How to play Three Peaks Solitaire

Three Peaks is the quick, cheerful solitaire many people know as TriPeaks. Twenty-eight cards are dealt in three peaks that share a bottom row, and one card starts a pile below them. Play cards from the peaks onto the pile, one at a time, and clear all three peaks to win.

One higher or one lower

A card can go on the pile when it is one higher or one lower than the top card. Suits and colors do not matter: on a 7 you can play any 6 or any 8. You may go up and down as you like, 6, 7, 6, 5 is fine. In the classic game an Ace goes on a King and a King on an Ace, so Queen, King, Ace, 2 is a good run too. Pick No wrap in Settings if you prefer them apart.

Face-up and face-down cards

Only face-up cards can be played. At the start that is the whole bottom row. Every card higher up lies on two cards below it and turns face up as soon as both of those are gone.

The deck

When no face-up card fits, tap the deck: its next card goes on the pile and you carry on from there. You go through the deck only once, so every card you draw counts. The game ends when the peaks are clear or when the deck is empty and nothing fits.

Points

• A run is every card you play in a row without drawing. The first card of a run is worth 1 point, the second 2, the third 3, and so on.
• Taking the top card of a peak is worth 15 points.
• Clearing all three peaks is worth 30 points, plus 5 for every card still in the deck.

Tips for longer runs

1. Look before you play. Two cards may fit the pile. Count which one lets you keep going longer.
2. Turn cards over. When you have a choice, play the card that turns a face-down card face up: more cards to play.
3. Draw last. Drawing ends your run, and every card left in the deck at the end is bonus.
4. Think in both directions. After a 9 comes an 8 or a 10, so keep an eye on both.
5. Use Undo. There is no penalty. Try a line, and if it goes nowhere, take it back.

Today's deal

Every day there is one Daily Deal, the same for every player. Score as many points as you can and see how you compare with everyone else who played today. Your first game of the day is the one that counts.

Questions

Is this the same as TriPeaks? Yes, it is the same classic game under its plain name.

Can every deal be cleared? No, and that is part of the fun: some deals need luck from the deck. Runs and points count either way.

What does Hint do? It looks only at the cards you can see and lights up the first card of the longest run, or the deck when nothing fits.

Do I need an account? No. Your games, streak and settings stay in this browser. A free account keeps them on every device.