TriPeaks Solitaire Rules
TriPeaks was devised by Robert Hogue in 1989 and has one of the shortest rule sets in solitaire. Here is the full set as CardCouch plays it — the original layout and moves, without the point scoring — followed by the variations you may meet in other apps.
Play TriPeaks NowThe rules here, in one list
- 52 cards; 28 dealt as three peaks (rows of 3, 6, 9 and 10), 1 to the waste, 23 to the stock
- Only the base row is face up; a card turns up when both cards below it are gone
- Play an uncovered card that is one rank above or below the waste top; suits ignored
- Ace and King are neighbours (the wrap is allowed)
- Draw from the stock at any time; one pass, no recycling; drawing resets the streak
- Win by clearing all 28 peak cards; unlimited undo
The deal
Shuffle a standard deck. Deal three cards face down as the peak tops, then a row of six face down so that each peak top is overlapped by two cards, then a row of nine, then a base row of ten face up that spans the whole layout. That is 28 cards. Turn the next card face up as the waste; the last 23 cards, face down, are the stock.
Uncovered cards
A peak card is uncovered when no card in the row below overlaps it. Every base-row card is uncovered from the start. A card in the upper rows is covered by exactly two cards; when both have been played it is turned face up and becomes uncovered. Covered cards can never be played and, on CardCouch, stay face down so you cannot see them.
Moves
- An uncovered card may be moved onto the waste if its rank is exactly one higher or one lower than the waste top. The played card becomes the new waste top.
- Ranks run A, 2, 3 … 10, J, Q, K and back to A: the King–Ace wrap is allowed in both directions.
- The top card of the stock may be turned onto the waste at any time while the stock lasts. The stock is never turned over again.
- Cards on the waste are never played back to the peaks.
End of the game
The game is won when the peaks are empty. It is over without a win when the stock is empty and no uncovered card is one rank from the waste top; CardCouch tells you when that happens and offers Undo and New Game. Moves, time and your longest streak are recorded. Your best time, fewest moves and total wins are updated when you win; your longest streak is saved the moment you set it, even in a game you go on to lose, and Undo does not take it back.
Variants used elsewhere
| Variant | What changes | Here? |
|---|---|---|
| No King–Ace wrap | Runs stop at the ends; noticeably harder. The wrap is the usual rule | No, wrap allowed |
| Point scoring (original) | Each card in a streak scores one more than the last (1, 2, 3 …); a stock draw costs 5 and resets the count; clearing a peak earns 15, 15 and then 30 | No, moves/time/streak instead |
| Peaks face up | All 28 cards visible from the start, so full planning is possible | No, covered cards are face down, as in the original |
| Wild cards / jokers | A joker plays on anything and takes anything | No |
| Extra stock passes | The waste is turned back into the stock for one or more redeals | No, one pass, as in the original |
Frequently asked questions
Does suit matter in TriPeaks?
No. Only rank matters: the card you play must be one rank above or below the waste top, regardless of suit or colour.
Can I play a King on an Ace?
Yes, on CardCouch the ranks wrap, so King–Ace and Ace–King are legal, as in the original game and most versions. Some apps and house rules do not allow the wrap; that makes the game harder.
Can I draw from the stock when I still have a play?
Yes. Drawing is always allowed while the stock lasts. It costs you a stock card and resets your streak, so it is only worth doing when the available play would strand better cards.
What happens to the stock when I win?
Nothing; it stays where it is. Winning means clearing the 28 peak cards, however many stock cards are left. A win with fewer moves means fewer draws were needed.
Is there scoring?
CardCouch keeps moves, time, your streak and personal bests rather than a points score. The original Windows version scores each card in a streak one point more than the last (1, 2, 3 and so on), charges 5 points per stock draw, and gives a bonus for each peak cleared (15, 15 and 30); many apps use a version of that. See the variants section.