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 attacker plays a card face-up against the defender.
- •The defender must beat it with a higher card of the same suit, or any trump card.
- •Beaten cards go to a discard pile; unbeaten cards go into the defender's hand.
- •After defense succeeds, the next player becomes attacker.
- •Players draw back up to 6 cards after each round.
Winning
- •Players who empty their hand are out (safely).
- •The last player still holding cards is the Durak — the fool.