Golf card game rules

Golf is a classic card game where, like the sport, the lowest score wins. You lay your cards out face down, swap them for better ones and try to finish each "hole" with as few points as possible.

There are two popular versions: 6-card Golf, where pairs cancel out, and 4-card Golf, which turns into Cabo or Cambio once you add card powers. Both are below, plus how to play a version online with Rafiki.

What you need

• One standard 52-card deck for 2 to 4 players. Use two decks for 5 or more.
• Pen and paper. A game is usually 9 "holes", or rounds.

6-card Golf

Setting up

1. Deal each player 6 cards face down in two rows of three.
2. Each player turns any two of their cards face up.
3. Put the rest of the deck face down as the stock, and turn the top card over to start the discard pile.

A turn

Take either the top card of the stock or the top card of the discard pile. Swap it for one of your six cards: the new card goes face up in that spot and the old one goes on the discard pile. If you drew from the stock, you can instead discard it and turn one of your face-down cards face up.

Ending the hole

When one player has all six cards face up, everyone else gets one more turn. Then all cards are turned up and scored.

Scoring

After 9 holes, the lowest total wins. House rules vary a lot, so agree them before you start.

4-card Golf

Each player gets 4 cards face down in a square and looks at two of them once, at the start. On your turn, draw from the stock or the discard pile and swap or discard, as above. When you think you're lowest, knock. Everyone else gets one more turn, then hands are scored. Many groups add powers, such as a 7 to peek at your own card or a Jack to swap with an opponent, and at that point you're playing Cabo or Cambio.

Play a Golf-style game online

Rafiki is a free online game based on 4-card Golf with powers. You have 4 hidden cards and powers to peek, spy and blind swap. You can slam matching cards from any hand, and you call "Rafiki" when you think you're lowest. It deals, times and scores everything for you. See how Rafiki compares with Golf, Cabo and Cambio.

Questions

How many cards do you get in Golf?

Usually 6 in two rows of three. In 4-card Golf you get 4 in a square.

What is a 2 worth in Golf?

In the most common scoring a 2 is worth -2 and a King is worth 0. A matching pair in a column scores 0.

Can I play Golf card game online with friends?

Rafiki is a free online game in the same family, based on 4-card Golf with powers. Play at playrafiki.com with friends in a private room or against computer players.