Play Durak Online
Shuffling the cards…
Loading Durak…
Tap or drag a card to play it. Keyboard: arrows and Enter to play, U undo, H hint, N new game, F full screen.
Durak is the most popular card game in Russia, and its name means "fool". Players take turns attacking and defending. Beat each attacking card with a higher card of the same suit or a trump, and get rid of all your cards before everyone else.
- Players
- You + 1 to 3 computer players
- Cards
- 36 cards (6 to Ace)
- Game length
- 5–10 min
- Difficulty
- Medium
How to play Durak
- Each player gets six cards. The last card of the deck sets the trump suit.
- The attacker plays a card. The defender must beat it with a higher card of the same suit or with any trump.
- The attacker, and then the other players, may throw in more cards with ranks already on the table.
- If the defender beats every attack, the cards are discarded and the defender attacks next. Otherwise the defender picks them all up.
- Players refill their hands to six from the deck. The last player with cards is the durak, the fool.
How to win at Durak: strategy and tips
In Durak nobody wins. The last player still holding cards loses and becomes the "durak", the fool. Your goal is to get rid of your cards, and the value of every card changes as the deck runs out.
Play the early game cheaply
While the deck lasts, you will draw back up to six cards after every bout, so a weak hand can still improve. Attack with your low cards, and do not spend high trumps to beat small attacks. Taking a few low cards early is often a good trade.
Attack with pairs
If you attack with a card you hold twice, you can throw in the second one after the defender beats the first. Ranks that are already on the table are the only ones anyone can add, so pairs make your attack longer and harder to defend.
Defend with the smallest card that works
Beat each attack with the lowest card that does the job. Use a higher card of the same suit before a trump, and a low trump before a high one. Keep your strongest trumps for the end of the game.
Know when to take the cards
Taking the cards is not a disaster while the deck is still big. If beating the attack would cost you your best trumps, picking up a few small cards and keeping your strength is often the better choice.
Plan the end game
Once the deck is empty, no one draws new cards, and every card counts. Remember which trumps have been played. The trump card under the deck is known to everyone and goes to whoever draws last. With few cards left, attack with ranks you hold several of, and keep a high trump to finish.
Mistakes to avoid
- Using a high trump early to beat a low card.
- Throwing in high cards that help your opponent get rid of cards.
- Forgetting the trump card under the deck when counting trumps.
Durak questions
What does Durak mean?
Durak is Russian for "fool". The player left holding cards at the end of the game is the durak.
What is the difference between Throw-in and Passing Durak?
In Throw-in Durak the defender must beat or pick up the cards. In Passing Durak the defender can pass the attack to the next player by adding a card of the same rank.
