Six-Card Golf Strategy: 5 Tips
Golf is about information: you decide with four of your own cards hidden. New? See the rules.
1. Pairs first
A matched column scores zero whatever the rank, so a drawn queen is gold if you have a queen showing. Always check the columns before you judge a card by its value.
2. Twos and kings
A two is worth −2 and a king 0. Take them from the discard when they show, and don't let them go.
3. Hidden cards average 5
An unknown card is worth about 5 points on average. Swap a drawn card onto a face-down slot only when it is worth less than that, or when it makes a pair.
4. Don't close blind
Turning up your last card ends the hole after one more opponent turn. If a face-down card could be a jack, flip it earlier instead of closing with it unseen.
5. Read the open cards
The opponent's face-up cards tell you what they need. Don't discard a card that pairs one of their columns if you can swap it onto a face-down slot instead.
The hard computer pairs columns, takes low discards, and avoids closing while behind; normal closes freely; easy swaps at random.
Frequently asked questions
When should I close a hole in Six-Card Golf?
When your visible total is low and you have no face-down card left that could be high. Turning your last card up gives the opponent one more turn, so close when you are clearly ahead, not just to end the hole.
Last updated 2026-10-21