Objective
Clear all 35 tableau cards by moving exposed cards to the single foundation pile. You win when every tableau column is empty.
Setup
- 7 tableau columns are dealt with 5 face-up cards each.
- 1 card is dealt face-up to start the foundation.
- The remaining 16 cards form the face-down stock.
Piles (what each area is)
- Tableau: 7 columns of 5 face-up cards. Only the exposed bottom card of each column is playable.
- Foundation: the single central play pile. Some rule references call this the waste pile because it grows one playable card at a time rather than building by suit.
- Stock: 16 face-down cards used when no tableau card can be played. There is no redeal.
Allowed moves
- Only the bottom exposed card of each tableau column can be played.
- A tableau card can move to the foundation when it is one rank higher or one rank lower than the current foundation card.
- Suits do not matter.
- Aces and Kings wrap in this version: Ace connects with both 2 and King.
Stock
- Click Stock to deal one new card onto the foundation play pile.
- There is no redeal after the stock runs out.
Controls and helpers
- Click or tap a playable tableau card to move it to the foundation.
- Undo is available in the HUD and via Cmd/Ctrl+Z; Redo via Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+Z or Ctrl+Y on Windows.
- Hint suggests a playable tableau card first, then Stock when no tableau move is available.
Saving and sharing
- Your progress auto-saves locally in the browser and restores if you refresh or reopen the tab.
- Use Share to copy a short link that recreates the same starting deal.
Why is it called Golf Solitaire?
The name comes from golf-style scoring. Traditional descriptions count the cards left in the tableau as your score, so the aim is to finish with the lowest number possible. Clearing the whole tableau is the best result, like finishing under par.
Golf belongs to the broader family of patience and solitaire games documented by game historians including David Parlett, but it plays much faster than build-and-sort games like Klondike. A single round usually takes only a few minutes because every decision is either a one-rank chain move or a stock draw.
Strategy tips
- Look for long chains. You can play cards sequentially across different columns — for example, 8→7→8→9→10 — clearing multiple columns in one run. Scanning all exposed cards before each move helps you spot the longest available chain.
- Think about the landing rank. Every card you play changes the foundation rank, which determines what you can play next. Before starting a chain, consider what rank you will end on and whether it opens or closes future moves.
- Clear columns when you can. Emptying a column completely removes a source of future blockages. When choices look similar, prefer the play that clears a column or exposes the strongest next chain.
- Use stock only when stuck. Each stock card uses up one of your 16 draws. Exhaust all tableau moves before dealing — an unnecessary draw may bury a card that would have extended a chain.
- Watch Kings and Aces. With wrap-around enabled, a King also connects with Ace — this creates extra chain opportunities when a King or Ace would otherwise be a dead end.
How is Golf Solitaire different from other solitaire games?
Most solitaire games build ordered sequences across multiple piles. Golf does the opposite: there is a single foundation pile that grows as you play cards onto it, and the rule is just one rank up or one rank down from whatever is on top — suit is irrelevant.
This makes Golf one of the fastest and most chain-dependent solitaire variants. A lucky deal can let you clear the board in a single long run; an unlucky deal blocks you within a few moves. There is no reorganizing between piles — every move is either a play to the foundation or a stock draw.
Is every Golf Solitaire deal winnable?
No. Complete wins in Golf — clearing all 35 tableau cards — are uncommon, even with good planning. Older strict-rule references describe complete clears as very rare, while easier rule sets can win more often. The difficulty is built into the format: win rate varies by stock handling, King rules, and whether Ace-King wrapping is allowed.
When you are stuck with no exposed card within one rank of the foundation and the stock is empty, the game is over. Undo can still help you test a different chain before the stock is exhausted, but some deals simply do not give enough connecting ranks to clear the tableau.
Does Ace connect to King in Golf Solitaire?
Yes, in this version Ace connects with both 2 and King. This wrap-around rule (sometimes called "turn the corner") creates additional chain opportunities and increases the win rate compared to no-wrap versions.
Common Golf Solitaire variants
Golf rules vary more than Klondike rules. Solitarium uses a wrap-around version: Ace connects with both 2 and King, suits are ignored, and there is no redeal.
Other versions use no-wrap play, where Ace connects only with 2 and King connects only with Queen. Some references also differ on King handling, including stricter rules that make Kings harder to clear. TriPeaks is a related one-rank-up-or-down game, but it uses a different tableau shape and a different clearing rhythm.
Can I undo in Golf Solitaire?
Yes. Unlimited undo is available via the Undo button or Cmd/Ctrl+Z. Golf rewards thinking about chain sequences, so undoing a move to try a different path is a normal part of the game.
Related solitaire games to try next
Golf is fast and chain-based. Pyramid keeps the quick clearing feel with pair totals, Klondike adds classic tableau building, and Spider 1 Suit gives you a longer sequencing puzzle.
Sources and further reading
These references informed the rules, history, and variant notes on this page.