The object of the game is to remove pairs of cards that add up to the total of 13. When using the standard 52-card deck, Jacks value at 11, Queens 12, and Kings 13. So the highest value is 13.

To set up the pyramid, one card is dealt face up at the top of the playing area, then two cards beneath and partially covering it, then three beneath them, and so on completing with a row of seven cards for a total of 28 cards dealt. The remaining cards are placed to the side face down.

To play, pairs of exposed cards can be removed to the Foundation if their values total 13. Kings can be removed immediately to the Foundation. You may draw cards from the Stock one at a time and match it with any exposed card. If no match is made the drawn Stock card is still discarded into the Foundation.

Once the Stock is exhausted and/or no more pairs can be made, the game ends.

To score, count the number of remaining face up cards in the pyramid. A perfect score is therefore zero, where all cards have been matched into the Foundation.