TriPeaks Solitaire
Ride card chains one rank up or down to level three peaks.How to Play TriPeaks Solitaire
In a nutshell: Ride card chains one rank up or down to level three peaks. You play with 1 deck (52 cards), it's rated fast & streaky, and ~60% with careful chaining.
TriPeaks deals three overlapping peaks of cards. Play any exposed card that's one rank above or below the waste card - Ranks wrap around from King to Ace - And chain moves together for big streak bonuses. Fast, forgiving, and dangerously moreish. TriPeaks borrows its core rule from Golf solitaire but adds two twists that give it a personality all its own: ranks wrap around, so an Ace bridges Kings and 2s, and long unbroken chains pay escalating streak bonuses. Those bonuses turn a simple matching game into a scoring chase, where the choice of which card to play first, rather than merely whether a play exists, is what separates a modest round from a huge one. It is a staple of casual and mobile solitaire for exactly that reason.
TriPeaks at a glance
| Goal | Clear all 28 cards from the three peaks. |
|---|---|
| Decks used | 1 standard 52-card deck - 52 cards in play |
| Difficulty | Fast & streaky |
| Chance of winning | ~60% with careful chaining |
| Family | Matching |
Step by step
Goal
Clear all 28 cards from the three peaks.
Moves
Play any uncovered peak card that is one rank higher or lower than the current waste card. Aces link to both Kings and 2s.
Chains
Every consecutive play without using the stock builds your streak multiplier.
Stock
Stuck? Flip a new stock card to the waste - But it resets your chain.
Flipping
Face-down peak cards flip automatically once both cards covering them are gone.
History of TriPeaks
TriPeaks is a modern invention with a clear author. Robert Hogue designed it in 1989, and it reached a wide audience when Microsoft included it in the Microsoft Entertainment Pack, a set of casual games sold for early Windows.
The game blends two older ideas. Its layout of overlapping cards echoes Pyramid and other tableau-clearing patiences, while its core rule - Playing a card that is one rank above or below the current waste card - Comes straight from Golf solitaire. TriPeaks adds two features that give it a distinct personality: rank wrap-around, so Aces connect Kings to 2s, and a scoring system that rewards long unbroken chains with escalating bonuses.
Those chain bonuses turned TriPeaks into a favorite for mobile and social gaming, where developers wrapped it in adventure maps, boosters, and daily challenges. Today it is one of the most downloaded solitaire formats in app stores, valued for fast, streaky rounds that reward both quick pattern recognition and a little planning ahead.
How to Win TriPeaks: Strategy
💡 Top tip: Before playing an obvious card, look for the longest chain - Order matters more than speed.
Winning tips, in order of importance
- Break ties toward cards that uncover face-down cards, especially near the peaks.
- Work all three peaks evenly; a stranded final peak with no chain partners is the classic TriPeaks loss.
- Save 'bridge' cards (ranks that connect two chains) for linking long runs.
- Watch the stock count - With few stock cards left, prioritize uncovering rather than chaining.
- Plan a chain's route through the wrap-around in advance, so you know whether to climb up through the Kings or drop down through the Aces to reach a target card.
- When a play does not extend your streak and does not uncover anything, hold it in reserve as a future chain link rather than spending it now.
Advanced tactics for TriPeaks
- Before taking an obvious single play, scan for the longest possible chain, because playing cards in the wrong order can cut a ten-card streak down to two.
- When several cards are playable, favor the one that uncovers a face-down peak card, since exposed information is what enables future chains.
- Hold onto flexible 'bridge' ranks that connect two separate chains, and spend them only when doing so links the longest possible sequence.
- Use the wrap-around deliberately: an Ace or King in hand can pivot a chain around the top or bottom of the rank order to reach cards you otherwise could not.
- Ration your stock flips; each flip resets your streak multiplier, so squeeze every available tableau play before turning a new card.
- As the stock dwindles, shift priority from score-chasing chains to simply uncovering and clearing the peaks, since an unopened peak is an automatic loss.
- Attack all three peaks in parallel rather than clearing one fully, so you always have chain partners available across the board.
Common TriPeaks mistakes to avoid
- Playing the first legal card you see - order matters more than speed, so scan for the longest chain before you move.
- Clearing one peak fully and leaving another for last - a stranded final peak with no chain partner is the classic loss.
- Flipping the stock too readily - every flip resets your streak multiplier, so squeeze out all tableau plays first.
- Spending flexible bridge cards early - save the ranks that link two chains so you can join them into one long run.
TriPeaks Variations
With and without wrap-around
Classic TriPeaks lets ranks wrap so Kings and Aces connect; some stricter versions disable wrap, making the game noticeably harder and more like Golf.
Chain-scoring apps
Most mobile versions add escalating streak multipliers, per-peak bonuses, and boosters, shifting the objective from merely clearing the board to maximizing score.
Multi-peak layouts
Some versions use more than three peaks or two decks, extending the board while keeping the up-or-down matching rule.
Golf (the parent game)
The closest relative, played on columns instead of peaks and traditionally without wrap-around, offering a more austere version of the same core mechanic.
Redeal variants
Certain rule sets grant extra stock passes or a small reserve, softening the single-pass pressure of the original.
TriPeaks FAQ
Do ranks wrap around in TriPeaks?
Yes - You can play a King on an Ace and an Ace on a King (or a 2). The wrap-around is what makes long chains possible.
Does suit matter in TriPeaks?
No. Only rank matters, which keeps the game fast and chain-focused.
How is TriPeaks scored?
Each card in an unbroken chain is worth more than the last, and clearing a peak pays a bonus. Flipping a stock card resets the chain.
Who invented TriPeaks?
Robert Hogue created TriPeaks in 1989; it shipped with Microsoft Entertainment Pack 3 and has been a staple ever since.
Is TriPeaks a game of luck or skill?
It is a mix. The deal sets a ceiling on what is possible, but skillful play - Choosing the order of cards to maximize chains and to uncover face-down cards - Makes a large difference in win rate and score.
What is a streak in TriPeaks?
A streak is a run of cards played one after another straight from the peaks without flipping a card from the stock. Each card in the streak is worth progressively more points, so a long unbroken chain can outscore many short ones, and flipping a stock card resets the multiplier to zero.
How do I get a high score in TriPeaks?
Focus on building the longest possible chains before turning to the stock, since the escalating multiplier rewards uninterrupted runs. Uncover face-down cards early to keep your options open, and hold flexible connector cards that let you extend a chain rather than spending them on a short play.
What happens when I get stuck in TriPeaks?
When no exposed peak card is one rank above or below the waste card, you flip a card from the stock to create a new target, at the cost of ending your streak. If the stock runs out and no legal plays remain, the game ends even if peak cards are still on the board.
Why can I play a King on an Ace in TriPeaks?
Because ranks wrap around in TriPeaks, the sequence loops from King back to Ace and vice versa. That means an Ace can follow a King or a 2, which is what makes long, continuous chains possible and distinguishes TriPeaks from strict Golf solitaire.
How many cards are in the three peaks?
The board holds twenty-eight cards arranged as three overlapping pyramids, with the remaining twenty-four cards forming the stock and waste. Eighteen of the peak cards start face down and flip up as the cards covering them are cleared.
What is the goal of TriPeaks?
The objective is to clear all twenty-eight cards from the three peaks by playing them onto the waste pile. Doing so before the stock runs out wins the round, and stringing the clears into long chains maximizes your score.
Is TriPeaks the same game as Tri Towers?
Yes, TriPeaks is also marketed as Tri Towers, Three Peaks, and similar names in various apps. The layout of three overlapping peaks and the up-or-down matching rule are the same regardless of the title.
Should I clear the peaks in a particular order?
It usually pays to work the three peaks in parallel so you always have chain partners available, rather than fully clearing one peak first. Leaving a single peak for last is the classic TriPeaks trap, because it may have no cards left to connect to when the stock is gone.
TriPeaks guides & strategy
- The complete solitaire glossary
- Are all solitaire games winnable? The odds
- More solitaire strategy guides on the blog
Still have a question about TriPeaks Solitaire? Browse the full solitaire FAQ, look up a term like matching or fast & streaky in the solitaire glossary, or compare TriPeaks with the other games in the rules for every solitaire.
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