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How to Play Durak

Attack, defend, or be the Fool.

👥 2–6 players · Medium difficulty

Durak (Дурак, "Fool") is Russia's most beloved card game and a staple across Eastern Europe. The last player stuck with cards is the Durak — the fool of the round.

🎮 Ways to Play Durak

Create a Durak Table

Create your own Durak table in seconds — choose the seats, share the invite code, and fill empty spots with AI opponents.

Join a Durak Table by Invite

Enter a friend's invite code and take your seat at their Durak table — no strangers, just your crew.

Play Durak Against the Computer

Practice Durak against smart AI opponents with multiple difficulty levels — the perfect way to learn the game or test new strategies.

Play Durak Offline

No connection? No problem. Play Durak offline against computer opponents, anywhere you are.

🎯 Objective

Get rid of all your cards. The last player holding cards is the Durak (Fool).

🃏 Durak Setup & Rules

Uses a 36-card deck (6 through Ace). Deal 6 cards each.
Flip the bottom card of the remaining deck — its suit is Trump for this hand.
Player with lowest trump attacks first.

▶ How to Play Durak

The attacker plays one or more same-rank cards face-up to the defender.
Defender beats each with a higher card of the same suit OR any trump.
Others may pile on cards of already-played ranks (up to 6 total or defender's hand count).
Defender beats all: discard pile, play advances clockwise. Defender fails: takes all cards.
After each bout, all players draw back up to 6 from the draw pile (attacker first, defender last).

🎬 Watch: How to Play Durak

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📖 Detailed Guide

Setting up your table

Durak plays 2–6 with a 36-card deck (6s through Aces). Everyone gets 6 cards.
The bottom card of the draw pile is flipped and tucked underneath, visible all game — its suit is TRUMP for the whole hand.
The player holding the lowest trump attacks first; play then moves clockwise. There is no "winner" of a hand — only a loser, the Durak (Fool).

Attacking

The attacker plays one card (or several of the same rank) face-up in front of the defender.
Once the defence starts, anyone may "pile on" extra attacking cards — but ONLY of ranks already on the table this bout, and never more cards than the defender can answer (max 6).
Attack with ranks the defender has already beaten this bout: they've likely used up their answers for that rank.

Defending

Beat each attacking card individually with a HIGHER card of the same suit, or with any trump. A higher trump beats a lower trump.
Beat everything and the whole bout is discarded face-down — permanently out of the game — and you become the next attacker.
Can't (or won't) beat a card? Take EVERYTHING on the table into your hand, and you lose your turn to attack — the attacker goes again against the next player.
Taking isn't always terrible: scooping a few useful trumps early can set up a strong endgame.

Refilling and the endgame

After each bout, every player draws back up to 6 cards — attacker first, other attackers next, defender last — until the draw pile (including the trump card) is exhausted.
Once the pile is empty, the game turns razor-sharp: cards spent are gone forever, so count which trumps remain.
Players who empty their hands drop out safely one by one. The last player left holding cards is the Durak and deals the next round — the app tracks wins across rounds.