Golf Card Game with Jokers
Add two jokers per deck. In the usual six-card convention, jokers score −2 and twos become +2. That is what our Jokers format uses.
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Known variant (Pagat)
Pagat lists this under six-card variations: "Some players include jokers - two per deck. In this case twos are worth 2 points and jokers are -2." Play otherwise matches six-card Golf (2×3 grid, column pairs zero out).
Source: Pagat — Golf (Six Card, Cards)
Card values with jokers
Known variant (Pagat) — Jokers format on this site
| Card | Standard 6-card | With jokers (site) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | −2 | +2 |
| Joker | — | −2 |
| Ace, 3–10, J, Q, K | Same as standard six-card | |
A vertical pair still zeros the column, including two jokers or two twos at +2.
Other joker values (Pagat)
Common variant
Pagat lists jokers at −5, −3, −2, or 0 in some groups. Twos are often +2 when jokers are used.
House rule (optional)
When two jokers sit in the same column, some players score −4 for the column instead of 0. In standard six-card Golf without jokers, the same idea applies to two twos (−4 instead of 0). Pagat notes both cases.
How jokers change strategy
Twos are no longer help cards. Dump them like small number cards. Jokers at −2 are worth keeping. Two jokers at −2 (−4 total) replace four twos at −2 (−8 total) in one deck.
Watch the discard pile for jokers. Pair them in a column when you can so the column scores 0.
Worked example
Column 1: Joker (−2) + Joker (−2) = 0 (pair)
Column 2: 2 (+2) + 5 = 7
Column 3: K (0) + 3 = 3
Hole total: 10
Jokers in other layouts
Four-card: Pagat mentions adding jokers with a score of minus 5 in some four-card groups.
Eight-card: Pagat's Whitnack double-deck version scores jokers at minus 5 each.
FAQ
What are jokers worth in Golf?
In the Pagat six-card joker variant, two jokers per deck score −2 each and twos become +2. Our Jokers format uses those values.
Do jokers add more negative cards to the deck?
No. Twos flip from −2 to +2. Two jokers at −2 (−4 total) replace four twos at −2 (−8 total) in one deck, so total negative points go down.
Can I play Golf with jokers online?
Yes. Choose Jokers on /play for a free six-card game with jokers at −2 and twos at +2.