Golf Card Game Rules and Strategies: Everything You Need to Know

The golf card game is one of the most interesting, skill-based card games. But it is rarely found in the catalog of Card game books. If you are bored of traditional card games, a golf card game can bring both fun and challenge to your table. What more? You can play the game with 4 cards, 6 cards, 8 cards, and up to 10 cards, with increasing complexity. While the game is referred to as Polish Polka or Polish Poker, the 4 card game is sometimes known as Turtle, the 6 card game as Hara-Kiri, and the 9-card game as Crazy Nines.

The card game golf has immense versatility, enabling plenty of variations— in terms of players, cards, decks, or rules. However, four-card and six-card games are the most popular. Learning how to play golf card games is also easy. Once you get hold of rules, you will also be able to accommodate even the most challenging variations with ease.

Let’s discuss the golf cards rules and gameplay in this article.

How to Play Golf Card Game with Four Cards

The standard golf cards game is played with four players and a single deck of cards. A double deck is required for more than four players. Golf card game instructions for this version can be grasped in first-read.

Also Read: Play Fun Card Games Online & Connect with Friends

Objective

The objective of the Four Card Golf game is to achieve the lowest score (just like the outdoor game of golf!) by replacing cards in your layout in a planned manner. Players aim to form pairs or use low-value cards while avoiding high-value cards to minimize their total score.

Start and Dealing

Players sit in a circle or around a table. A standard 52-card deck is used to play the golf card game (a single deck is enough for up to 8 players). The dealer deals four cards to each player, one at a time. Each player must arrange their four cards in a square layout, in a face-down position.

After the dealing, the remaining cards are placed aside to form the stockpile or draw pile. The top card from the stockpile is placed face up to create the discard pile/waste pile. The total layout for the four-card golf card game looks like this:

After arranging the layout of cards and before the game begins, each player can look at the two nearest cards of their layout, without revealing them to anyone. You can’t check face-down cards afterward until they’re discarded or scored at the end of the golf card game.

Gameplay

Four-card game golf begins with the player to the dealer’s left. When a player’s turn comes, there are three actions they can perform,

• Draw a card from the stock pile or,
• Draw a card from the discard pile, or
• Knock

If you draw a card from any pile, you can use it to replace any of the cards in the layout without looking at any of the cards before replacing them.

Now place the drawn card in the layout in place of any of the four cards and discard the original card in that position face-up into the discard pile. It marks the end of your turn in the golf card game. The game proceeds in a clockwise direction, and each player takes turns to draw a card from either the stock or discard piles.

There are two important rules in golf card game regarding the card draw:

• If you draw a face-down card from the draw pile and decide not to use it to replace one of your layout cards, you can discard the same card face-up into the waste pile.
• But if you pick up a card from the discard pile, you can’t keep the same card back in the discard pile; you have to use it to replace one of your layout cards. (Honestly, how do you play the golf card game with an exposed card?)

Because it is a face-up card you picked, and everyone has seen it, keeping a discard pile card back is not allowed.

If you perform knock, there are no more turns to play for you. Each player can play their normal turn following one of the three actions. But none of them can knock, and the play ends.

Also, If you check a face-down card in your layout, discard it and replace it with the card you drew. You can’t look at a face-down card and leave it in place.

Scoring

As the game ends after one of the players knocks, each player reveals the four cards in their layout for scoring. The golf card game instructions for scoring are as follows:

• Each numeral card is worth its face value (e.g., Ace = 1, Two = 2, Three = 3, and so on).
• A Jack or Queen scores 10 points each.
• King scores zero points each.

Variations in Rules

There are several variations of four-card golf games that are played in individual plays. To make the card game more interesting and challenging, you can incorporate one or more of the below rules. Moreover, you can modify the existing variations and use them even in 6,8, and 9-card variations of the golf card game.

Looking at Cards:

• Some let you look at any two cards at the start; some others allow only one.
• Some let you check cards during play, costing 1 point each time.
• Some let you see the two cards you initially looked at or their replacements anytime.
• In some versions of this golf card game, all cards are kept in hand, so you don’t need to remember any.

Card Replacement:

• You can replace the two cards you didn’t look at only once, but the others can be replaced as much as you like.
• Replacing a card puts it face up in the layout.
• The game ends when all a player’s cards are face up, and others get one more turn.
• In some golf card game versions, cards start face down, and turning one face up means it can’t be replaced.

Variations in Scoring:

• Pairs of identical cards (like two 9s) score 0 points. Three equal cards cancel two, and four equal cards score 0 for the whole layout.
• Some golf card game versions require pairs to be in rows or columns to score 0; diagonally placed pairs don’t cancel.
• Queens can score higher (12, 13, or even 20 points), and eight might score 0.
• One-eyed jacks are wild, making pairs score 0.
• Jacks can score 0, 10, or 20, and some versions make players skip their turn when a jack is discarded.
• If you add jokers to the card game golf, it gives them a -5 point value in the four-card golf card game.

Knocker’s Score:

• The knocker is penalized if their score isn’t the lowest, with variations like:
  • Adding 10 points.
  • Doubling their score and adding 5 points.
  • Taking a score equal to the highest score, if not the lowest.
  • Scoring zero, if the lowest.
• Some golf card games have a pot, and the knocker wins it if they have the lowest score or doubles it if not.

Game End:

• Some play 18 deals instead of 9.
• Others end when a player’s score reaches or exceeds 100, and the lowest total score wins.

Use of Jokers

In the golf cards game, Jokers are powerful wild cards that dramatically alter gameplay.

How to play golf card game with Jokers? Well, players can replace any card in their layout with a Joker, as a wild card. It reduces their score. While some variants make Jokers worth zero points, others assign them negative scores like -2 or -5, making them complex game strategies.

Common negative score ranges from -3 to -10, depending on the specific game rules. The Joker’s ability to influence the game by forcing an opponent to reshuffle or by carrying a significant point value makes it an important card to manage. Players must weigh the benefits of using jokers against the possibility of harming their score in the golf card game.

Four-Card Golf with Power Cards

Golf card game with Power Cards is a variant of Four-Card Golf, where players use special power cards with special powers. The goal remains to achieve the lowest score by managing a layout of four face-down cards. On a turn, players draw a card and either replace one from their layout or use its power.

Power cards can provide various advantages, like peeking at cards, swapping cards, or forcing actions on opponents. After each round, players call a special term (like “Cactus” or “Pablo”) to end the play, with everyone scoring based on their layouts.

For example, in the Cabo version of this golf card game, cards like 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, and Queen allow players to look at or swap cards, while a player can end the game by calling “Cabo.”

In Pablo’s card game golf, players use sevens to swap cards with opponents and eights to peek at any card. Players call “Pablo” to end the round; the lowest score wins.

How to Play Golf Card Game with Six Cards

In 6-card golf, the gameplay is similar to in 4-card golf. The main difference lies in how the game ends and point values. The four-card golf game ends when a player knocks, signaling they have the lowest score. Each other player then takes one final turn. In 6-card Golf, the game ends when any player’s entire layout is face up, as cards are revealed during play.

Objective

The objective of the Six-card golf card game is to form pairs of cards in columns. A pair of identical cards in the same column scores zero points for that column, which helps reduce your total score. To win, players must aim for the lowest total score by creating pairs and minimizing the values of unpaired cards.

Setup and Dealing

This game is played with 2–4 players using a standard 52-card deck. For more than 4 players, you need two decks. If there are 8 or more players, you need three standard decks. The deal and gameplay proceed clockwise.

Each player is dealt six cards, one at a time. They are arranged as face-down cards in a two-row rectangle like this:

The remaining cards form a face-down stock pile in the center of the table. The top card of the stock is turned face-up to begin the discard pile.

Before play begins, each player flips any two of their six layout cards face-up. The other cards remain face-down and cannot be viewed until discarded, flipped during play, or revealed for scoring. An example golf card game layout for a six-card version is:

Gameplay

Players take turns starting with the dealer’s left and proceed clockwise. On your turn, you must draw either:

• The top card of the face-down draw pile, or
• The top card of the discard pile.

You must use the drawn card to replace one of the six cards in their layout, including the face-up cards. Now, place the new card face-up in your layout and place the replaced card on the discard pile in the face-up position. Here again, there are three golf card game rules:

• If you replace a face-down card in your layout, you cannot look at it before deciding.
• If you pick from the draw pile and decide not to use the card, you have to discard the same card directly without affecting your layout.
• If you take the top discard, you must replace a card in your layout with the same card.

Your turn ends after placing or discarding a card. Play continues until one player flips all six of their layout cards face-up. The round ends at this point, and scores are calculated.

Scoring

At the end of each round, all players reveal their layout, and scores are calculated:

• Aces count as 1 point.
• Twos count as -2 points (negative score).
• Cards numbered 3–10 count as their face value.
• Jacks and Queens count as 10 points each.
• Kings score 0 points.
• A pair of same value cards in the same column scores 0 points for that column, including pairs of twos.

The player with the lowest cumulative score after nine deals is the winner.

For example, the scoring for the below layout is:

The six golf card game card values are as follows:

• 2♦: -2 points (Twos count as -2).
• 10♣ and 10♥: These form a pair in the same column, so score 0 points.
• A♥: 1 point (Aces count as 1).
• 4♠: 4 points (Face value).
• K♣: 0 points (Kings score 0).

Total Score: (-2) + 0 + 1 + 4 + 0 = 3 points.

Strategies to Ace the Golf Card Game

Learning how to play golf card game is just the beginning. You need to master strategies and nuances of the game play to emerge as the winner.

1. Focus on Low-Value Cards: Your main goal is to minimize your score. Replace high-point cards with low-value ones whenever possible. Keep as many low-value cards as possible.
2. Watch Your Opponents’ Moves: Pay close attention to the game played by opponents and what they pick and discard. There are hidden hints that can help you predict their next moves.
3. Make the Most of Peeks: Use peeking in your golf card game wisely. Limited peeks are valuable, so prioritize looking at high-value cards or those that could complement others in your grid.
4. Track the Discard Pile: Keep an eye on the discard pile as it reveals. You can draw specific cards without giving away too much of your strategy. Discard wisely to avoid revealing your plans as you can’t put back a drawn card in the card game golf.
5. Sharpen Your Memory: A good memory is key. Remember which cards have been drawn or discarded, and use that knowledge to make better decisions when selecting your next card.
6. Stay Flexible: A golf cards game can be unpredictable, so be ready to change your approach. If your target card isn’t available, adjust your strategy and look for other ways to lower your score.
7. Consider Freezing Your Hand: If you end up with a solid set of low-value cards, consider freezing your hand. This stops you from drawing further and locking in a low score.
8. Think When Discarding: Every discard counts. Think about how discarding a card might impact your opponents. Discarding a card they need could slow them down.
9. Study Your Opponents: Watch how your opponents play in the golf card game. Do they prefer drawing from the deck or the discard pile? Understanding their style can help you outplay them.
10. Take Risks When Necessary: Take a chance in the card game golf. If the odds are in your favor, draw from the discard pile, or use a power card. Know when it’s safe to go for it, and when it’s better to play it safe.

Eight Card Golf

In Eight Card Golf, each player receives eight cards arranged in four columns of two, unlike Six Card Golf, where the layout has three columns. Up to four players can play the game with two decks and four jokers. The game uses a double 52-card deck with jokers, and players aim to lower their score by replacing face-down cards with face-up ones. The golf card game instructions for scoring are similar, but the added column in Eight Card Golf creates more complexity for card replacements and turns.

Nine Card Golf

Nine Card Golf, also known as Crazy Nines, uses nine cards in a 3×3 grid, compared to Six Card Golf’s three-column layout. Also, a column of three equal cards scores zero instead of two equal cards. There are even negative scores for blocks of four equal cards. It also features different scoring for twos, jokers, and queens and multiple rule variations, making it more complex than Six Card Golf.

Read More: Best Single-Player Card Games for Solo Play

Final Thoughts

Beyond the variations and strategies mentioned, one aspect often overlooked in Golf card games is the importance of bluffing and psychological play. Players can use misdirection by discarding cards that might lead others to believe they’re going for a certain combination, all while secretly pursuing a different strategy.

Also, you can play the golf card game online if you’re short on players and decks. With strategy, observation, and mental agility, the golf cards game becomes not just about entertainment but adds enough challenge to outwit your opponents.

FAQs

How many decks of cards are required for a golf card game?

The number of decks required for a golf card game depends on the players: one deck for 1–3 players, and two or more decks are recommended for 4 or more players.

Can I play a golf card game with 2 players?

Yes, a golf card game can be played with 2 people. One deck of cards is sufficient for two players, and the game proceeds with the standard 3×3 grid layout.

Are Jokers used in card game Golf?

Jokers are used in certain variations of the card game Golf. They are typically assigned a value of negative points, often -2, to reduce a player’s overall score.

What is the significance of face cards in Golf?

In Golf, Jacks and Queens score 10 points, while Kings score zero points. Additionally, pairs of equal cards in the same column, including face cards, result in zero points for that column.

What is 4-card Golf vs 9-card Golf?

The key differences between 4-card Golf and 9-card Golf are the number of cards dealt and their arrangement. In 4-card Golf, players receive four cards in a 2×2 grid, while in 9-card Golf, players get nine cards in a 3×3 grid.