Clear seven columns by playing cards one rank higher or lower than the waste pile. Build streaks for bonus points — just like sinking birdies.
Golf Solitaire is a fast-paced, luck-meets-strategy card game where your goal is to clear seven columns of cards by moving them to a waste pile. A card can be moved if it's exactly one rank higher or lower than the top card of the waste pile — suits don't matter.
Named after the sport, Golf Solitaire uses a "lower is better" scoring system. Your score is the number of cards remaining in the columns when you can't make any more moves. A perfect game (score of 0) means you cleared every column — the solitaire equivalent of a hole-in-one.
Golf Solitaire uses a standard 52-card deck. The setup is simple:
Only the bottom card of each column (the one not covered by any other card) is available to play. As you remove bottom cards, the cards above them become available.
On this site, wrapping is enabled: Kings can be played on Aces and Aces can be played on Kings. This creates more strategic possibilities and increases win rates. Without wrapping, Kings become dead-end cards that can only be played on Queens.
Golf Solitaire borrows its scoring philosophy from the sport — lower is better:
| Result | Score | Golf Term |
|---|---|---|
| All columns cleared | 0 | Hole-in-one |
| 1-3 cards remaining | 1-3 | Birdie / Eagle |
| 4-8 cards remaining | 4-8 | Par |
| 9+ cards remaining | 9+ | Bogey |
Streak bonuses reward consecutive plays. Each card played without drawing from the stock adds an increasing bonus: 1st card = 1 point, 2nd = 2, 3rd = 3, and so on. Drawing resets the streak. Long chains of plays are exponentially more valuable.
Before making your first move, scan all seven columns. Look for sequences of consecutive ranks that can be chained together. Planning a long streak before starting is the single biggest win-rate improvement you can make.
Streaks are the key to high scores. If you can play either a 6 or an 8 on a 7, think about which choice leads to a longer chain. Sometimes the less obvious move keeps the streak alive for several more cards.
Columns with all five cards still in them are the most dangerous — they have four trapped cards. Prioritize moves that reduce the tallest columns to free up more options.
The K↔A wrapping rule is your secret weapon. A sequence like Q-K-A-2-3 is a 5-card streak that wouldn't be possible without wrapping. Always check for Aces and Kings when your streak seems stuck.
When deciding whether to draw, count how many exposed cards match the current waste top. If three cards are playable, you have options. If only one card matches, play it — it might not be there next turn.
Golf and TriPeaks Solitaire share the ±1 rank matching mechanic, but they play quite differently:
Golf Solitaire deals 35 cards into seven columns of five cards each, all face-up. The remaining 17 cards form the stock pile. One card is drawn from the stock to start the waste pile. Your goal is to clear all seven columns by moving cards to the waste pile.
You can play any card from the bottom of any column that is exactly one rank higher or lower than the current waste pile card. For example, if the waste pile shows a 9, you can play an 8 or a 10. Only the bottom (exposed) card of each column is available to play.
In the standard version of Golf Solitaire, wrapping is optional — some versions allow King-to-Ace wrapping while others treat Kings as dead ends. On playfreecellonline.com, wrapping IS enabled, meaning you can play a King on an Ace and an Ace on a King, giving you more strategic options.
When no exposed column card is one rank higher or lower than the waste pile top, you must draw a card from the stock. The drawn card becomes the new waste pile top. If the stock is empty and no valid moves remain, the game is over. Your score is based on how many cards remain in the columns — fewer is better.
In Golf Solitaire, your score equals the number of cards remaining in the columns when the game ends. A perfect score is 0 (all columns cleared). Like golf the sport, a lower score is better. Streak bonuses reward consecutive plays without drawing from the stock.
Golf and TriPeaks share the ±1 rank matching mechanic, but the layouts differ. Golf deals seven columns of five cards in a simple grid, while TriPeaks arranges 28 cards in three overlapping pyramid peaks with face-down cards that reveal as you play. Both use streak scoring, but TriPeaks has the additional challenge of uncovering hidden cards.
With wrapping enabled (K↔A), approximately 88-92% of Golf Solitaire games are winnable with perfect play. Without wrapping, the win rate drops to around 75%. Actual human win rates are typically 40-60%, as the game requires careful sequencing to avoid stranding cards.
Focus on building long streaks by planning sequences before you start playing. Look for columns with cards in consecutive rank order — these can be swept in one streak. Avoid drawing from the stock unless absolutely necessary, since each draw resets your streak bonus. Keep Kings and Aces in mind as turning points in your sequences.
Put your skills to the test. Clear seven columns, build streaks, and aim for a perfect score.