How to play Tri Peaks
Tri Peaks is a one-player solitaire game played with a standard 52-card deck. You deal 28 cards into three peaks and clear them by playing open cards one rank above or below the top card of a face-up pile. Ranks wrap, so a king plays on an ace. You win by clearing every peak.
- Players
- 1 (solitaire)
- Deck
- One standard 52-card deck
- Layout
- 28 cards in three peaks, 1 card face up, 23 in the stock
- Goal
- Clear all 28 cards from the peaks
Setup
Deal 28 cards into three overlapping peaks, in rows of 3, 6, 9, and 10 from top to bottom. A card on a peak is open once no other card is on top of it, and only open cards are face up, so the bottom row of 10 starts face up. Turn one more card face up to start the pile. The other 23 cards are the stock.
How to play
- Play an open card whose rank is one higher or one lower than the top card of the pile. A 7 plays on a 6 or an 8.
- The card you play becomes the new top card, so you can keep going up and down from it.
- Ranks wrap around: a king plays on an ace, and an ace plays on a 2.
- When nothing can play, turn over the top card of the stock onto the pile. You can also do this any time, even with plays available.
Winning
The deal ends when the board is clear, which is a win. It also ends when the stock is empty and no open card can play.
Scoring rewards long runs. Plays in a row form a chain: the first card in a chain scores 1, the next 2, then 3, and so on. Turning over a stock card ends the chain. Clearing the top card of a peak adds 15. Clearing the whole board adds 30, plus 5 for each card left in the stock.
Playing it in Deckhand
Tri Peaks is one of Deckhand’s solo games, so there is no lobby or room code. The cards are dealt as soon as you start. Tap an open card to play it or tap the stock to turn a new card, and the app keeps your chain and score. When you are stuck with an empty stock, the deal ends with “No moves”.
Deckhand is free on the App Store and Google Play. One phone starts a table and everyone else joins with the code, so nobody needs a physical deck.
FAQ
Is Tri Peaks a solitaire game?
Yes. Tri Peaks is played by one person with a single 52-card deck.
Can a king go on an ace in Tri Peaks?
Yes. Ranks wrap around, so a king plays on an ace and an ace plays on a 2.
When should you draw from the stock in Tri Peaks?
You have to when nothing can play, but you can draw any time. Drawing ends your current chain, so it usually pays to play out a run first.
How is Tri Peaks scored?
Each card in a chain scores one more than the last, starting at 1. Clearing a peak’s top card adds 15, and clearing the board adds 30 plus 5 for every card left in the stock.