Golf Solitaire

Golf Solitaire is a short, clever game where you clear seven columns of cards by playing them one rank up or down. There is no building on the table, so every decision is about the order you take cards in. You can finish a game in a few minutes, but winning takes some thought. Play it free in your browser, on your computer or phone, with no download and no sign-up.

You can undo any move, ask for a hint when you are stuck, and your statistics are saved in your browser.

How to Play Golf Solitaire

Setup. One standard 52-card deck is used. 35 cards are dealt face up into seven columns of five cards each. The other 17 cards form the stock. One card from the stock is turned face up to start the waste pile, which leaves 16 cards in the stock.

Goal. Move every card from the seven columns onto the waste pile. The counter above the table shows how many cards are left; like a round of golf, lower is better.

Moves.

• Only the bottom card of each column is available to play.
• You can play an available card if it is exactly one rank higher or one rank lower than the top card of the waste pile. Suits do not matter. On a 9, you can play an 8 or a 10.
• The played card becomes the new top card, and the next card in that column is now available.
• If there is no move you want to make, tap the stock to turn its next card onto the waste pile.
• In the classic rules there is no wraparound and a King is a stopper: nothing can be played on a King, and an Ace takes only a 2. You can still play a King on a Queen.
• The game ends when the columns are cleared (a win) or when the stock is gone and there are no more moves.

Controls. Tap a card to play it onto the waste pile, or drag it there. Tap the stock to draw.

Game Modes

This page offers one-deal Golf Solitaire with seven columns of five cards.

• Classic (default): no wraparound, and nothing goes on a King.
• K–A wrap: a King and an Ace connect both ways, so a Queen or an Ace can go on a King. Open it directly with ?wrap=1.

Every game shows its deal number. Restart replays the same deal, and adding ?deal=NUMBER to the page address opens a specific deal, for example Deal #1.

Golf Solitaire Strategy Tips

1. Scan for long runs before you move. Look for sequences across different columns, such as 6, 7, 8, 9, 8. Longer chains clear more cards before you need to draw.
2. Take cards from the tallest columns first. A column with five cards left has more to give than one with a single card. Opening up the deep ones keeps your options alive.
3. Do not strand low cards. In the classic game an Ace takes only a 2 and a King takes nothing at all. Plan to reach them while a 2 or a Queen is still around, and save a King for the end of a run.
4. Think about what you uncover. When you play a card, you also expose the one beneath it. Choose moves that reveal useful cards rather than awkward ones.
5. Keep the stock for emergencies. You only have 16 draws. Before you draw, check for every possible chain on the table.
6. Count the ranks. If all four 7s are gone, you cannot build across from 6 to 8 using a 7, and you will need to change direction.
7. Look two moves ahead. When two cards are tied, play the one that leads to the next playable card.
8. Use undo to test chains. Try a long line, see where it ends, and go back to try another. This is the fastest way to improve.

A Little History

Golf Solitaire gets its name from the golf-style goal of finishing with as few cards left as possible, and many versions keep score like a round of golf. It is a close relative of TriPeaks Solitaire, which uses the same "one higher or one lower" rule. For another short game, try Pyramid Solitaire.

Golf Solitaire FAQ