Question 1

How do you play Golf Solitaire?

Accepted Answer

Play any uncovered card that is one rank above or below the turned-up card at the bottom. Only the bottom card of each column is available. Clear all 35 cards to win.

Question 2

Can you play an Ace on a King in Golf?

Accepted Answer

No. Unlike TriPeaks, Golf does not wrap. The chain runs A, 2, 3 … Q, K and stops at both ends, so you can still play a 2 onto an Ace or a Queen onto a King — you just cannot carry on past them. That single difference makes Golf's chains break much more often.

Question 3

Is Golf easier than TriPeaks?

Accepted Answer

No — Golf is the harder game, which surprises most people. Jan Wolter's solver analysis of 100,000 deals found that about 45% of Golf deals are winnable with perfect play, against over 90% for TriPeaks. The missing Ace–King wrap is exactly why: in TriPeaks a chain can always run round, and in Golf it stops dead. Golf feels easier because every card is visible and the layout is flat, but the deals themselves are much less forgiving.

Question 4

How many cards are on the table in Golf?

Accepted Answer

35 — seven columns of five, all face up. The remaining 17 form the stock, minus the one card turned up at the start.

Question 5

What is the best Golf Solitaire strategy?

Accepted Answer

Plan the whole chain before taking the first card of it. Work on the columns you can realistically empty rather than spreading effort across all seven. And treat an Ace or a King on the waste as the end of that run — nothing follows either of them, so the next move will have to come from the stock.

Question 6

Can I recycle the stock in Golf?

Accepted Answer

No. The stock passes once. Every card you turn is one you cannot turn later, which is what makes long chains valuable rather than merely satisfying.

Question 7

Is Golf Solitaire free to play?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Golf Solitaire is completely free here — free to play, nothing to install, and nothing that interrupts a game halfway through.

Question 8

Do I need to download anything to play Golf?

Accepted Answer

No. It runs entirely in your browser. There is nothing to install and no app to update.

Question 9

Can I play Golf on a phone or tablet?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The layout adapts to the screen, cards can be dragged or tapped, and the whole game works on touch. It is the same site, not a cut-down version.

Question 10

Do I need an account to play Golf?

Accepted Answer

No. Open a game and play — there is nothing to register for. Your settings, statistics and bookmarks are kept in your own browser.

Question 11

Can I undo a move?

Accepted Answer

Yes, as many times as you like, with the Undo button or Ctrl+Z (Cmd+Z on a Mac). There is no penalty and no limit.

Question 12

Can I replay the same deal?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every game shows a deal number in the bottom-right corner. The same number always deals the same game. You can bookmark it, share it, or send it to us in a bug report.

Question 13

Does Golf work offline?

Accepted Answer

Once the page has loaded, the game itself runs entirely in your browser and does not need the network. Reloading the page does require a connection.

Question 14

Is there a timer, and can I turn it off?

Accepted Answer

There is a timer and a move counter in the bar at the bottom. Both can be hidden from Settings if you would rather play without them.

Question 15

Can I change how the cards look?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Settings offers five table colours, six card backs, and a four-colour deck where each suit gets its own colour — which many colour-blind players find much easier to read.

Question 16

Are there keyboard shortcuts?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Hotkeys button in the top bar lists them all. Every action has both a keyboard route and a mouse route; the keyboard is never the only way to do something.

Question 17

Is there anything I have to sign up for?

Accepted Answer

No. You can open any game and start playing immediately — there is no sign-up step and no paywall. Settings and statistics are kept in your own browser rather than on a server.

Question 18

What happens if I close the tab mid-game?

Accepted Answer

The game is not saved, so closing the tab ends it. If you want to come back to the same deal, note the deal number first — it will deal exactly the same game.

Question 19

What are the rules of Golf Solitaire?

Accepted Answer

Thirty-five cards are dealt face up in seven columns of five. Play any uncovered card that is one rank above or below the turned-up card at the bottom. Clear all thirty-five to win.

Question 20

Why is it called Golf Solitaire?

Accepted Answer

Because of the scoring: like golf, a low score is good. Traditionally you score the cards left on the table at the end, so clearing everything is a hole in one.

Question 21

How many cards are in the Golf tableau?

Accepted Answer

Thirty-five — seven columns of five, all face up. The other seventeen form the stock, less the one turned up at the start.

Question 22

Can an Ace be played on a King in Golf?

Accepted Answer

No. Golf does not wrap, so the chain stops at both ends: a Queen goes onto a King and a 2 goes onto an Ace, but nothing follows a King or an Ace. This is the main difference from TriPeaks, and it is what makes Golf's chains break.

Question 23

Which cards can I play in Golf?

Accepted Answer

Only the bottom card of each column — the one with nothing overlapping it. That gives you seven choices at any moment.

Question 24

Is Golf the easiest solitaire?

Accepted Answer

No, and it is a common misconception. Golf's layout is the simplest to read — every card is visible from the start — but only about 45% of deals are winnable even with perfect play, and typical human win rates are much lower. TriPeaks and Klondike are both easier to actually win.

Question 25

How is Golf scored?

Accepted Answer

By the cards left on the table when you run out of moves — fewer is better. Clearing the board is the perfect score.

Question 26

Can I go back through the Golf stock?

Accepted Answer

No. It passes once, which is why long chains matter more than they look.

Question 27

How long does a game of Golf take?

Accepted Answer

Under five minutes, which makes it the quickest game on this site. There is no stock to cycle and no long tableau to unpick, so a game is decided fast either way.