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.
- This foundation is the central play pile. Some rule references call the same pile the waste pile because it grows one playable card at a time rather than building by suit.
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 do not wrap in this version: Ace plays on 2, and King plays on Queen.
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. In no-wrap mode, a King can only be played on a Queen, and an Ace only on a 2. If a King or Ace is blocking cards below it in a column, you need the matching rank exposed on the foundation to clear it.
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 rare. Solitaire Till Dawn reports that even expert players win roughly one percent of games, and describes complete wins as "tremendously rare." The difficulty is built into the format: win rate varies further by ruleset, stock handling, 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?
Not in this version. Aces play only on 2s, and Kings play only on Queens. Some Golf Solitaire implementations allow wrap-around (King connects to Ace), which increases the win rate by creating additional chain opportunities. This version does not wrap.
Common Golf Solitaire variants
Golf rules vary more than Klondike rules. Solitarium uses a no-wrap version: Ace connects only with 2, King connects only with Queen, suits are ignored, and there is no redeal.
Other versions allow "turn the corner" play, where King and Ace connect. 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.
Sources and further reading
These references informed the rules, history, and variant notes on this page.