How to Play Durak
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
The goal
Get rid of all your cards. When the deck is gone, the player still holding cards is the durak, Russian for "fool".
Setting up
- Durak uses 36 cards: 6 up to ace in each suit. You can play against one, two or three computer players.
- Each player gets six cards. The next card is turned face up and placed under the deck: its suit is trump for the whole game, and it is the last card to be drawn.
- The player with the lowest trump attacks first. The next player clockwise defends.
Attacking and defending
- The attacker plays any card face up.
- The defender must beat it with a higher card of the same suit, or with any trump. A trump can only be beaten by a higher trump.
- After each beat, the attacker may throw in another card of a rank that is already on the table, for example another 7 when a 7 was played. With more than two players, the others may throw in too, in turn clockwise. There can be at most six attacks, and never more than the defender held when the attack began.
- If the defender cannot or does not want to beat a card, they take every card on the table into their hand.
Passing Durak
In the Passing version, the defender has one more choice. Before beating any card, they may pass the attack on by adding a card of the same rank, for example another 7 on a 7. The next player must then defend against all the cards, and may pass them on again. This is only allowed if that player holds enough cards to answer every attack. Choose "Passing" in the game options above the table.
Ending a bout
- When every attack is beaten and nobody has anything more to add, the bout is over. The cards are discarded and the defender attacks next.
- If the defender took the cards, they lose their turn: the next player attacks. (With two players, that is the same attacker again.)
- After each bout, everyone draws back up to six cards, the attacker first and the defender last, while the deck lasts.
The end of the game
Once the deck is empty, players who get rid of all their cards are out. The last player still holding cards is the durak. If everyone runs out at the same moment, the game is a draw.
Strategy tips
- Keep your trumps. They are your best defense late in the game, when nobody can draw new cards.
- Attack with low cards, especially ranks you hold twice: you can throw in the second one.
- Early on, taking a few low cards is often better than spending a high trump.
- Count the trumps that have been played. The one under the deck is known to everyone.
Rule variations
Some groups limit the first attack to five cards, let players throw in cards while the defender is picking up, or play in teams of two. Our version uses the common rules above, in both Throw-in and Passing form.
Frequently asked 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.
Card games have many house rules. This page describes the most common way Durak is played, and the version you play on Card Sunday. Does your family play differently, or have you spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will check it.
