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Golf Solitaire game cover

Golf Solitaire

ORIGINAL

Cards · Play cards one higher or lower and clear seven columns in nine holes.

Play Golf Solitaire free online: 35 cards lie face up in seven columns, and you clear them by moving cards onto the pile one rank higher or lower, whatever the suit. It's played over nine holes like real golf: each hole scores the cards you leave behind, so lower is better. Every deal here has been checked by a solver and can be cleared. Choose Easy, Medium or Hard, play the Daily hole, or switch on the Classic look.

How to play

  1. The bottom card of each column is free. Move it onto the pile if it's one higher or one lower than the pile's top card: a 7 goes on a 6 or an 8. Suits don't matter.
  2. Tap a free card to move it, or drag it onto the pile. On Easy the cards that fit light up.
  3. When nothing fits, tap the stock to turn a new card onto the pile. The badge on the stock shows how many cards are left in it.
  4. Kings depend on the level: on Easy Kings and Aces are neighbours (Q–K–A–2), on Medium a Queen may go on a King but nothing wraps, and on Hard nothing at all goes on a King.
  5. The hole ends when the columns are empty, or when the stock is used up and nothing fits. It scores the cards left in the columns; clear them all and every unused stock card counts minus one.
  6. A round is nine holes, each with a par of 3, 4 or 5. Your scorecard circles birdies and boxes bogeys. Finish at or under par to win the round.

Tips to win

  • When two cards fit, take the one that starts the longer run. A 6 that lets you play 5, 4, 3 beats a 6 that leads nowhere.
  • Dig into the tall columns first. A column of five hides four cards you can't reach yet; short columns are quick to finish later.
  • Count what's gone: each rank has four cards. If three 8s are already on the pile, a 7 or 9 waiting for an 8 may need another way out.
  • Use the stock sparingly: once the columns are empty, every stock card you didn't need takes one more stroke off your score.
  • On Hard a King on the pile ends your run, so play Kings when nothing else fits anyway.
  • Stuck? Press Teach me: Hops asks the solver for the move that keeps the table clearable, highlights it and says why in one line.
  • Switch on the Classic look for green felt and white cards, with the bouncing-cards finish when you clear a hole.

Guides

Questions

How do you play Golf Solitaire?

Move the bottom card of any of the seven columns onto the pile when it's one rank higher or lower than the pile's top card, whatever the suit. When nothing fits, turn a new card from the stock. Clear all 35 cards for the best score on the hole.

How is Golf Solitaire scored?

Like golf, lower is better. A hole scores the cards left in the columns; clear them all and each unused stock card counts minus one. A round is nine holes, each with a par of 3, 4 or 5.

Can you play a King on an Ace in Golf Solitaire?

On Easy, yes: Kings and Aces are neighbours, so K on A and A on K both fit. On Medium they aren't, but a Queen may go on a King. On Hard nothing goes on a King at all, the strictest traditional rule.

Can every Golf Solitaire game be won?

No. With the strict rules fewer than half of all random deals can be cleared. Every deal on GameLake has been checked by a solver under its level's rules, so each one can be cleared.

What is the Daily hole?

Everyone gets the same deal each day, played with the Medium rules and its own par. Clear it to keep your daily streak and compare your score with friends.

Is Golf Solitaire free?

Yes. Play free in your browser on phone, tablet or computer, with no download and no sign-up.