Complete rules, layout guide, streak scoring, and strategies for clearing all three peaks
TriPeaks Solitaire (also known as Tri Peaks, Triple Peaks, or Three Peaks) is a solitaire card game invented by Robert Hogue in 1989. It combines elements of Golf Solitaire with a visually striking three-peak card layout. The game became widely popular after its inclusion in Microsoft Solitaire Collection.
Unlike Pyramid Solitaire, which removes pairs that total 13, TriPeaks uses a simpler mechanic: play any available card that is one rank higher or lower than the waste pile top. This creates a fast-paced, chain-building experience where the goal is to clear all three peaks while building scoring streaks.
A standard 52-card deck is shuffled and dealt into the following layout:
Total tableau cards: 3 + 6 + 9 + 10 = 28 cards
The waste pile card is the "target" — you play cards ±1 rank from it.
Each card in rows 0–2 partially overlaps two cards in the row below it. A face-down card is flipped face-up when both cards covering it from below have been removed. Only face-up cards that are not covered can be played.
The core mechanic of TriPeaks is simple: click any available card that is exactly one rank higher or lower than the current waste pile top card. Suits are completely irrelevant.
Ranks wrap around in TriPeaks. A King connects to an Ace and an Ace connects to a King. This is different from some solitaire variants where Aces and Kings are dead ends. The wrapping rule is essential for building long streaks and is one of the features that makes TriPeaks so satisfying.
TriPeaks uses an additive streak scoring system that rewards consecutive plays. Each time you play a card from the tableau without drawing from the stock, your streak counter increases by one.
| Cards in Streak | Points Earned | Cumulative Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1st card | 1 | 1 |
| 2nd card | 2 | 3 |
| 3rd card | 3 | 6 |
| 4th card | 4 | 10 |
| 5th card | 5 | 15 |
| 10th card | 10 | 55 |
Drawing from the stock pile resets your streak counter to zero. This means a single 10-card streak is worth far more than ten individual 1-card plays. Building and extending streaks is the primary skill in TriPeaks.
Look at the 10 face-up base cards and the initial waste pile card. Identify all cards that are ±1 from the waste top.
Before clicking, trace a path through available cards. If the waste shows a 5, and you see a 4, 3, 2, A, K in the available cards, that's a potential 5-card streak worth 15 points.
Click an available card that is ±1 from the waste top. It moves to the waste pile and becomes the new target. Any face-down cards that are now fully uncovered will flip face-up.
If no available card is ±1 from the waste top, click the stock pile to draw a new card. This resets your streak but gives you a fresh target.
Continue playing and drawing until all 28 tableau cards are removed (you win) or until no moves remain and the stock is empty (game over).
Before making your first play, scan the board for chains. If you see a sequence like 7→6→5→4→3 among the available cards, play them in order rather than picking cards randomly. Longer streaks yield dramatically more points.
Clearing a peak top removes only one card, but it reveals two cards beneath it and starts a cascade that can expose many more. Prioritize moves that uncover cards in the upper rows of each peak.
Remember that King↔Ace connections let you "turn the corner" during a streak. A run like Q→K→A→2→3 is five cards and worth 15 points. Always check if wrapping opens a longer chain.
Every draw resets your streak multiplier. Scan every available card carefully before clicking the stock. It is easy to overlook a valid play on the other side of the board, especially with three peaks to track.
Try to clear cards across all three peaks evenly rather than focusing entirely on one peak. A balanced approach gives you more available cards at any given moment, increasing the chance of finding playable moves.
The TriPeaks layout uses 28 cards arranged in three overlapping peaks. The peaks share a base row of 10 face-up cards. Above the base, 18 cards are dealt face-down in three pyramid formations (3 peak tops, 6 cards in the second row, and 9 cards in the third row). The remaining 24 cards form the stock pile, with one card drawn to start the waste pile.
You can play any available (uncovered) face-up card that is exactly one rank higher or lower than the current waste pile card. For example, if the waste pile shows a 7, you can play a 6 or an 8. Ranks wrap around, meaning you can play a King on an Ace or an Ace on a King. Suits do not matter in TriPeaks.
Yes. In TriPeaks Solitaire, ranks wrap around in both directions. You can play a King on an Ace and an Ace on a King. This wrapping rule is a core part of the game and opens up more possible moves, especially when trying to build long streaks.
TriPeaks uses a streak-based scoring system. Each consecutive card you play without drawing from the stock increases your streak. The first card earns 1 point, the second earns 2, the third earns 3, and so on. Drawing from the stock resets the streak to zero. This means long chains of plays are worth exponentially more than individual plays.
When no available tableau card is ±1 rank from the waste pile top, you must draw a card from the stock pile. The drawn card becomes the new waste pile top, potentially opening new moves. If the stock is empty and no moves are available, the game is over.
No. While both games feature pyramid-shaped card layouts, the mechanics differ significantly. Pyramid Solitaire removes pairs of cards that sum to 13, while TriPeaks removes single cards that are one rank higher or lower than the waste pile top. TriPeaks has three smaller peaks sharing a base row, while Pyramid has a single seven-row triangle. TriPeaks also features streak-based scoring that Pyramid does not have.
Approximately 90% of randomly dealt TriPeaks games are theoretically winnable with perfect play, making it one of the more forgiving solitaire variants. However, actual win rates for human players are typically much lower, around 50-60%, because the game requires careful sequencing and planning to avoid getting stuck.
Only draw from the stock when no available tableau card is one rank higher or lower than the current waste pile card. Before drawing, scan all available face-up cards carefully — it is easy to miss a valid play, especially when cards are scattered across three peaks. Drawing resets your streak, so avoid it when possible.
Try TriPeaks Solitaire now — it's free, works in your browser, and requires no download.