | N/A (no stock) | No | ~85 to 90% |
How difficult is TriPeaks Solitaire?
TriPeaks Solitaire is a medium-difficulty game. It is noticeably easier than Klondike or Pyramid Solitaire, with a win rate around 50%, meaning roughly half of all deals are winnable under optimal play. The exposure rules (covered cards being inaccessible) add real strategic depth beyond simple Golf Solitaire, but the one-redeal rule and King-to-Ace wrapping soften the difficulty considerably. Most players find TriPeaks engaging precisely because of this balance: hard enough to require attention, easy enough to win regularly and build long streaks.
What is TriPeaks Solitaire's win percentage?
TriPeaks Solitaire has a win rate of approximately 50% under optimal play with standard rules (one redeal, wrap enabled). Without the redeal, the win rate drops to roughly 35 to 40%. Casual play typically achieves 30 to 40% even with the redeal. The streak bonus scoring means that high-score runs are rarer than wins: a game you win with small streaks scores much less than a game where you chain a run of ten or more consecutive cards.
What is the difference between TriPeaks Solitaire and Golf Solitaire?
TriPeaks Solitaire and Golf Solitaire share the same core chain-removal mechanic but differ in layout, exposure rules, wrapping, and scoring. Golf uses a plain seven-column layout where all cards in each column are stacked but all column tops are always available; there are no coverage restrictions. TriPeaks uses a structured three-peak layout where upper cards are blocked until lower cards are removed, adding a strategic depth that Golf lacks. TriPeaks always wraps King to Ace; Golf does not by default. TriPeaks adds streak-based bonus scoring that rewards long unbroken chains; Golf uses simple count-remaining scoring. TriPeaks allows one redeal; Golf allows none. Overall, TriPeaks is more structured and slightly easier than standard Golf, with a higher win rate and richer scoring system.
TriPeaks Solitaire FAQ
Who invented TriPeaks Solitaire?
TriPeaks Solitaire was invented by Robert Hogue. Hogue designed the game specifically for digital play and it was published by Microsoft as part of the Microsoft Entertainment Pack for Windows in 1994. The game was one of the first major solitaire variants designed from the ground up for a computer interface rather than adapted from a traditional physical card game. It became one of the most recognized solitaire games in the world through its inclusion in Microsoft's Windows solitaire collection, which distributed it to hundreds of millions of users over several decades.
What is a streak in TriPeaks Solitaire and how does it affect scoring?
A streak in TriPeaks Solitaire is a consecutive sequence of tableau cards played to the waste pile without drawing from the stock in between. Each card that extends the current streak scores more points than the previous one. The first card of a streak scores a base amount (typically 10 points); each subsequent card in the same streak scores progressively more. Drawing from the stock resets the streak counter to zero. This scoring system creates a strong incentive to plan your moves so that you chain as many consecutive plays as possible, since a streak of ten or more cards can score dramatically more than ten individual single-card plays with stock draws in between.
How many cards are in the TriPeaks tableau?
The TriPeaks tableau contains 28 cards arranged in a three-peak layout. Each peak has four rows: one apex card, two second-row cards, three third-row cards, and a base row. The three peaks share a common base row of ten cards. The remaining 24 cards from the 52-card deck form the face-down stock. Clearing all 28 tableau cards is the win condition; the stock provides draw cards when no tableau move is available.
Can you redeal in TriPeaks Solitaire?
Yes, standard TriPeaks Solitaire allows one redeal. When the stock is exhausted, you may flip the waste pile face-down to create a new stock and continue drawing. The redeal does not reset the board; it only refills the stock. Cards already played to the waste pile before the redeal are not returned to the tableau. The single redeal is a significant rule that distinguishes TriPeaks from Golf Solitaire (no redeals) and substantially raises the win rate compared to a no-redeal version of the game.
What is Double TriPeaks and how is it different?
Double TriPeaks Solitaire uses two standard 52-card decks and creates two full side-by-side three-peak tableaux. With 104 cards in play, games last longer and require managing two independent peak structures while sharing a single waste pile and stock. The chain mechanic and wrap rules are identical to standard TriPeaks, but the larger card pool and doubled exposure complexity make it a more demanding experience. Double TriPeaks is designed for players who enjoy TriPeaks and want a longer, more strategic session from a single game.