TriPeaks Solitaire

TriPeaks is the fast, cheerful member of the solitaire family. Instead of building long columns you clear a mountain range, one card at a time, by counting up and down. A single deal takes a few minutes, and the best ones end in a long run that sweeps half the table away.

How to play

• Twenty-eight cards form three overlapping peaks. Only the bottom row starts face up; a card turns over as soon as the two cards resting on it are gone.
• One card sits face up on the waste pile below the peaks. You may play any uncovered card that is exactly one rank higher or lower than it, so a 7 can go on a 6 or an 8. Suits and colours don’t matter.
• The card you play becomes the new waste card, so you can keep going: 7, 8, 9, 8, 7…
• When nothing fits, tap the stock to turn up a new waste card. There is only one trip through the stock.
• With King ↔ Ace switched on (the default), Kings and Aces connect, so a run can go Q, K, A, 2. Switch it off in the New game menu for a harder game.
• Clear all three peaks to win. If the stock runs out first, the deal is over.

Streaks and scoring

Every card you play from the peaks without drawing adds to your streak, and each card is worth 10 points times its place in the streak: 10 for the first, 20 for the second, 30 for the third and so on. Drawing from the stock ends the streak. Clearing the top of a peak earns a 250 point bonus, the last peak 1,000, and every card still in the stock when the table is clear adds 50 more.

The daily deal

Every day there is one deal that is the same for every player. Your first finish of the day counts toward your daily streak and can be shared as a little peak-by-peak result; play it again for practice as often as you like.

Tips

• Before you play, look one or two cards ahead. The run that turns over face-down cards is usually better than the one that doesn’t.
• Keep pairs of options in reserve: if two 6s are open, play one now and save the other to keep a later run alive.
• Draw only when you must. Each stock card you keep is worth points at the end, and a draw resets your streak.
• Each deal gives you three undos. Hints point to a move that keeps a full clear possible whenever there is one.