🏌️ Golf

6-Card Golf Card Game

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    Current Standings

    Scores

    Player Hole Tot W

    Game Rules

    Basic Rules

    6-Card Golf is a card game where players try to achieve the lowest score over multiple rounds ("holes"). Like golf, lower is better!

    • Each player has 6 cards arranged in a 2-row by 3-column grid
    • Most cards start face-down (hidden from everyone)
    • On your turn: draw one card, then either swap it with one of yours or discard it
    • When any player reveals all 6 of their cards, everyone else gets one final turn
    • After all rounds ("holes") are played, the player with the lowest total score wins

    Card Values

    CardPointsNotes
    Joker-2Best card! (requires Jokers to be enabled)
    2-2Excellent - gives you negative points!
    Ace (A)1Very low and safe
    King (K)0Zero points - great for making pairs!
    3 through 10Face value3=3 pts, 4=4 pts, ..., 10=10 pts
    Jack (J), Queen (Q)10High cards - replace these quickly!

    Column Pairing (IMPORTANT!)

    This is the most important rule to understand:

    If both cards in a vertical column have the same rank (like two Kings, or two 7s), that entire column scores 0 points - regardless of what the cards are worth individually!

    Example:

    Your 6-card grid:
  Col1  Col2  Col3
 [K]   [5]   [7]   ← Top row
 [K]   [3]   [9]   ← Bottom row

Column 1: K + K = PAIR! = 0 points (not 0+0)
Column 2: 5 + 3 = 8 points
Column 3: 7 + 9 = 16 points

TOTAL: 0 + 8 + 16 = 24 points

    IMPORTANT: When you pair cards, you get 0 points for that column - even if the cards have negative values! Two 2s paired = 0 points (not -4). Two Jokers paired = 0 points (not -4).

    Turn Structure (Step by Step)

    Step 1: Draw a Card

    You MUST draw exactly one card. Choose from:

    • The Deck (face-down pile) - You don't know what you'll get!
    • The Discard Pile (face-up pile) - You can see exactly what card you're taking

    Step 2: Use or Discard the Card

    If you drew from the DECK:

    You have two options:

    • SWAP: Replace any one of your 6 cards with the drawn card. The old card goes to the discard pile.
    • DISCARD: Put the drawn card directly on the discard pile without using it.

    If you drew from the DISCARD PILE:

    You MUST swap - you cannot put the same card back on the discard pile.

    Flip on Discard Rules (3 Modes)

    This setting affects what happens when you draw from the deck and choose to discard (not swap):

    Standard Mode (No Flip)

    Default setting. Discarding ends your turn immediately.

    How it works: When you draw from the deck and decide not to use it, you simply discard it and your turn is over. Nothing else happens.

    Best for: Traditional gameplay, longer games, maximum hidden information.

    Speed Golf Mode (Must Flip)

    Every discard reveals one of your hidden cards.

    How it works: When you draw from the deck and discard, you MUST also flip over one of your face-down cards. This is mandatory - you cannot skip it.

    Why use it: Games go much faster because more cards get revealed every turn. More information for everyone = more strategic decisions.

    Best for: Quick games, players who like faster-paced action.

    Suspense Mode (Optional Flip Near Endgame)

    Optional flip activates when any player is close to finishing.

    How it works:

    • Early in the round: Discarding ends your turn (like Standard mode)
    • When ANY player has 1 or fewer face-down cards: After discarding, you MAY choose to flip one of your hidden cards OR skip the flip

    Why use it: Creates dramatic tension near the end of rounds. Do you reveal more to try to improve your score, or keep cards hidden to maintain mystery?

    Best for: Players who enjoy dramatic finishes and tough end-game decisions.

    House Rules (Optional Variants)

    Point Modifiers

    • Super Kings: Kings are worth -2 points instead of 0 (makes them even better!)
    • Ten Penny: 10s are worth only 1 point instead of 10 (makes 10s less scary)

    Joker Variants

    • Standard Jokers: 2 Jokers per deck, each worth -2 points (paired Jokers = 0 points)
    • Lucky Swing: Only 1 Joker in the entire deck, but it's worth -5 points! (Rare and powerful)
    • Eagle Eye: Jokers are worth +2 points unpaired, but -4 points when paired (rewards finding both Jokers)

    Bonuses & Penalties

    • Knock Penalty: If you "go out" (reveal all cards first) but DON'T have the lowest score, you get +10 penalty points. Risk vs reward!
    • Knock Bonus: Get -5 points (subtracted from your score) for going out first.
    • Underdog Bonus: The player with the lowest score each hole gets -3 points.
    • Tied Shame: If you tie with another player's score, both of you get +5 penalty points.
    • Blackjack: If your exact score is 21, it becomes 0 instead!
    • Wolfpack: If you have exactly 2 pairs of Jacks (all 4 Jacks), you get -5 bonus points.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Q: Can I look at my face-down cards?

    A: No! Once the game starts, you cannot peek at your own face-down cards. You only see them when they get flipped face-up (either by swapping or by the flip-on-discard rule).

    Q: Can I swap a face-down card without looking at it first?

    A: Yes! In fact, that's often the best strategy - if you have a card that seems high based on probability, swap it out before you even see it.

    Q: What happens when someone reveals all their cards?

    A: Once ANY player has all 6 cards face-up, every other player gets exactly ONE more turn. Then the round ends and scores are calculated.

    Q: Do I have to go out (reveal all cards) to win?

    A: No! You can win the round even with face-down cards. The player with the lowest score wins, regardless of how many cards are revealed.

    Q: When do pairs count?

    A: Pairs only count in VERTICAL columns (top card + bottom card in the same column). Horizontal or diagonal matches don't create pairs.

    Q: Can I make a pair with face-down cards?

    A: Face-down cards are still counted for scoring, but since you can't see them, you're gambling that they might form a pair. At the end of the round, all cards are revealed and pairs are calculated.

    Q: What if the deck runs out of cards?

    A: The discard pile (except the top card) is shuffled to create a new deck.

    Q: In Suspense mode, when exactly can I flip?

    A: The optional flip activates the moment ANY player (including you) has 1 or fewer face-down cards remaining. From that point until the round ends, whenever you discard from the deck, you'll get the option to flip or skip.

    Q: Why would I NOT flip in Suspense mode?

    A: Maybe you have a hidden card you hope is good, and you don't want to reveal a potential disaster. Or maybe you want to keep your opponents guessing about your score. It's a strategic choice!