How Do You Play TriPeaks Solitaire?
Anna | May 28, 2025
TriPeaks was created in 1989 by software engineer Robert Hogue and first appeared in the Windows Entertainment Pack 3, where its blend of luck and planning made it an instant hit. What made it stand out then still works today. The game gives you three small mountains (three peaks) of cards to clear, one card at a time. It’s quick to learn, easy to play and just strategic enough to keep you coming back for another round. In this guide, we will show you exactly how to play, with tips, rules and strategies to help you win more games.
Game Setup
You deal 28 cards into overlapping piles to form three peaks, also called the tableau. Start by placing three cards face-down at the top. Below that, add six more face-down cards, offset so they overlap the ones above. Then place nine more face-down cards in the next row, followed by ten face-up cards at the bottom. These face-up cards form the base and are the first ones you can play. The remaining 24 cards go into the stockpile. Flip the top card from the stock to start your waste pile and begin the game.
Clearing the Peaks
The core rule is simple: any card in the peaks that is one rank higher or lower than the top waste card can move to the waste pile, regardless of suit. So if the waste card is an 8, you can play a 7 or 9 from any face-up card in the peaks as you can see in figure 2 above. In our game, you also get to use the wraparound rule so a King can go on an Ace and an Ace on a King to keep things going. Each time you remove a card, any face-down cards it was covering will automatically flip face-up. If no peak move matches the waste card you draw the next stock card into the waste and continue. You get only one pass through the stock so every decision counts. You win the game by clearing all three peaks, even if there are still cards left in the stockpile.
Scoring Basics
Scoring in TriPeaks is simple. The fewer moves you make and the less time you take, the better your score. Your final score is just the total of those two numbers. For example, if you make 70 moves and take 50 seconds, your score will be 120. Just play fast and play smart. Undoing a move also counts as a move, so use it wisely. You can check your best score in the stats and try to beat it next time.
Advanced Strategies
TriPeaks looks simple at first, but smart moves can give you more wins and a lower score. Here are some easy strategies to help you play better:
- Uncover hidden cards early: Don’t just clear the first match you see. Go for cards that flip over the most face-down cards. The more you reveal, the more options you’ll have.
- Look for long chains: Try to plan out up-and-down sequences that let you play multiple cards in a row. For example, if you play an 8, you might go 8-9-10-9-8 and clear five cards in one go.
- Clear the peaks evenly: Avoid focusing on just one peak. Clearing cards row by row across all three peaks keeps things balanced and prevents blocks.
- Pick the move that opens a card: If you can play two cards of the same rank, choose the one that reveals another card. For example, in figure 3, you can play either of the two Kings on the Queen in the waste. The King on the right is the better choice because it flips a face-down card and gives you more options for future moves.
- Don’t save too much: You only get one pass through the stock, so it’s usually better to play a useful card right away instead of holding onto it “just in case.”
- Use hints and undo wisely: Hints can help if you’re stuck, but don’t rely on them too much. They only show a random valid move, not the best one, and definitely not a full strategy to finish the game. Undo is useful too, but it adds to your move count and can hurt your score if overused. Try different paths, but pick your moments.
- Practice, Pause, Pivot: When you hit a wall, don’t hammer the mouse in frustration. Take a short pause, then try a different sequence or restart. A fresh look will often reveal a path you missed.
TriPeaks combines quick decisions, pattern spotting and a bit of luck. Before you start, take a moment to spot the biggest openings, then go for the best path to clear all three peaks. Good luck and have fun!
