Clear all 28 cards from three overlapping peaks by playing exposed cards one rank higher or lower than the waste pile. Suits do not matter—build long runs and use the stock only when the board has no better move.
Need more detail? The Tri Peaks how-to-play guide has the complete rules and strategies to help you win. You can also browse our other guides: How to Play Solitaire, How to Play Spider Solitaire, and How to Play FreeCell.
The aim is to remove every card from the tableau.
You remove cards by playing an exposed tableau card onto the waste pile if it is one rank higher or one rank lower than the current waste card.
For example, if the waste card is a 7, you may play any 6 or any 8. Suit and colour do not matter.
Once you play that card, it becomes the new waste card. You can then continue the run by playing a card one rank higher or lower than the new card.
Tri Peaks uses one 52-card deck.
The layout usually includes 28 cards in the tableau, three overlapping peaks, 24 cards in the stock, and one waste pile.
At the start of the game, the bottom row of the tableau is face-up and available to play. Cards higher up the peaks are covered by other cards and cannot be played until the cards below them are removed.
The stock pile holds the remaining cards. One card is turned over from the stock to begin the waste pile.
Start by looking at the current waste card.
Then check the exposed cards in the tableau. You may play any exposed card that is one rank higher or one rank lower than the waste card.
If the waste card is a 10, you may play a 9 or Jack. If the waste card is a Queen, you may play a Jack or King.
When you remove a tableau card, it becomes the new top card of the waste pile. This may open another move.
As cards are removed from the lower rows, covered cards higher in the peaks become exposed. Once a card has no other cards covering it, it can be played if it is one rank higher or lower than the waste card.
If there are no playable tableau cards, draw one card from the stock. That card becomes the new waste card, and you continue looking for playable cards from the peaks.
You win when all tableau cards are cleared.
Build longer runs. The strongest Tri Peaks play is about building runs—a sequence of several cards in a row without drawing from the stock. Long runs clear more cards, expose more of the peaks, and give you better control of the hand.
Before playing a card, check whether it creates another move. For example, if the waste card is a 7 and you can play either a 6 or an 8, look at the exposed cards around the board. If playing the 8 lets you continue with a 9 and then a 10, that is usually stronger than playing the 6 with no follow-up.
Open covered cards early. Cards buried in the peaks are the cards you need to uncover. A move that exposes a new card is usually better than a move that only removes an edge card with no follow-up.
Do not draw from the stock too quickly. The stock pile is limited. Every time you draw, you spend one of your chances to restart the sequence. Before drawing, check every exposed tableau card.
Look across all three peaks. It is tempting to clear one peak at a time, but that can leave the other peaks blocked. Try to open the layout evenly.
Choose the move with the best next card. Do not only ask, "Can I play this card?" Ask, "What does this card let me play next?"
For longer-run habits, read Tri Peaks Strategy: How to Build Longer Runs. For stock timing, see Tri Peaks Stock Pile Strategy. Compare with Klondike in Tri Peaks vs Klondike Solitaire.
Clear all 28 cards from three overlapping peaks by playing exposed cards one rank higher or lower than the waste pile. Suits do not matter—build long runs and use the stock only when the board has no better move.
Need more detail? The Tri Peaks how-to-play guide has the complete rules and strategies to help you win. You can also browse our other guides: How to Play Solitaire, How to Play Spider Solitaire, and How to Play FreeCell.
The aim is to remove every card from the tableau.
You remove cards by playing an exposed tableau card onto the waste pile if it is one rank higher or one rank lower than the current waste card.
For example, if the waste card is a 7, you may play any 6 or any 8. Suit and colour do not matter.
Once you play that card, it becomes the new waste card. You can then continue the run by playing a card one rank higher or lower than the new card.
Tri Peaks uses one 52-card deck.
The layout usually includes 28 cards in the tableau, three overlapping peaks, 24 cards in the stock, and one waste pile.
At the start of the game, the bottom row of the tableau is face-up and available to play. Cards higher up the peaks are covered by other cards and cannot be played until the cards below them are removed.
The stock pile holds the remaining cards. One card is turned over from the stock to begin the waste pile.
Start by looking at the current waste card.
Then check the exposed cards in the tableau. You may play any exposed card that is one rank higher or one rank lower than the waste card.
If the waste card is a 10, you may play a 9 or Jack. If the waste card is a Queen, you may play a Jack or King.
When you remove a tableau card, it becomes the new top card of the waste pile. This may open another move.
As cards are removed from the lower rows, covered cards higher in the peaks become exposed. Once a card has no other cards covering it, it can be played if it is one rank higher or lower than the waste card.
If there are no playable tableau cards, draw one card from the stock. That card becomes the new waste card, and you continue looking for playable cards from the peaks.
You win when all tableau cards are cleared.
Build longer runs. The strongest Tri Peaks play is about building runs—a sequence of several cards in a row without drawing from the stock. Long runs clear more cards, expose more of the peaks, and give you better control of the hand.
Before playing a card, check whether it creates another move. For example, if the waste card is a 7 and you can play either a 6 or an 8, look at the exposed cards around the board. If playing the 8 lets you continue with a 9 and then a 10, that is usually stronger than playing the 6 with no follow-up.
Open covered cards early. Cards buried in the peaks are the cards you need to uncover. A move that exposes a new card is usually better than a move that only removes an edge card with no follow-up.
Do not draw from the stock too quickly. The stock pile is limited. Every time you draw, you spend one of your chances to restart the sequence. Before drawing, check every exposed tableau card.
Look across all three peaks. It is tempting to clear one peak at a time, but that can leave the other peaks blocked. Try to open the layout evenly.
Choose the move with the best next card. Do not only ask, "Can I play this card?" Ask, "What does this card let me play next?"
For longer-run habits, read Tri Peaks Strategy: How to Build Longer Runs. For stock timing, see Tri Peaks Stock Pile Strategy. Compare with Klondike in Tri Peaks vs Klondike Solitaire.
Learn when to draw from the stock in Tri Peaks — scan both directions, extend weak runs vs burning a card, count your resets, recover after a bad draw, and build the calm stock habit.
Learn Tri Peaks strategy — pick the move with the best next card, expose covered cards, balance all three peaks, handle Aces and Kings, and avoid the mistakes that break runs.
Compare Tri Peaks and Klondike Solitaire — rank chains vs foundations, suits vs momentum, stock roles, and which game fits your mood.
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