At the start, each player is dealt six cards, which are played in a series of bouts of attack and defence. This game has no winner - only a loser, or a losing team if played with partnerships. It can, however, be played by any number of people from two to six, playing as individuals, or by six players in two teams of three, sitting alternately.Ī 36 card pack, the cards in each suit ranking from high to low: ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6. Podkidnoy Durak is best for four people playing in teams, two against two, with partners sitting opposite each other. Thanks to Alexey Lobashev for help with the detailed rules and variations of this game. The variant Perevodnoy Durak (Переводной Дурак), which is similar to this game but with the possibility of transferring an attack to the next player, is described on a separate page. The introductory Durak page lists some other forms of Durak and other related games can be found in the Beating Games index. The same game is played in Poland under the name Dureń (fool) and in several other East European countries. It is probably the best-known form of Durak in Russia.

This name refers to the fact that after an attack is begun, it can be continued by 'throwing in' further cards whose ranks match those already played. The game described on this page is properly called 'Podkidnoy Durak' (Подкидной Дурак), which means 'fool with throwing in'. 'Durak' means fool, the fool in this game being the loser - the player who is left with cards after everyone else has run out.

It would hardly be an exaggeration to say that every Russian who plays cards knows this game. Durak is undoubtedly the most popular card game in Russia.

Durak card game history