Durak
Attack, defend and pile on. The last player left holding cards is the fool.
How to play
36 cards (6 to Ace). The suit of the bottom card is trump and beats any non-trump card.
The attacker leads a card; the defender must beat it with a higher card of the same suit or with a trump, or take all cards.
Other players may pile on cards whose rank is already on the table (at most six attacks, or as many as the defender holds).
After each bout everyone refills to six cards from the stock, attackers first. A successful defender attacks next.
Players who are out of cards once the stock is empty are safe; the last player with cards is the Durak.
About Durak
Durak is the Russian attack-and-defend game for two to six players, played with a 36-card deck. The attacker leads a card, the defender must beat it with a higher card of the same suit or with a trump, and other players can pile on cards of the same ranks. Players who run out of cards are safe, and the last one holding cards is the durak, the fool.
Durak at a glance
| Players | 2–6 players |
|---|---|
| Type | Table game: play online with friends, or with bots in any seat |
| Family | Shedding |
| Bot levels | Easy, medium and hard |
| Turn timer (online) | 40 seconds |
| Cost | Free, no download |
Tips for Durak
- Keep your low trumps for defending: a high trump spent early is hard to replace.
- As the attacker, lead low and hold pairs back so you can pile on once the defender has committed.
- Track which trumps have already been played, because late in the game that tells you exactly what the defender can still beat.
Questions about Durak
How many people can play Durak?
Durak is played by between 2 and 6 players. Real players and bots can share a table, so a game can always start even if you do not have enough people.
Can I play Durak against the computer?
Yes. Pick easy, medium or hard bots and start straight away. Bots only use what a player in their seat could see, so they cannot peek at your cards.
Can I play Durak online with friends?
Yes. Create a private room and share its code, or join a quick match. If someone drops out mid-game, a bot takes over their seat.
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