Durak rules: how to play podkidnoy durak

The deck and the trump

Durak uses a 36-card deck: 6 through ace in each of the four suits. Aces are high, sixes are low.

Each player gets 6 cards. The next card is turned face up and placed under the deck, sideways: its suit is the trump for the whole game. A trump beats any card of another suit.

Who goes first

The player with the lowest trump attacks first. Play then moves clockwise: each attack is made on the player to the attacker's left.

Attacking and defending

The attacker puts any card face up in front of the defender. The defender must beat it with a higher card of the same suit, or with any trump. For example, ♥7 is beaten by ♥9, or by any trump. A trump can only be beaten by a higher trump.

Every card played on the table has to be beaten separately.

Throwing in (podkidnoy)

This is what makes podkidnoy durak special. While the defender is fighting off an attack, the attacker and the other players (everyone except the defender) may throw in more cards of any rank already on the table. If ♠8 was attacked and beaten with ♠J, the others may throw in any 8 or any jack.

There can be at most 6 attacking cards in a round, and never more than the defender has in hand.

Bito, or taking the cards

If the defender beats every card and nobody throws in more, the round is over: the cards go to the discard pile (“bito”) and the defender becomes the next attacker.

If the defender can't or doesn't want to beat the cards, they take everything on the table into their hand. The others may still throw in more matching cards before that. A defender who takes loses their turn: the next player attacks.

Drawing and the end of the game

After each round everyone draws back up to 6 cards, the attacker first and the defender last. When the deck runs out, nobody draws any more.

Once the deck is empty, players who get rid of all their cards are out, and safe. The last player left holding cards is the durak. If the last two players run out of cards in the same round, it's a draw.

Tips

• Save your trumps, especially high ones, for the end of the game.
• Attack with pairs: if you hold two 7s, lead one and throw in the other.
• Taking a few low cards early is often cheaper than spending a trump.
• Watch the discard pile: once the deck is empty, you can work out what's left.

Questions

How many players can play durak?

From 2 to 4 in this version. With 2 players the game is quicker and more tactical; with 3 or 4, throwing in makes it lively.

What is the difference between podkidnoy and perevodnoy durak?

In podkidnoy (throw-in) durak, other players can add cards of matching rank to an attack. In perevodnoy (transfer) durak, the defender can also pass the attack on to the next player by adding a card of the same rank.

Can a trump be beaten?

Only by a higher trump.

How many cards can be thrown in?

At most 6 attacking cards per round, and no more than the defender holds.

Can I play durak online with friends for free?

Yes. On this site you create a table, send your friends the link, and play in the browser. No sign-up and no download.