How to play Golf Solitaire
Golf is solitaire at its most immediate: seven columns of five face-up cards, and one simple move - play a column's top card onto the waste when it's one rank up or down from the waste card. No foundations, no suits - and ranks turn the corner, so King and Ace connect in both directions. The waste starts empty: your first move is any card you like. Clear the "course" and you win.
Just want the rules? Read the complete Golf rulebook.
- Chains - a 6 takes a 7, the 7 takes an 8, the 8 takes a 7 again… one stock flip can clear half a column.
- Turning the corner - an Ace plays on a King and a King on an Ace, so Q-K-A-2 is one unbroken chain.
- The stock - 17 flips, no recycling. Every flip you waste is a card you may miss later.
Strategy tips for a lower score
- Spend the free first move well. The waste starts empty, so open with the card that starts your longest chain - not just any card.
- Milk every flip. Before drawing, scan all seven columns - the longest available chain is the whole game.
- Choose chains that end where the next one starts. Between two playable 7s, take the one whose column reveals another playable card.
- Ride the corner. Kings and Aces are connectors here, not walls - a chain like J-Q-K-A-2 clears five cards on one flip if you set it up.
- Keep column counts even. One stubborn full column at the end is much harder to clear than seven short ones.
Frequently asked questions
What are the rules of Golf Solitaire?
Thirty-five cards are dealt face up into seven columns of five; the other seventeen form the stock and the waste starts empty. Your first move is free - play any column's top card to the waste, or flip the first stock card. From then on, play the top card of any column when it is one rank above or below the waste card, and flip a new stock card when nothing plays. Clear every column to win - the leftover stock does not matter.
Why is it called Golf Solitaire?
In traditional scoring, every card left in the columns at the end is a stroke against you, and players compete over a nine-deal "course" for the lowest total - just like golf. Clearing the board entirely is the hole-in-one.
Can I play an Ace on a King in Golf Solitaire?
Yes - this version plays "turn the corner" Golf: the sequence wraps at the ends, so an Ace plays on a King and a King plays on an Ace. That keeps chains like Q-K-A-2 alive instead of stopping at the edges of the deck.
How often can you win Golf Solitaire?
With turn-the-corner rules, well over a third of deals are winnable with strong play - noticeably more than strict no-wrap Golf, because Kings and Aces connect instead of blocking. Chains - playing several column cards on one stock flip - are what separate winning games from losing ones.
Can I play Golf Solitaire offline or on my phone?
The game runs entirely in your browser and works on phones, tablets and desktops. Your game in progress is saved automatically, so you can close the tab and pick up where you left off.
More free card games
Want the same chain-building rhythm across three peaks? Play TriPeaks Solitaire. Prefer a puzzle? Try Pyramid Solitaire - or the classic Klondike.