TriPeaks Solitaire

Each deal takes just a few minutes. Turn on Large mode for bigger cards and text, and use Hint whenever you want a little help spotting the next move.

How to play TriPeaks solitaire

The layout looks busy at first, but the rules are short and simple.

1. Twenty-eight cards are dealt into three overlapping peaks. From top to bottom the rows hold 3, 6, 9 and 10 cards, and the bottom row of 10 is shared by all three peaks.
2. The bottom row starts face up. Every other card starts face down and turns face up once both cards covering it have been cleared.
3. One card starts face up on the waste pile. The other 23 cards form the stock.
4. Click any face-up peak card that is exactly one rank higher or one rank lower than the top waste card. Suit and colour do not matter. A 7 can go on a 6 or an 8.
5. The card you play becomes the new top waste card, so you can keep going up and down to build a long run.
6. Kings and aces wrap around, so an ace can follow a king and a king can follow an ace. This Wrap K–A setting is on by default and can be switched off for your next game.
7. When no peak card fits, click the stock to turn over a new waste card.
8. You win when all three peaks have been cleared.

Controls: mouse, touch and keyboard

Click or tap a face-up card to play it onto the waste pile. Click or tap the stock to draw a new card. If you prefer the keyboard, press Tab to reach the board, use the arrow keys to move between cards and press Enter to play the highlighted one. Press D to draw from the stock, U to undo and H for a hint.

Hint points to a card you can play, or suggests drawing when nothing fits. Undo takes back your moves one at a time. The clock halts when you press Pause, and it rests on its own while you are in another tab.

Scoring and streaks

TriPeaks rewards long runs. Each card you play scores 10 points plus 5 points for every card already in the current streak. The first card in a streak scores 10, the second 15, the third 20, and so on. Drawing from the stock ends the streak, and the next card starts again at 10.

You also earn 50 points each time you clear the top card of a peak. Clearing all three peaks adds a bonus of 250 points, plus 10 points for every card still left in the stock. Your personal best is saved in your own browser.

TriPeaks strategy tips

• Look for the longest run, not just the first move. Before you play, trace a few cards ahead to see which choice keeps the streak going.
• Favour cards that uncover face-down cards. Turning a hidden card gives you more choices on the next move.
• Try to clear all three peaks evenly. If you work only on one side, the others can leave you stuck later.
• When you have a choice between going up or down, think about what is already visible. Pick the direction that has more matching cards waiting.
• Do not draw too soon. Once you draw, your streak resets, so make sure no peak card fits first.
• Save the stock where you can. Every card left in the stock at the end is worth 10 bonus points.
• Use the wrap-around rule. A run that reaches a king can carry on with an ace, and the other way round.
• Use undo to try a different path. If a run ends early, take it back and see whether another order lasts longer.

Variations and related games

Many versions of TriPeaks exist. Some do not allow kings and aces to wrap around, which makes runs harder to keep going, and you can play that way here by turning off Wrap K–A. Others use different layouts, such as a single peak or more than three. If you like clearing cards from a layout, try Pyramid solitaire, where you remove pairs that add up to 13. If you would like a slower, more thoughtful game, Klondike builds the whole deck into suits.

A short history of TriPeaks

TriPeaks is a fairly modern game. It is thought to have been devised in the late twentieth century as a variation on older solitaires, such as Golf, where cards are also played one rank up or down onto a single pile. Its bright three-peak layout and fast play made it a favourite on computers and phones, and it remains one of the most popular casual card games today.

Common questions