TriPeaks solitaire is a relatively new game, developed in 1989 by Robert Hogue as part of Windows Entertainment Pack 3. Also known as Three Peaks, Triple Peaks, or Tri Towers, it’s a quick, simple puzzle game for players of all ages.

Number of Cards: 52

Length: Short

Difficulty: Easy

Family: Adding & pairing

Type: Closed builder

TriPeaks solitaire is a great beginner solitaire game that doesn’t require you to pay attention to suits. Gameplay is essentially nothing like classic solitaire, so if you want to try a totally different solo card game, give it a try! It’s a great break from classic card games. Read below to learn how to play, or watch our video tutorial. 

Tableau piles: These are the workable piles on the table. They are shuffled and dealt before the card game starts.

Stock pile: This pile is the remainder of the deck that hasn’t gone into the tableau piles.

Waste pile: The cards you remove from the tableau make up the waste pile.

If you’re playing online solitaire and not using deck of cards, the game will already be set up for you. 

To start a new game of TriPeaks solitaire with actual playing cards:

1. Shuffle your deck.
2. Build your tableau by placing 3 pyramids, or peaks, of 6 cards face-down
3. Add a bottom row of ten face-up cards to connect the 3 pyramids.
4. The remaining cards will become your stock pile.

Object

Unlike most solitaire card games, your aim isn’t to build foundation piles from aces to kings in each suit. For a Tri Peaks card game, you just need to clear the tableau. To remove cards, you’ll pick cards valued either +1 or -1 of the last card removed. 

So, if the last card you moved to the waste pile is a 3, you can then move either a 2 or a 4.

After you’ve removed the top cards, the cards beneath will turn over. If you get stuck, use the stock pile. Just be careful — you only get one pass through the stock pile.

If you’ve played Golf solitaire, TriPeaks should be a cinch! 

• You can move a card that is one rank higher or lower than the previous card played.

• Color and suit don’t matter.
• If you can’t move any open cards, pull from the stock pile

You can only pass through the stock pile once. If this pile runs out and there are still cards in the tableau, it’s Game Over.

What is a good strategy for TriPeaks Solitaire?

To win a TriPeaks solitaire game, you’ll want to pay close attention and follow these tips.

Try to remove cards in the longest possible sequences. Avoid depending on that stock pile until it becomes absolutely necessary.

If you have a choice between a top card that’s blocking 1 new card, or one that’s blocking 2 new cards, always pick the option that will reveal 2 cards. This will increase your odds of getting new cards you can play quickly.

There are 28 cards in the tableau and 24 cards in the stock pile, totaling at 52 cards, or a full deck.

No! There are several solitaire variants based on adding cards, rather than by putting them in order. If this is your thing, try Pyramid solitaire and Golf Solitaire.

There’s a ton of other solitaire games you can play, like Spider solitaire, FreeCell, and Double Klondike. But if you’re after more of a challenge, try other Yukon games like Scorpion solitaire or Alaska solitaire. Check out our all games to check out hundreds of variations.