Durak

Card Game “Durak”: Game Rules

Durak is a classic shedding game. It’s not just a game of chance, but a strategic battle of wits where predicting opponents’ moves, managing trump cards, and planning tactics are key.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced strategist, Durak offers the perfect way to spend your time with both benefit and enjoyment.

🎯 Game Objective:

Be the first to get rid of all your cards. The last player left with cards is declared the “durak” (fool) and loses.

📜 Core Rules of Durak

Game Setup

• A standard deck of 36 or 52 cards is used.
• Each player is dealt 6 cards.
• The top card from the remaining deck (stock) is revealed and placed face up. This card determines the current trump suit.
• The player with the lowest trump card (e.g., a six or a deuce, depending on the deck) starts the game.

Gameplay: Attack and Defense

1. Attack. The first player (attacker) plays one or several cards of the same rank (e.g., two queens).
2. Defense. The next player (defender) must beat each attacking card.
   • A card can be beaten by a higher card of the same suit.
   • Or by any trump card (a trump six beats an ace of any other suit).
   • Beaten cards are placed on the table.
3. Defense Outcome:
   • If defense is successful: All beaten cards go to the discard pile. The right to attack next goes to the defender.
   • If the player cannot beat all cards: They must take all cards from the table (both attacking and attempted defense cards) into their hand. The next player starts a new attack.

Drawing Cards and Game End

• After each round, players replenish their hands from the stock up to 6 cards. The attacker draws first, then the defender.
• The game continues until the stock is depleted.
• Once the stock is empty, players continue with the cards in their hands.
• The winner is the first player to discard all their cards. The last player left with cards is the “durak”.

🔀 Game Variations

Classic (Simple) Durak

The basic version described in the rules above. A player can only attack and defend.

Throw-in Durak

The most popular version for online play.

• After the defender has beaten the initial attack, other players may “throw in” additional cards of ranks already present on the table (both in the attack and in the beaten pile).
• Cards can only be thrown in within the unused attack limit (maximum of 6 cards per round).
• The defender must beat all the thrown-in cards as well.

Passing Durak

A version requiring particular strategic thinking.

• On their defensive turn, a player may choose not to beat a card but to “pass” it by placing a card of the same rank next to it.
• The attack is passed to the next player, who must now defend against both cards.
• Only the first attacking card can be passed, provided it hasn’t been beaten yet.

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🚀 Ready to Play?