How to play TriPeaks Solitaire
TriPeaks is a fast solitaire game about runs. Clear all three peaks by playing cards one higher or one lower than the
card on the waste pile, and keep a run going as long as you can.
The layout
- Three peaks of 28 cards. The bottom row of ten is face up; the 18 cards above it start face down.
- The stock: the other cards, face down, fanned out so you can see how many are left.
- The waste pile: it starts with one card from the stock. You play onto its top card.
The rules
- Play any face-up card that is one rank higher or one lower than the top waste card. The suit doesn't matter: a 7 can go on a 6 or an 8.
- The card you play becomes the new top card, so you can keep going: 6, 7, 8, 7, 6 is one run.
- A face-down card turns over once both cards covering it are gone.
- When nothing plays, tap the stock to turn up a new waste card. You go through the stock once.
- Clear all three peaks to win. Cards left in the stock earn bonus points.
A–K wrap or no wrap
With A–K wrap, the usual rule, Aces and Kings connect: a King can go on an Ace and an Ace on a King. With
No wrap, a run stops at the Ace and at the King, which makes the game harder. To switch, tap
New and pick a mode.
Controls
- Tap or click a face-up card to play it on the waste. You can drag it there too.
- Tap the stock to turn up the next card.
- Hint shows the card that starts the longest run you can see, or tells you to deal.
- Undo takes back as many moves as you like.
-
On a keyboard, Space deals from the stock, H shows a hint, Ctrl + Z undoes a
move and N starts a new game.
Scoring
Turning up a card from the stock ends your run, and the next card you play starts a new one at 10.
Tips for winning more games
- Play the longest run, not the first card you see. Before you start, look for chains like 6, 7, 8, 9 among the face-up cards.
- Runs can turn around. After a 7 and an 8, a 7 can come back down. Going up and down keeps a run alive.
- Turn over face-down cards. Each one you uncover could start or extend your next run.
- Work on all three peaks. A peak you leave until last can strand you with no cards that play.
- Deal only when you have to. Turning up a stock card ends the run, so play every card you can first.
- Watch the stock. When it gets low, every card counts, and each one left at the end is worth bonus points.
- Use Undo to explore. Try a run, and if it goes nowhere, take it back. It costs nothing.
Questions
Can every game be won?
Most can, but not all. The game's inventor, Robert Hogue, found with a computer analysis that over 90% of deals can be
won with perfect play. Most cards start face down, so you can't always see the best move, and real win rates are lower.
Who invented TriPeaks?
Robert Hogue created it in 1989. It first came out in Windows Entertainment Pack 3 and later became one of the games in
Microsoft Solitaire Collection. It's also known as Three Peaks, Tri Towers and Triple Peaks.
How is TriPeaks different from Pyramid?
Both are about clearing a layout of cards. In Pyramid you remove pairs of cards that add up to 13. In TriPeaks you play
cards one rank up or down onto a single waste pile, so the game is about building long runs.
Is it free? Do I need an account?
Yes, it's free, and there's nothing to download or sign up for. Your current game and your statistics are saved in this browser on this device.
What happens if I close the page?
Your game is saved after every move. Open the page again in the same browser and you'll pick up where you left off.
Can I play offline?
Yes. After your first visit the game works without an internet connection. On a phone, add it to your home screen to open it like an app.