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How to Play Giza Pyramid Solitaire

Quick Guide

  • Deck:

    Giza Pyramid Solitaire is played with a single standard deck of 52 cards.

  • Deal Out:

    Arrange the cards face-up in a pyramid shape, with 7 cards at the base. Then deal out 8 piles with 3 cards each, arranged face-up above the pyramid.

  • Objective:

    Clear all 52 cards from the Tableau.

  • Discarding:

    Eliminate cards in pairs that add up to a value of 13, regardless of their suits. Kings can be discarded on their own, without being paired.

  • The Challenge:

    You must tear down the pyramid, but many of the cards will only be available once you start clearing away the piles.

  • Difficulty Level:

    Giza is a moderately challenging Solitaire variant. Winning is partly a matter of luck, but a bit of skill and strategy will improve your odds.

Setting Up the Game

Dealing Out the Tableau

  • Item 1

    One thing that makes Giza Solitaire unique is that it’s all Tableau! No Stockpiles, no Wastepiles — all the cards are laid out right in front of you.

  • Item 2

    Start with the pyramid. Deal out a single card for the top row. Then, deal two more cards underneath that row, with both cards in the second row overlapping the one above it. Add one more card to each row until you have a total of 7 rows.

  • Item 3

    Next, deal out 8 piles with 3 cards each, arranging them in a row above the pyramid.

  • Item 4

    Every card in the Tableau is dealt face-up.

Setting Up the Piles

  • Step 1

    When setting up the Tableau, leave room to the side for a Discard pile.

Rules for Playing Giza Pyramid Solitaire

How to Win

Your goal is to eliminate every single card from play and send them to the Discard pile. You win once all 52 cards have been discarded.

Eliminating Cards

You can only eliminate cards that have a combined value of 13. Kings can be eliminated alone — all other cards must be eliminated in pairs.

You cannot eliminate 3 or more cards at once (for instance, a 6, a 4, and a 3 cannot be eliminated together, even though they have a combined value of 13). Only pairs and Kings can be sent to the Discard pile.

The pairs you can discard are:

  • Option 1

    Ace and Queen

  • Option 2

    2 and Jack

  • Option 3

    3 and 10

  • Option 4

    4 and 9

  • Option 5

    5 and 8

  • Option 6

    6 and 7

Remark

Suits don’t matter in Giza — all that matters is that the pairs add up to 13.

You can only pair cards that are fully exposed. If another card covers or overlaps it, it cannot be played until that card is eliminated.

Drawing From the Stockpile

  • Rule 1

    You can draw from the Stockpile at any point in the game.

  • Rule 2

    You must draw 3 cards at once, one for each of the Wastepiles.

  • Rule 3

    The cards drawn from the Stockpile are arranged face-up on top of the Wastepiles.

  • Rule 4

    You can only play the top card from each of the piles.

  • Rule 5

    You can only cycle through the Stockpile twice.

Other Rules

  • Rule 1

    You cannot add cards back to the Tableau after they have been moved to the Discard pile.

Playing Apophis Pyramid Solitaire – The Layout

  • 1.The Pyramid

    28 cards arranged in 7 rows to form a pyramid.

    The Pyramid
  • 2.The Rest of the Tableau

    All the remaining cards are arranged in 8 piles with 3 cards each.

    The Rest of the Tableau

The Gameplay

  • 1.Eliminate Pairs and King

    Find pairs that add up to 13 and send them to the Discard pile.

    Eliminate Pairs and King
  • 2.Topple the Pyramid

    Work your way through the pyramid — you must eliminate every card from it to win.

    Topple the Pyramid
  • 3.Clear the Rest of the Tableau

    Even with the pyramid gone, you won’t win until every card is in the Discard pile!

    Clear the Rest of the Tableau

Strategies for Giza Pyramid Solitaire

Giza is a version of Pyramid Solitaire where all the cards are laid out for you to see. Like Pyramid Solitaire, winning is partly a matter of luck. But you can still improve your odds with a few tips:

  • Clear Cards Strategically

    Always think one step ahead. Don’t just look at the cards you can eliminate — consider the cards underneath them, too.

  • You Don’t Have to Clear the Pyramid First

    Toppling the pyramid is the most satisfying part of the game, but keep an eye on the entire Tableau. In many cases, clearing cards from the piles first will improve your chances of winning.

  • Reveal Cards Whenever You Can

    Clearing the last card is an essential step to winning the game. But try to clear away cards that have other cards tucked underneath them first. That will give you more chances to form pairs and clear the Tableau.

Similar Games to Pyramid Solitaire (Giza)

Looking for even more ways to have fun? Consider these similar games:

  • Game 1

    Pyramid Solitaire — The classic version of the game!

  • Game 2

    Pyramid Solitaire (Apophis) — Pyramid Solitaire with three Wastepiles instead of one!

  • Game 3

    Dark Pyramid Solitaire — Pyramid Solitaire with a challenging twist - most of the cards in the Tableau are face-down!

More Power to You!

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