Rules for Durak

Durak is Russia's most popular card game. The name means "fool" in Russian, and that title goes to the loser. This is a game where there is no winner, only a loser: the last player holding cards when everyone else has gone out is the fool.

Durak works for 2 to 6 players and uses a shortened deck of 36 cards (6 through ace in all four suits). It plays well with 2 to 4 players and can also be played in teams.

The deck consists of 36 cards. Remove all cards below 6 from a standard deck (the 2s, 3s, 4s, and 5s). Cards rank from lowest to highest: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, jack, queen, king, ace.

One suit is designated as trumps. Trump cards always beat non-trump cards, regardless of rank. For example, the 6 of trumps beats the ace of spades (as long as spades isn't the trump suit).

Shuffle the cards and deal 6 cards to each player, one at a time, clockwise. Place the next card face up in the centre of the table. The suit of this card determines the trump suit for the round. Place the remaining deck face down on top of this card, crosswise, so that the trump card remains visible. This pile is the draw pile (talon).

In the first game of a session, the player holding the lowest trump card starts (the trump 6 if anyone has it, otherwise the trump 7, and so on). In later games, the loser of the previous round deals, and the player to the dealer's left starts.

The game is played in a series of bouts with an attacker and a defender. The defender is always the player to the attacker's left.

The attacker plays a card face up in front of the defender. To beat the attack, the defender must cover it with a higher card of the same suit, or with any trump card. A trump can only be beaten by a higher trump.

If the defender beats the first attack card, the attacker may continue by playing another card. This new card must match the rank of any card already played in the current bout (attack cards or defence cards). Other players may also contribute to the attack with cards of matching ranks, but the attacker always has priority.

The attacker can play up to 6 cards in a single bout (or fewer if the defender has fewer than 6 cards in hand).

Successful defence: If the defender beats all attack cards, all cards from the bout (both attack and defence cards) are discarded from the game. The defender then becomes the attacker for the next bout, and the player to their left becomes the new defender.

Failed defence: If the defender cannot or chooses not to beat an attack card, they must pick up all cards from the bout (both attack and defence cards). The attackers may also add any remaining cards of matching ranks, which the defender must take as well. The defender loses their turn to attack. The next attacker is the player to the defender's left.

After each bout, all players with fewer than 6 cards replenish from the draw pile. The attacker draws first, then any other attackers in clockwise order, and finally the defender.

If there aren't enough cards for everyone, players draw in turn until the pile runs out. The face-up trump card at the bottom is drawn as the very last card.

Once the draw pile is empty, play continues without drawing.

If you hold the 6 of trumps (the lowest trump), you may swap it for the face-up trump card under the draw pile at any time. Place your trump 6 under the pile and take the face-up trump into your hand. This can only be done while the draw pile still has cards.

When the draw pile runs out, the endgame begins. Players who empty their hands are finished and leave the game. The remaining players carry on.

Play continues until only one player is left holding cards. This player is the loser and is called the "durak" (the fool). The loser has the honour of dealing the next round.

If the final attacker uses all their cards in an attack and the defender beats them with their last cards so that both run out, the game ends in a draw.

With 4 players, you can play in teams of two. Teammates sit opposite each other. The rules are the same, but teammates cannot attack each other, and they cannot help each other defend. When a team member runs out of cards, their partner takes over their turns. The team still holding cards at the end loses.

Transfer Durak (Perevodnoy): In this popular variant, the defender can pass the attack to the next player. The defender plays a card of the same rank as the attack card, and the next player in line must now defend instead. The new defender can also pass the attack on in the same way. Passing is not allowed if the next player holds fewer cards than the number of attack cards.

52-card deck: With 5 or 6 players, you can use a full 52-card deck. The rules are the same, but the 2 of trumps can be swapped for the face-up trump card instead of the 6.

5-card limit: With more than 3 players, the first attack is often limited to 5 cards instead of 6, to give the defender a fairer chance.

Save your trump cards. They are most valuable in the endgame when the draw pile is empty. Use low trumps for defence early on and keep the high ones for later.

Pay attention to which cards have been played. If you know that many high cards in a suit are already discarded, you can attack more safely with lower cards in that suit.

Try to get rid of cards with ranks that your opponents could use to extend attacks against you. If you have several cards of the same rank, consider using them in attacks early on.