Durak Card Game Rules — Complete Guide
Objective
Get rid of all the cards in your hand before your opponents do. The last player holding cards becomes the «fool» (durak) — the loser of the round.
The Deck
Durak is played with one of two deck variants:
- 36-card deck — classic variant: 6 through Ace in all four suits.
- 52-card deck — extended variant: 2 through Ace in all four suits. Used for larger games and longer matches.
Card ranking: 6 (or 2) < 7 < 8 < 9 < 10 < J < Q < K < A.
Dealing and Determining the Trump
Each player is dealt 6 cards. The next card from the deck is placed face-up under the remaining stock — its suit becomes the trump suit for the entire game. This card remains at the bottom of the stock and is drawn last.
The player holding the lowest trump card attacks first. If nobody holds a trump, the first attacker is chosen randomly.
Gameplay
Attack
The attacker plays one or more cards of the same rank face-up on the table. Only one card may be played on the first move of a turn.
Defense
The defender (the player to the attacker's left) must beat each attacking card with:
- A higher-ranked card of the same suit, or
- Any trump (if the attacking card is not a trump), or
- A higher-ranked trump (if the attacking card is also a trump).
Throwing In
While the defender is defending, other players may «throw in» additional cards of any rank already on the table. Throwing continues until 6 attack-defense pairs are on the table or the defender runs out of cards.
Picking Up Cards
If the defender cannot or will not beat every card, they pick up all cards from the table. They skip their attack this round, and the attack passes to the next player.
Drawing from the Stock
After each round, players refill their hands to 6 cards in this order:
- The attacker.
- Throwers — in turn order.
- The defender (last).
When the stock is empty, play continues with the remaining cards without further drawing.
End of Game and Winning Conditions
The first player to get rid of all their cards leaves the game and is recorded as the round winner. Play continues until only one player remains with cards — that player is the «fool».
A draw is possible if the last two players run out of cards simultaneously.
Game Modes
Classic (Podkidnoy) Durak
The standard ruleset described above. Defender either beats all cards or picks them up. Supports 2 to 6 players.
Transfer Durak
The key difference — the ability to transfer: instead of defending, the defender may add a card of the same rank as the attacking card. The attack then passes to the next player, who becomes the new defender. A transfer is illegal if the new defender holds fewer cards than are already on the table.
Team Durak 2×2
Four players are split into two teams along the diagonal: seats 0+2 versus seats 1+3. Partners attack together, and the team wins once both of its players have shed all cards.
Core Strategies
- Save your trumps — especially the high ones. Use them for critical defense or for the decisive attack in the endgame.
- Don't throw in unnecessarily if the defender is your ally or your hand is running low.
- Count cards — track which trumps have already been played.
- Attack a weak defender to force them to pick up more cards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you throw in trump cards?
Yes — trumps can be thrown in on equal terms with any other suit, as long as their rank already appears on the table.
What's the maximum number of cards in a single attack?
In the first round against a defender — no more than 5 cards (limited by the defender's hand, never more than 6 pairs on the table). In later rounds — up to 6 attack-defense pairs.
What if the defender runs out of cards mid-defense?
The round ends immediately. The defender is considered to have successfully defended, and the attack passes to the next player.
Who attacks first in the next round?
If the defender successfully defended — they become the next attacker. If the defender picked up cards — the player to their left becomes the attacker.
What happens if I disconnect?
Every player has a reconnect budget (45 seconds). If a player fails to return in time, they automatically forfeit the match.