Hole in One Solitaire – How to Play, Tips, and Fun Facts

Hole in One Solitaire is an engaging single-deck card game, a variant of TriPeaks Solitaire featuring a unique one-hidden-card layout. It blends the simple, addictive mechanics of Golf Solitaire – where you remove cards one rank higher or lower than the previous card – with a fun golf theme. The goal is to clear the entire board, aiming for that perfect “hole in one” by moving all the cards to a single waste pile. This game’s appeal lies in its straightforward rules and quick rounds, making it perfect for a short break or a relaxing session. It’s easy to learn for new players, yet reaching a win can require careful planning and a bit of strategy. Whether you’re a solitaire newbie or a seasoned card game fan, Hole in One Solitaire offers casual, friendly fun with just the right amount of challenge.

Play Hole in One Solitaire Online at solitaireX.io

Did you know you can play Hole in One Solitaire free online? One convenient place to enjoy this game is solitaireX.io – a website offering classic and modern solitaire games. On solitaireX.io you can jump straight into the action with no downloads or installations needed. The game is fast and mobile-friendly, running smoothly on desktop, tablet, or phone. So if you’re itching to play solitaire online on the go, solitaireX.io has you covered. Just head to the site, click Hole in One Solitaire, and start clearing cards! It’s one of many free card games available on the platform, so you can have fun without spending a dime. (Bonus: The site even features leaderboards and stats if you’re feeling competitive.)

Rules of Hole in One Solitaire

Understanding the rules will help you get the most out of Hole in One Solitaire. Here’s a breakdown of how the game works and how cards are removed:

• Deck and Layout: The game uses one standard 52-card deck. Ten tableau columns are dealt, with 3 face-up cards in each column (30 cards visible in the play area). In addition, one extra card is dealt face-down as the single hidden card in the game. This hidden card is initially not playable – it will be revealed once you clear the cards covering it. Only the top card of each column (i.e. a card with no other card overlapping it) is available for play at any time.

• Goal: Your objective is to move all the cards from the tableau (the play area) to the foundation pile (also known as the waste pile). When the tableau is completely cleared, you win the game, scoring your “hole in one” by achieving a perfect clear. If you run out of moves and cards remain on the tableau, the game ends (typically you’d tally your score by how many cards remained, similar to Golf Solitaire scoring).

• Foundation (Waste Pile) Mechanics: There is only one foundation pile, and it starts empty. To begin, you may move any exposed tableau card to an empty foundation as the starting card. After that, you build the foundation in a sequence up or down by rank. This means you can place a card onto the foundation if it is one rank higher or one rank lower than the current top card of the foundation, regardless of suit or color. For example, if the foundation’s top card is a 7, you can play an 8 or a 6 on it (suits don’t matter). This works just like TriPeaks or Golf Solitaire rules – essentially you are pairing cards by sequential rank. Note: There is no “wrapping” around from King to Ace in this game. That means you cannot play a King on an Ace or an Ace on a King; sequences end at the Ace and King.

• No Building on the Tableau: Unlike some solitaire games (e.g. Klondike or FreeCell), you cannot build or move cards around on the tableau columns themselves. There’s no in-tableau arranging of cards in sequence or by suit. The only moves are removing exposed cards from the tableau and moving them to the foundation. If a card is partially covered by another card, you must wait until that covering card is removed before you can play the one beneath it. You also can’t move cards between columns. Essentially, tableau cards stay where they are until removed to the foundation.

• Stock Pile: After the initial deal, the remaining cards that were not dealt to the tableau become the stock pile. In Hole in One Solitaire, you will use the stock to keep the game going when no more moves are available from the tableau. You flip one card at a time from the stock onto the foundation (waste pile) to act as a new base card. This flipped card becomes the new top of the foundation, and you can then continue removing any tableau cards that are one-above or one-below that card in rank. Important: You are allowed only one pass through the stock – there are no redeals. So you won’t get a second chance with any stock card once it’s been passed over. This rule means you should use the stock wisely (more on strategy for this below). Once you’ve flipped through all stock cards (or cleared the tableau before exhausting them), the stock is done.

• Winning and Losing: To win, you must successfully move all 31 cards (the 30 face-up + the 1 hidden) from the tableau onto the foundation pile in sequential order. Clearing the entire board means you achieved the coveted “hole in one” – a perfect game clear without any cards left! If the stock runs out and you still have cards on the tableau that cannot be played, the game is over. In traditional Golf Solitaire scoring, each leftover card would count as a “stroke” (point) against you, but in a casual digital game you might simply consider it a loss and try again. The challenge is to eventually get that perfect clear where no cards remain.

How to Play Hole in One Solitaire (Step-by-Step Guide)

Ready to play? Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to playing Hole in One Solitaire:

1. Deal the Cards / Setup: Start a new game. The game will deal ten columns of three cards each, all face-up, onto the tableau (play area). One extra card will be dealt face-down under one of the columns as the hidden card. You’ll see 10 overlapping piles of cards on the screen (3 cards in each, with only the top card of each pile visible), and one pile will have a face-down card at the bottom of it. The remaining cards (52 minus the 31 in the tableau) form your stock pile off to the side or bottom.

2. Begin the Foundation: The foundation pile (waste pile) begins empty. To start the game, choose any exposed card from the tableau and move it to the foundation to create the initial base. For example, you might take an exposed 7 and place it on the foundation to kick things off. (In many online versions, you can simply click a card to send it to the foundation if it’s a valid move.)

3. Remove Cards by Sequence: Now look at the card on the foundation (waste). Find any card on the tableau that is one rank higher or one rank lower than that foundation card, and move it to the foundation. For instance, if the foundation’s top card is a 7, you can take a 6 or an 8 from the tableau and play it on the 7. When you place that card, it becomes the new top of the foundation (waste pile). Continue removing cards in sequence like this – you can go up and down in rank as needed. For example, you could play a sequence such as 7 → 8 → 9 → 10, then back down to 9, 8, 7, etc., as long as each new card is one rank above or below the last card on the pile. Every time you remove a card from a tableau column, the card underneath (if any) becomes exposed and available to play.

4. Strategically Reveal the Hidden Card: Keep an eye on which column has the face-down hidden card. To eventually win, you will need to uncover this card. It will remain unplayable until all cards above it in that column are removed. So, as you make your moves, try to prioritize clearing that particular column. Once you remove the cards covering it, the hidden card will flip face-up and can then be played to the foundation like any other card. Uncovering this card early can be very helpful (see Tips below).

5. Use the Stock When No Moves Are Left: If at any point you cannot find any exposed tableau card that can be played on the foundation (i.e. no card is one higher or lower than the foundation’s top card), it’s time to use the stock pile. Click or flip the top card from the stock onto the foundation. This card becomes the new active foundation card. Now look for any tableau cards that can be played on it (one rank up or down). Important: Don’t use the stock if you do have a valid move available from the tableau. Because you only get one pass through the stock, it’s best to save those stock cards for when you truly need them (no moves left). Continue this process: play all possible tableau cards, and flip stock cards only when you reach a dead end.

6. Repeat and Continue Clearing: Continue alternating between removing tableau cards in sequence and flipping stock cards when needed. With each card you remove, you uncover more of the tableau. If you reveal the face-down card, make sure to incorporate it into your sequence as soon as it becomes playable, since it could be crucial to clearing the last few cards.

7. Win by Clearing All Cards: The game continues until either:

   • You clear all cards from the tableau (in which case you win 🎉 – you’ve scored a hole in one by clearing the board), or
   • You run out of stock cards and no further moves are possible while cards remain on the tableau (in which case the game ends, and you can start a new round to try again).

If you clear the tableau before exhausting the stock, congrats – you achieved the perfect win! If not, don’t worry; Hole in One Solitaire, like its Golf Solitaire cousin, often requires a bit of luck and strategy, so just shuffle up and try another game.

History and Origins of the Game

Hole in One Solitaire draws inspiration from two classic solitaire variations: Golf Solitaire and TriPeaks Solitaire. Golf Solitaire (also known as One Foundation) is an older patience game known to have been played as early as the 19th century. It earned its name because of a scoring analogy to the sport of golf – each deal is like a "hole," and every card left unremoved counts as a "stroke" against you (with the goal being to have the fewest strokes). In fact, in traditional Golf Solitaire, you play nine deals (holes) and try to get the lowest score, with a perfect game being called a hole in one when you clear all cards in a deal.

TriPeaks Solitaire, on the other hand, is a more modern variant. It was invented in 1989 by Robert Hogue, a software engineer. TriPeaks was popularized after being included in computer solitaire collections (like the Microsoft Entertainment Pack) and features the same one-up/one-down removal mechanic as Golf, but with a distinctive layout of three pyramidal “peaks” of cards. The success of TriPeaks demonstrated how fun and addictive this sequence-based gameplay can be.

TriPeaks Solitaire uses a layout of three peaks (pyramids) that you clear by playing cards one higher or lower onto the waste pile. This influential 1989 game by Robert Hogue helped popularize the one-up/one-down mechanic, paving the way for variants like Hole in One Solitaire. In TriPeaks, all cards must be removed from the three peak-shaped tableau onto a single foundation pile (waste), just like in Hole in One.

Hole in One Solitaire itself is essentially a creative twist on TriPeaks/Golf. It features a simplified layout (with only one card hidden, versus many hidden in classic TriPeaks) and embraces the golf terminology directly in its name. By giving players a single hidden card “hole” to uncover, it’s as if you’re trying to sink that one last shot. The name Hole in One evokes the excitement of achieving a perfect clear in one deal – the solitaire equivalent of sinking a golf ball in the cup with one stroke. This variant likely emerged in the digital era as solitaire enthusiasts and developers experimented with new layouts. It’s sometimes even referred to as “Easy Golf” Solitaire by casual players, highlighting that it’s a quick, accessible version of the Golf Solitaire concept. While not a centuries-old game itself, Hole in One Solitaire carries forward a rich tradition of solitaire games blending simple rules with strategic depth, and it continues to introduce new players to the fun of one-up/one-down card play.

Tips and Tricks to Improve Your Gameplay

Even though Hole in One Solitaire is easy to pick up, a little strategy can go a long way toward improving your win rate and maximizing your score. Here are some helpful tips and tricks for casual players looking to up their game:

• Plan Your Moves Ahead: Before you start hastily removing cards, take a moment to scan the tableau and see what sequences might be possible. Aim for moves that uncover hidden or buried cards and open up more options for play. For example, if removing a particular card will expose the face-down hidden card or free up a new card in a column, that’s a high-priority move. Whenever you have a choice between two or more possible moves (say you have two different cards you could play onto the foundation), try to evaluate which move will unlock more cards or create a longer chain. A little forethought can set you up for a big payoff in cleared cards.

• Clear the Hidden Card Early: Identify which column contains that one face-down hidden card (it’s the column that had an extra card underneath during the deal). Focus on clearing that column to reveal the hidden card as soon as possible. Once that hidden card is flipped face-up, it becomes available to play and might be the exact card you need to continue a sequence or finish the game. Getting it out into play early increases your chances of making more moves later. In golf terms, think of the hidden card as a tricky sand trap covering the hole – you want to get it out of the way early so you have a clear shot at victory.

• Maximize Your Sequence Chains: Try to make long consecutive runs of card plays from the tableau without having to flip from the stock. The game often rewards you for creating long chains of moves (e.g. a sequence like 5-6-7-8-7-6, etc.). Each card you remove in a row is one less obstacle on the tableau, and you’ll clear the board faster. Moreover, in some scoring systems, longer streaks give bonus points. Every time you draw a new card from the stock, any streak count typically resets, so it’s usually better to play every available move on the tableau before using the stock. Look for opportunities to “go on a run.” For example, if the foundation is showing a 4, you might play a 3 onto it, then a 2 onto the 3, then an Ace onto the 2, all in one go. This kind of streak clears multiple cards in one turn and boosts your odds of victory.

• Use the Stock Wisely (Don’t Rush It): Because you only get one pass through the stock, treat those stock cards like a limited resource. Do not flip a stock card unless there are absolutely no moves left on the tableau. If a move is available from the tableau, do that first instead of dealing a new card from the stock. Flipping a stock card too early might actually block future moves or waste a helpful card at the wrong time. In essence, save the stock for when you truly need a new base card to keep the game going. This patient approach can be the difference between clearing the board and getting stuck. Remember, once you’ve gone through the stock, there’s no redeal – so make those cards count!

• Mind the Aces and Kings: In Hole in One (like classic Golf), Aces and Kings are dead-ends in terms of sequence building, since you can’t wrap around ranks. An Ace can only be played on a 2 (and nothing can go on an Ace), and a King can only be played on a Queen (and nothing can go on a King). Be cautious about when you play these cards. If possible, try not to leave an Ace or a King as the active foundation card unless you’re near the end or you know the next stock card can continue the sequence. For example, if the foundation is showing a Queen and you have both a King and a Jack available to play, it’s often wiser to play the Jack first. Playing the Jack puts a J on the foundation (from the Queen), which still allows flexibility – you could then play a 10 or a Queen next. If you had played the King instead, the sequence would stall until a Queen shows up again. Keeping your sequences flexible for as long as possible will help you use more cards in one go. In short, use Aces and Kings at opportune moments, not prematurely.

By using these strategies – planning ahead, making optimal moves, and being smart about when to use the stock – you’ll greatly increase your chances of winning at Hole in One Solitaire. Like sinking a clutch putt in golf, a little forethought and patience in this game can go a long way!

Fun Facts and Trivia for Casual Players

Hole in One Solitaire may be a simple game, but it has some interesting tidbits that make it even more enjoyable for the curious player:

• Why “Hole in One”? The name of the game is a nod to its golf-inspired roots. In Golf Solitaire, clearing all the cards in a deal is analogous to finishing a golf hole with a single stroke – literally a hole in one. That’s why a perfect win (no cards left) in this game is so satisfying! The use of terms like hole, par, and strokes in solitaire comes straight from the sport of golf. So when you clear the board, feel free to celebrate like you just hit a hole-in-one on the golf course.

• Relation to Golf Solitaire: Hole in One is essentially a variant of classic Golf Solitaire (a game that’s also fittingly known as “One Foundation”). However, traditional Golf Solitaire deals 7 columns of 5 cards (35 cards) and often is played over 9 rounds (holes) for a full game. Hole in One Solitaire simplifies things to a single deal with 10 columns of 3 cards (31 cards total including the hidden one). This makes each round quicker, which is great for casual play. You get all the fun of Golf Solitaire’s mechanics in a bite-sized package.

• TriPeaks Influence: Fans of Microsoft’s solitaire games might find Hole in One Solitaire familiar – it plays a lot like TriPeaks, the game invented by Robert Hogue in 1989. TriPeaks has three mountains of cards to clear and was one of the first popular digital solitaires to use the one-up/one-down rule. Hole in One takes that concept but gives you just one “peak” (or really, one main hidden card to uncover). In fact, some people consider Hole in One Solitaire a friendly “beginner’s TriPeaks” because there are fewer hidden cards to manage, making it a bit easier.

• High Win Rates: Interestingly, the one-up/one-down style games like this tend to have a relatively high percentage of winnable deals compared to some other solitaire games. Robert Hogue’s analysis of TriPeaks showed that over 90% of all TriPeaks deals are solvable with perfect play! While Hole in One’s exact stats may vary, the takeaway is that most games can be won – so if you didn’t win on the first try, shuffle and try again. With the right strategy (and a little luck), you have a good shot at clearing the board.

• Play Anywhere, Anytime: One great thing about the modern online version of Hole in One Solitaire is that you can play it on any device with a web browser. As mentioned earlier, sites like solitaireX.io offer cross-platform play – whether you’re on a computer at work, on a tablet at home, or on your smartphone while waiting in line, you can dive into a quick game seamlessly. The controls are simple (just tap or click the cards), and valid moves are often highlighted for ease of play. No shuffling physical cards required – a quick game is always just a click away!

• It’s Free and Fun: Unlike real golf which can require expensive gear or club fees, Hole in One Solitaire (and other solitaire games online) are typically free to play. It’s a zero-cost way to enjoy a fun card game whenever you want. Plus, there’s no pressure of competition – you can take your time and enjoy the process. Many players find it relaxing, almost like a form of meditation with cards. And if you’re feeling competitive, you can always aim to beat your own fastest time or highest score, or check out leaderboards on sites like solitaireX to see how you stack up.

With these insights in mind, we hope you enjoy many rounds of Hole in One Solitaire. It’s a casual, friendly game that’s easy to learn yet continually engaging. So go ahead and give it a try – may you clear the tableau and score that elusive hole in one! Happy card gaming!