How to Play TriPeaks Solitaire: Complete Strategy Guide
TriPeaks Solitaire (also called "Tri Towers" or "Three Peaks") is one of the most popular and addictive solitaire variations. Invented in 1989 by Robert Hogue, TriPeaks combines the matching mechanics of Golf Solitaire with the pyramid structure of Pyramid Solitaire, creating a fast-paced game that's easy to learn but offers surprising strategic depth.
Game Setup and Objective
TriPeaks uses a standard 52-card deck arranged into a unique tableau featuring three overlapping "peaks" or pyramids. The layout consists of 28 cards total: 18 cards are dealt face-up forming the visible peaks, while 10 cards start face-down as the foundation of the three pyramids. The remaining 24 cards form the stock pile.
Your objective is to clear all three peaks by moving cards from the tableau to the waste pile. Win by removing all 28 tableau cards before the stock runs out.
The TriPeaks Layout
The tableau is arranged in four rows:
- Row 1 (top): 3 face-up cards (one peak of each pyramid)
- Row 2: 6 face-up cards
- Row 3: 9 face-up cards
- Row 4 (bottom): 10 face-down cards
Cards in rows 2-4 overlap with cards above them. When both cards covering a face-down card are removed, that card flips face-up and becomes playable.
Rules and Gameplay
Basic Rules
- Sequence Building: You can move any uncovered tableau card to the waste pile if it's one rank higher or lower than the current waste card (suits don't matter).
- Wrapping: Aces can go on Kings, and Kings can go on Aces (the sequence wraps).
- Uncovered Cards: A card is uncovered if no cards overlap it from above.
- Drawing from Stock: When stuck, draw a card from stock to start a new waste pile sequence.
- Flipping Cards: When both cards covering a face-down card are removed, immediately flip it face-up.
Scoring System
TriPeaks features a unique scoring system that rewards consecutive moves without drawing from stock:
- First card removed: 1 point
- Second consecutive card: 2 points
- Third consecutive card: 3 points
- And so on... building a "streak"
- Drawing from stock resets the streak multiplier to 1
- Each card removed from peaks: +1 base point
- Clearing all peaks: +15 bonus points
Example: If you make 5 consecutive moves, you score 1+2+3+4+5 = 15 points. Long streaks create massive scores!
Winning Strategies for TriPeaks
- Plan for Long Streaks: The scoring heavily rewards consecutive moves. Before drawing from stock, exhaust all possible tableau moves. A 10-card streak scores 55 points—that's massive!
- Prioritize Uncovering Face-Down Cards: Face-down cards could be anything. Uncovering them quickly gives you more options and prevents getting stuck.
- Think Two Moves Ahead: Before moving a card, check what it uncovers. Sometimes holding a 7 for one more move lets you make a longer streak.
- Clear One Peak Completely When Possible: Clearing a complete peak early gives you more flexibility for the remaining peaks and reduces the chance of getting blocked.
- Use Kings and Aces Wisely: Since they wrap (K-A-2 or 2-A-K), they're the most flexible cards. Don't waste them early unless necessary.
- Avoid Breaking Streaks Unnecessarily: If you can continue your streak by choosing different cards, do it. Every extra card in a streak dramatically increases your score.
- Count Cards: Advanced players track which cards have been played. If three 7s are gone, that remaining 7 becomes super valuable for connecting sequences.
- Save Stock for True Dead Ends: Don't draw from stock just because it's convenient. Maximize every sequence first.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Drawing too quickly: Many beginners draw from stock without exploring all tableau possibilities first.
- Ignoring face-down cards: Not prioritizing moves that uncover hidden cards can lead to impossible situations.
- Breaking streaks carelessly: Moving a card without checking if another card could continue the streak wastes points.
- Poor card choice: When multiple cards can be played, choose the one that uncovers the most useful cards.
- Forgetting the wrap: Not using K-A or A-K connections misses valuable opportunities.
TriPeaks vs. Other Solitaire Games
TriPeaks vs. Klondike: TriPeaks is much faster (2-5 min vs. 5-15 min) and has simpler rules. However, Klondike offers more strategic depth for long-term planning.
TriPeaks vs. Pyramid: Both use pyramid layouts, but TriPeaks is more forgiving. Pyramid requires exact math (cards = 13), while TriPeaks only needs ±1 rank. TriPeaks has higher win rates (50-70% vs. 20-30%).
TriPeaks vs. Spider: TriPeaks is significantly easier and faster. Spider requires building complete suit sequences, while TriPeaks ignores suits entirely.
The History of TriPeaks Solitaire
TriPeaks was invented in 1989 by Robert Hogue, making it one of the youngest classic solitaire variations. Hogue designed TriPeaks specifically to be more skill-based than luck-based, with statistical analysis showing that skilled players could achieve 70-80% win rates compared to 20-30% for random play.
The game gained massive popularity through Microsoft Solitaire Collection (2012) and mobile apps. TriPeaks' combination of quick gameplay (perfect for mobile) and the addictive streak scoring system made it a smartphone gaming phenomenon, with millions of daily players worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, but TriPeaks has one of the highest win rates in solitaire. With optimal play, approximately 70-90% of deals are winnable (depending on house rules about K-A wrapping). Random play wins about 50-60% of games. This makes TriPeaks one of the most consistently winnable solitaire variations.
Scores vary widely: Winning games: 40-80+ points. High scores: 100+ points (requires multiple long streaks). Exceptional games: 150+ points (rare, needs nearly perfect play with minimal stock draws). Focus on clearing the peaks first, then optimize for score as you improve.
This depends on the rules variation. Classic TriPeaks allows K-A and A-K wrapping (most common). Some stricter versions don't allow wrapping. Our version allows wrapping, making the game more strategic and forgiving.
A streak counts consecutive cards removed from the peaks without drawing from stock. First card = 1 point, second = 2, third = 3, etc. A 10-card streak scores 1+2+3...+10 = 55 points! Drawing from stock resets your multiplier back to 1. This scoring system is what makes TriPeaks so addictive.
Start by identifying which moves uncover face-down cards. Make those moves first to maximize your options. Look for opportunities to create long potential sequences before committing to a path. Don't draw from stock until you've exhausted all tableau possibilities.
Most TriPeaks games take 2-5 minutes, making it perfect for quick gaming sessions. This is much faster than Klondike (5-15 min) or Spider (10-20 min), which contributes to TriPeaks' popularity on mobile devices.
Yes, TriPeaks is generally considered one of the easier solitaire variations, with win rates of 50-90% compared to Klondike's 10-30% or Spider's 15-40%. However, mastering the streak scoring system and achieving high scores requires significant skill.
TriPeaks' addictiveness comes from its perfect game design: quick play (2-5 min), high win rate (feels rewarding), simple rules (easy to learn), streak scoring (creates gambling-like dopamine hits), and visible progress (watching peaks collapse). These elements create the "just one more game" effect.