Golf Solitaire Rules

Introduction

Welcome to Golf Solitaire! Despite the name, you won't need clubs or a green to enjoy this game. It is named after the sport because the objective is to finish with the lowest score possible—ideally, with zero cards left on the tableau. Unlike the complex planning required in FreeCell or the long campaigns of Spider Solitaire, Golf is known for its speed and straightforward mechanics. It is the perfect game for a quick mental break, requiring a mix of observation skills and a bit of luck.

Game Setup

The setup for Golf Solitaire is quite distinct from classic games like Klondike. Here is how the board is arranged:

The Tableau: 35 cards are dealt face-up into 7 columns, with 5 cards in each column. All cards are visible, allowing you to plan your moves from the start.
The Stock: The remaining 17 cards form the stock pile at the bottom of the screen, face down.
The Waste: One card is drawn from the stock to start the waste pile face up.

How to Play

The goal is to remove all cards from the tableau columns and move them to the waste pile. Since all tableau cards are face-up, you have complete information about the board state, similar to Yukon.

Matching Cards: You can move a card from the bottom of any tableau column to the waste pile if it is one rank higher or one rank lower than the top card of the waste pile.
Suits Don't Matter: Unlike Canfield, suits and colors are irrelevant. You only need to look at the numerical value (rank) of the cards.
The Sequence: For example, if the top card on the waste pile is a 9, you can play an 8 or a 10 on it.
Kings and Aces: In the strict version of Golf, sequences do not "wrap around." This means you cannot play a King on an Ace, nor an Ace on a King. A King usually acts as a stopper unless you can play a Queen on it.
Using the Stock: If you cannot (or choose not to) make a move from the tableau, click the stock pile to deal a new card onto the waste pile. Once the stock is empty, the game ends.

Tips and Strategy

While Golf is simple to learn, clearing the entire board requires strategy. Here are some tips to improve your game:

Plan Ahead: Before taking a card, look at what lies beneath it. Try to uncover cards that allow you to continue a sequence.
Save the Stock: Only draw from the stock when you absolutely have no moves left on the board. The stock is your lifeline.
Clear Columns: If you manage to empty a column, it stays empty. Unlike Monte Carlo or other patience games, you cannot move cards into empty spaces in Golf Solitaire, so focus on chains that remove the most cards possible rather than just clearing a column for space.
Count the Cards: Keep an eye on the Kings. Since they can stop a run, identifying where they are early in the game is crucial.