TriPeaks is a highly modifiable Solitaire game similar to Golf and Pyramid. In fact, it is more like a combination of the two. Unlike other Solitaire Variations, though, TriPeaks is relatively new. It was invented in 1989 by Robert Hogue and flowed into the mainstream when it was included in the Windows Entertainment Pack 3 in 1991.
Despite its newbie status in the antique world of Solitaire, some electronic casino games in Las Vegas already feature TriPeaks. If you’re not familiar with TriPeaks Solitaire, learning it is relatively easy. In just a couple of practice games, you’ll get the hang of it in no time.
How to Play TriPeaks Solitaire Online
If you don’t have a standard 52-deck card, the next best thing is to go online. You can play TriPeaks Solitaire at Anytime.Games. After all, TriPeaks first appeared as a computer version, so it’s only fitting that the game returns to its digital roots.
The objective of the game is to collect and transfer all the cards in the Tableau to the Waste pile. Unlike the other Solitaire versions, TriPeaks is fast-paced, with each round lasting only a couple of minutes. With that in mind, it is substantially easier than Spider, Canfield, or Forty Thieves.
TriPeaks Solitaire Gameplay
Since one TriPeaks game could last only around two minutes, expect its gameplay to be relatively simple. At the start, you should have a standard deck of 52 cards. From there, the cards are arranged in a familiar layout — three cards at the top facing down to form three peaks.
Then, two cards are laid out face down in an overlapping manner with each of the three peaks. Another three overlapping cards are arranged over the previously-laid cards. Finally, a row of 10 face-up cards is laid out overlapping the previous row. The remaining cards will form a Stock deck below the TriPeaks layout, and the first card from that deck will initiate what is called the Discard (or Waste) pile.
After this initial setup, here are the steps so that you can play out the remaining deck and win the game:
- The goal is to get all the cards from the TriPeaks layout and put them to the Discard pile. To jumpstart this game, see if the first card from the Stock is one rank below or above any of the face up cards in the layout.
For example, if the first card in the remaining deck is a Queen, you can put a King or a Jack on top of it regardless of the suit. If there is a King or Jack in the face-up cards, either can be pulled out and placed directly into the Discard pile. Also, remember that you can “turn a corner” in this game, meaning you can put an Ace over a King or a King under an Ace.
- As the action continues, inevitably, some of the face-down cards will no longer have cards overlapping them. When these situations happen, the face-down cards now become “Open,” which means you can now flip these open cards up.
- If you can no longer put one card on top of the other in the same set of rules, another card from the Stock deck is flipped. From there, play on until all the cards from the Tableau have been discarded into the Waste pile. When you do this, you win. But then again, it is also possible to run out of possible moves in the middle of the game. This happens when you have exhausted all the cards from the Stock. If that’s the case, you will absorb a loss.
- Since the game is highly modifiable, some versions developed a scoring method. One of the most straightforward scoring styles is to count the remaining cards in the Tableau. The winner is the one with the lowest number of cards.
TriPeaks Solitaire Tips and Strategies
As simple as the gameplay sounds, TriPeaks require strategies so you can maximize your moves. Here are some tips and tricks to help you win:
- Never rush your moves. The worst thing you can do is play like a madman and not think it through.
- Remember that suits do not matter in TriPeaks Solitaire.
- At various points in the game, you may encounter two cards that can be discarded into the Waste pile. This seems like an easy choice, but not so fast! Pick the card that opens up the most face-down cards for you. Choosing a card that won’t open up the cards behind it is the worst possible move you can do in this game.
- Do not try to eliminate a single pyramid at a time. It is much easier to try to discard by row since it enhances the possibility of getting open cards.
- Try to build long sequences. For example, if the card from the Discard pile has a 7 and you have the option to put a 6 or an 8, choose the number that gives you a chance to form longer sequences. Therefore, if there is also a 9, 10, and a Jack in the Tableau, you should choose 8.
- Just have fun! Unless you have all your life savings on this game, there is no reason to take it way too seriously.
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