Durak

Objective

Get rid of your cards and avoid being last.

Deal and setup

Durak is played individually by 2 to 6 players with 36 French-suited cards: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, A. Ace is highest. Avoid being the last player holding cards.

How to play — step by step

1. Each player receives 6 cards, one at a time starting left of a randomly chosen dealer. The next card sets trumps and is drawn last. With six players all cards are dealt; the dealer’s final card sets trumps and stays in their hand.
2. A new standalone game starts with the holder of the lowest dealt trump; they need not lead it. If no one holds a trump, a random player starts. Attack the next active player clockwise.
3. The first attacker plays any card. The defender beats it with a higher card of the same suit or any trump against a non-trump. Only a higher trump beats a trump. There is no obligation to follow suit: you may trump while holding the attack suit.
4. Added cards must match a rank on the table, including defense cards. Cards are played one at a time. The original attacker has priority, then others clockwise. With 5 or 6 active players only the defender’s two neighbors may attack. Each new card resets priority to the original attacker.
5. A bout allows at most 6 attack cards and no more than the defender’s hand size at its start. Defense cards do not count toward this limit. The same limit applies to the first bout.
6. The defender may choose Pick up cards even when able to beat the attack. Opponents may still legally add cards up to the original limit. The defender then takes every attack and defense card, skips their attack turn, and the next active player clockwise attacks.
7. If all attacks are beaten and nobody adds a card, or the limit is reached, all table cards are discarded permanently. The successful defender attacks next if still in the game.
8. After the bout, refill to 6 cards: the original attacker first, others clockwise, and the defender last. Each player finishes drawing before the next. Once the stock is empty, players without cards leave and are skipped.
9. The result is checked only after the entire bout and refill. The last player with cards loses; everyone else earns a club win. If nobody has cards, the game is a draw without win rewards. XP and rewards apply to the complete game, not individual attacks. Surrender is a loss without XP.
10. We use throwing-in Durak without transferring attacks, exchanging the trump six, teams or jokers. New game and Play again start standalone games with a new random dealer. Card backs unlock independently of faces.

Important rules to remember