Play Queens on Kings Solitaire Online for Free (Q on K Golf)
Queens on Kings Solitaire is a Golf variant where Queens can always be played on Kings, removing one of the biggest frustrations in standard Golf and opening up longer scoring chains.
What is Queens on Kings Solitaire?
Queens on Kings Solitaire, sometimes called Q on K Golf, follows the same core mechanics as Golf Solitaire. You clear a tableau of 35 face-up cards by chaining them onto a waste pile one rank higher or lower at a time. The twist is a single rule addition: a Queen may always be played on a King. In standard Golf, Kings are permanent dead ends because no card ranked 14 exists. This variant bridges that gap by guaranteeing the Queen-to-King connection, letting you extend chains that would otherwise stall at a King. The result is a slightly more forgiving game that preserves the strategic depth of Golf while cutting down on unwinnable dead-end scenarios.
Queens on Kings Solitaire history
Golf Solitaire first became popular in the early 20th century as a quick, luck-heavy patience game. Over the decades, players created house rules to address its biggest pain point: Kings blocking all progress. Some groups adopted full Ace-King wrapping (which became Putt Putt Solitaire), while others preferred a more surgical fix. The Queens on Kings variant emerged from that second camp, adding only the Queen-to-King bridge and leaving all other rules intact. Though it lacks a single inventor on record, digital solitaire collections such as BVS Solitaire Collection helped popularize the variant under names like "Q on K Golf" and "King's Bridge Golf" in the early 2000s.
How to play Queens on Kings Solitaire
Strategies to win Queens on Kings Solitaire
- When a King lands on the waste pile, scan every column for an exposed Queen before drawing from the stock. The Q-K bridge is the entire reason this variant exists; use it.
- Build long chains through Kings. Because Q-K is always legal, plan sequences like J-Q-K-Q-J to bounce through a King and keep the chain alive.
- Prioritize clearing columns that have a King buried under several cards. Removing other cards first lets you eventually reach that King and chain through it.
- Save stock draws for moments when no tableau card matches. Each wasted stock card is one fewer chance to clear the board.
- Track how many Queens remain in the tableau. If all four Queens are already gone and a King appears on the waste, you must draw, so plan ahead.
Queens on Kings Solitaire rules and objective
The objective is to move all 52 cards to the waste pile by chaining exposed tableau cards that are exactly one rank higher or lower than the current waste top. Queens may always be played on Kings as a special rule. Aces do not wrap to Kings; only the Queen-to-King connection is added. When no legal move exists on the tableau, draw one card from the stock to the waste and continue. The game is won when the tableau is completely empty. It is lost when the stock runs out and no more moves remain.
Game setup
- Shuffle a standard 52-card deck.
- Deal seven columns of five face-up cards, creating a 35-card tableau.
- Place one card face-up on the waste pile as the starting card.
- Set the remaining 16 cards face-down as the stock pile.
Queens on Kings Solitaire variants
Queens on Kings belongs to the Golf Solitaire family. Each variant adjusts how cards wrap or which special cards are available, producing a different balance of luck and strategy.
| Variant | Q on K rule | Ace-King wrapping | Stock size | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golf Solitaire | Standard only (Q is one below K) | No | 16 cards | ~40% |
| Queens on Kings | Always allowed | No | 16 cards | ~45% |
| Putt Putt | Yes (via full wrapping) | Yes, both directions | 16 cards | ~55% |
| All in a Row | Standard only | No | No stock | ~5% |
| Golf with Jokers | Standard only | No | 16 cards + 2 Jokers | ~60% |
How difficult is Queens on Kings Solitaire?
Queens on Kings Solitaire is a moderately difficult patience game. It sits comfortably between standard Golf and Putt Putt on the difficulty scale. The Q-K bridge softens the harshest dead ends but does not eliminate them entirely; you still need smart sequencing and careful stock management. Luck plays a meaningful role since the initial tableau layout determines whether long chains are possible, but skilled players consistently win more often by planning around Kings and tracking remaining Queens.
What is Queens on Kings Solitaire win percentage?
The win percentage for Queens on Kings Solitaire is approximately 45%. This is about five percentage points higher than standard Golf Solitaire (around 40%) and roughly ten points lower than Putt Putt Solitaire (around 55%). The improvement comes specifically from the Queen-to-King bridge, which prevents roughly one in ten otherwise unwinnable games from stalling at a King dead end. Experienced players who actively exploit the Q-K connection may push their personal win rate slightly above 50%.
What is the difference between Queens on Kings Solitaire and Golf Solitaire?
Both games use the same 7-column, 35-card tableau with a 16-card stock and identical chain-building mechanics. The sole difference is the Queen-to-King rule. In standard Golf Solitaire, when a King reaches the waste top, no card can legally follow because nothing is one rank above a King. The chain breaks and you must draw from stock. In Queens on Kings Solitaire, a Queen can always be played on a King, keeping the chain alive. This means Kings are no longer permanent blockers; they become pivot points that you can plan around. The change does not affect Aces (no Ace-King wrapping exists) and has no impact on any other rank pairing. Tactically, Queens on Kings rewards players who track Queen locations and hold them for King-bridge moments instead of playing them immediately.
Queens on Kings Solitaire FAQ
Can you play a King on a Queen in Queens on Kings Solitaire?
Yes. A King (rank 13) on a Queen (rank 12) satisfies the standard one-rank-higher rule, so it is always legal in every Golf variant. The special Queens on Kings rule guarantees the reverse direction as well: a Queen can always be placed on a King, even though Queens are already one rank below Kings by the standard rule. The distinction matters because some Golf implementations only allow upward or downward chaining; in Queens on Kings, Q-K works regardless of direction restrictions.
How do you win Queens on Kings Solitaire every time?
You cannot win every deal because the initial card layout is random and some configurations are mathematically unwinnable. However, you can improve your odds by always scanning for exposed Queens whenever a King is on the waste, by saving stock draws until no tableau moves remain, and by clearing shorter columns first to expose more cards. With consistent strategy, a win rate around 45% to 50% is achievable.
Does Queens on Kings Solitaire allow Ace-to-King wrapping?
No. Only the Queen-to-King connection is added as a special rule. Aces and Kings cannot wrap in either direction. If you want full Ace-King wrapping, try Putt Putt Solitaire, which allows both A-on-K and K-on-A moves along with the Q-K connection.
What is the best Golf Solitaire variant for beginners?
Queens on Kings strikes a good balance for newcomers. It removes the most frustrating dead end from standard Golf without making the game too easy. For an even more forgiving experience, Golf with Jokers adds two wildcard Jokers that can match any rank. For a real challenge, try All in a Row, which has no stock pile at all.
How many cards are in the stock pile in Queens on Kings Solitaire?
The stock pile contains 16 cards. Seven columns of five cards use 35 cards, and one card starts face-up on the waste pile, leaving 16 cards (52 minus 35 minus 1) for the stock. This is the same stock size used in standard Golf, Putt Putt, and Golf with Jokers.