Durak

The Russian classic. Don't be the last one holding cards.

Setup

  • •Played with a 36-card deck (6 through Ace).
  • •The bottom card of the deck determines the trump suit.
  • •Each player is dealt 6 cards.

Gameplay

  • •The player with the lowest trump attacks first. The defender is the player to their left.
  • •The attacker plays a card face-up against the defender, and may add more cards of any rank already on the table.
  • •At most 6 attack cards per bout, and never more unbeaten cards than the defender holds.
  • •The defender must beat each card with a higher card of the same suit, or any trump card.
  • •If every card is beaten, they're discarded and the defender attacks next.
  • •If the defender takes the cards instead, they lose their turn to attack: the player to their left attacks next.
  • •After each bout everyone draws back up to 6 — the attacker first, the defender last.
  • •Players who are out of cards are skipped.

Winning

  • •Players who empty their hand are out (safely).
  • •The last player still holding cards is the Durak — the fool.

House rules

  • •Only the main attacker plays attack cards — other players don't throw in.
  • •Taking ends the bout at once; the attacker can't pile on extra cards first.
  • •If nobody holds a trump, the player with the lowest card attacks first.