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Durak
A game of regular durak in progress
1 – deck, 2 – first attacker, 3 – defender, 4 – next defender.
OriginRussian
Alternative namesfool, Russian War, Kur
TypeShedding-type games
Players2–6
SkillsProbability, strategy, memory[citation needed]
Age range10 and above (assuming appropriate maturity)
Cards36–52
DeckFrench
Rank (high→low)A K Q J 10 9 8 7 6
PlayClockwise
Playing time5–15 min
Related games
Cheat • Kaschlan

Durak (Russian: дурак, IPA: [dʊˈrak] ⓘ; lit. 'fool') is a traditional Russian card game that is popular in many post-Soviet states. It is Russia's most popular card game, having displaced Preferans.[1] It has since become known in other parts of the world.[2] The objective of the game is to shed all one's cards when there are no more cards left in the deck. At the end of the game, the last player with cards in their hand is the durak or 'fool'.

The game is attributed to have appeared in late 18th-century Russian Empire and was popularized by Imperial Army conscripts during the 1812 Russo-French war. Initially a social pastime of uneducated peasants and industrial workers, after the October Revolution Durak has spread to numerous social levels by mid-20th century to soon become the most popular Soviet card game.

Setup

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The game is typically played with two to five people, with six players if desired, using a deck of 36 cards, for example a standard 52-card deck from which the numerical cards 2 through 5 have been removed. In theory, the limit for a game with one deck of 36 cards is six players, but this extends a considerable advantage to the player who attacks first, and a considerable disadvantage to the player who defends first. Variants exist that use more than one deck.

The deck is shuffled, and each player is dealt six cards. The bottom card of the stock is turned and placed face up on the table, its suit determining the trump suit for the current deal. For example, if it is the 7 of diamonds, then diamonds rank higher than all plain-suit cards. The rest of the pack is then placed over the turn-up at right angles to it so that it remains visible. These cards form the prikup or talon. The turn-up remains part of the talon and is drawn as the last card. Cards discarded due to successful defences are placed in a discard pile next to the talon.

Playing

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The player who has the lowest trump card will be the first attacker (note that there is no obligation to play that lowest trump card as the first card). The player to the attacker's left is always the defender. After each round of attack play proceeds clockwise. If the attack succeeds (see below), the defender loses their turn and the attack passes to the player on the defender's left. If the attack fails, the defender becomes the next attacker.

First attack

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Cards are ranked 6 7 8 9 10 J Q K A (ascending order, ace high). A trump card of any rank beats all cards in the other three suits. For example, a 6 of trumps beats an ace of any other suit.

The attacker opens their turn by playing a card face up on the table as an attacking card. The player to the attacker's left is the defender. They respond to the attack with a defending card.

Defending

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The defender attempts to beat the attack card by playing a higher-ranking defending card from their hand. For example, if the attacker plays a 7♠ the defender must play a higher spade such as the 10♠ or a card from the trump suit to defend successfully. The defender must play a higher card of the same suit as the attack card or play a card of the trump suit (there is no obligation to play the card of the same suit; you can use trump cards to beat off the attack anytime). The defending cards are placed on top of the attack card overlapping it, so both cards are visible and it is clear which cards are attacking and defending cards.

After the first attack, if the defender is successful, the attacker may launch a new attack. If they cannot or if they pass, then the player to the left of the defender may start a new attack or pass the chance to attack to the next non-defender going clockwise around the table. For each new attack which is defended successfully by the defender, the player who led that attack (played the last attack card) may start a new attack. After the original attack, attacks can only be made if the new attack card matches the rank of any card which has already been played during that round. If the player who led the last attack chooses not to attack again (and all future attacks during the round of attacks) then the original attacker may make a new attack, if they pass on making an attack then players to the defenders left may attack or pass and so on going clockwise around the table. There cannot be more than six attacks in each round. Each new attack card is placed to the left of the last attack card and the defender plays their defending card on top of the new attack card creating a row of attack and defence cards. The defender must respond to the new attack in the same fashion as the first attack by playing a card of the same suit of the new attack card with a higher rank or a trump card. All other players may make a new attack if the defender has successfully defended the last attack. The original attacker has priority for making an attack, then the player to defender's left has priority and so forth going clockwise. Some variants only allow cards to be added to the attack once the first defending card has been played.

At any point during a round of attacks, if a defender is unwilling or unable to beat the most recent attack card, they may give up their defence and must pick up all the cards played during that round of attack (both defending and attacking). At this point, the other players may choose to shed cards matching ranks of any cards that have already been played during this round, with priority going to the last attacker and continuing clockwise to each non-defender, up to a maximum of 6 attacking cards, which the defender must also pick up. In this case the round of attacks ends and the player to the defender's left starts a new round of attacks.

If, however, the defender has beaten all attacking cards and no other players are willing to make another attack or if the defender beats the sixth attack card, the defender has won the round of attacks. In this case all cards from that round of attack are placed in the discard pile and the defender starts a new round of attacks as the attacker and the player to his or her left becomes the new defender.

No players may examine the discard pile at any point.

End of turn

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At the end of each round of attacks against a defender, whether or not the defence was successful, each player draws new cards from the deck until they have six cards in their hand unless the deck has been exhausted. The main attacker draws as many cards as necessary first, followed by any other attackers in clockwise order, and finally the defender. If the talon is exhausted, and a player has played all their cards, they are eliminated from the game.

Winning and losing

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The last person left with cards in their hand is the loser (the fool or durak). In some variants, this player becomes the dealer for the next round. The player to the fool's right may become the first attacker for the next round.

Some variants declare the winner of the round to be the first player to empty their hand and leave the game. In others, there are no winners, only the loser.

Team play

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Four players can play as two pairs. Six can play as three teams of two, or two teams of three. The members of each team sit opposite one another (with two players on each team), or alternating (with three). In some variants, the team with the lowest trump starts the first round, but in subsequent rounds the winning team from the previous round begins.

When playing in teams, players may not add to attacks on their teammates.

Fool with epaulettes

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If the last card played by an attacker is a six, and the defender loses, the defender is cheerfully pronounced durak s galstukom (lit. 'a fool with a necktie'), and the six card may be symbolically placed on their chest. This is worse than declaring the loser simply as a durak, because of the handicap of having a low-value Six through the final part of the game. If the attacker plays two sixes, the loser is even called a durak with "epaulettes on both shoulders" in Russian "durak s pogonami".

Some variants use the ties as scoring points. If someone has a six as a tie, the opponents must next score against them using a seven, and so on until someone receives an ace as a tie. To score, the winning individual or team must not only end with the correct tie value, but must include at least one non-trump card in the final attack. As it goes with two sixes either. That being said, not all variants use the "fool with epaulette" rule, some simply ignore the defender who lost to a six and simply call them the durak.

Variants

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Variant name Variant description
Spades by spades Spades may not be beaten by trump, only by other spades. The trump suit cannot be spades. Note that spades do not beat trump; they act as a special suit, not a super-trump.
Gopher fool There is no winner but there is a loser, and the loser has to do pre-hand mutually determined torturous feats.
Crazy durak The same as "spades by spades", along with the rule that the trump suit is always diamonds.
Without trumps There is no trump suit.
Siege durak / Podkidnoy (Throw-in) durak Allows for multi-card (of the same rank) opening attacks, and simultaneous attacks from multiple players after the initial attack.[3]
Fallen Ace / Lowest trump card beats trump Ace This rule allows trump Ace to be beaten by lowest trump card in a deck, so it's no longer an unbeatable super-card. Trump Ace can still beat any card, including the card that beats it.
Albanian durak The trump card is placed on top of the talon instead of on the bottom.
Vietnamese durak (Bài tấn) Play with 52 cards for 2 to 4 players. In this variation, 8 cards rather than 6 are initially dealt.
Changeable trump Another card is placed face down under the visible trump. When one of the players draws the visible trump card, the hidden card is revealed and determines the trump suit for the rest of the game. It may then be drawn as normal.
Railway durak At the beginning of the game the whole of deck is distributed to the players, except one card to determine trump.
Poker durak Players can change any two cards in their hand for any two cards in the talon before their turn. Each player can do this only 3 times in the game.
Full durak The game can also be played with a full deck with or without jokers, with 2s as the lowest card rather than 6s. If playing with Jokers, a Joker of a particular color beats any card of that color.
Weli Named after the 6 of Bells in the William Tell deck. In this variation, 6s become wild cards, keeping the rank of 6 but taking on any suit the player chooses.
Ještěrka durak Named after a punk dive bar in Prague where it was invented and frequently played in the early 1990s. In this variation, 5 cards rather than 6 are initially dealt. The highest cards of the trump suit are the jack of that suit and the jack of the same color suit as trump.

In a common variation called Perevodnoy ("transferrable" or "reversible") durak, a defender may pass to the next player if they have a card of the same rank. The defender adds this card to the pile and the next player becomes the defender. The defender now becomes the new attacker, and the player to their left becomes the new defender and must beat all cards played by the attacker. Passing is not allowed if the new defender has fewer cards in their hand than would be in the passed attack. In games involving four or fewer players, it is possible for the attack to pass all the way around the table, so that the original attacker ends up defending against their own attack.

One variation of passing called proyezdnoy ("drive-by") or pokaznoy ("showing") allows a defender who holds the trump of the same rank to simply show the card to pass the attack on and become the new attacker. The holder of the trump card of the same rank may play it at any time during the attack. If playing with fewer than 4 players, it is possible for the attack to be passed all the way around and come back to the holder of the trump card again. In this case the holder cannot show or play the same card again in order to pass the attack a second time.

See also

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References

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Literature

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  • Chramov S.Y., Chramov Y.I (2023). LET'S PLAY SOME CARDS! PART 1. "THE DUMMY FOOL": HISTORY, VICTORY STRATEGY, VARIETIES (THE FIRST ENCYCLOPEDIA IN THE WORLD ON THE "DUMMY FOOL"). THE BEST MAGIC TRICKS AND SOLITAIRE GAMES. Russia: Cheboksary. ISBN 978-5-907619-78-4.
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Durak

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Durak (Russian: Дурáк, meaning "fool") is a traditional of Russian origin, widely regarded as the most popular card game in and several . Designed for 2 to 6 players, it uses a shortened 36-card deck consisting of ranks 6 through in four suits, with gameplay centered on attacking and defending to shed cards from hand. The objective is to be the first to play all one's cards, thereby avoiding the status of the "durak"—the loser who remains with cards at the end—making it a game of , bluffing, and rather than trick-taking. The game's documented history traces back to late 18th-century Tsarist Russia, where it was first mentioned in the book A Calculating Card Player as a pastime among commoners. It gained traction among peasants due to its simple rules and accessibility, requiring no specialized equipment beyond a standard deck, and spread rapidly after the , becoming a ubiquitous activity in the that was taught to children and played across social classes. By the , Durak had displaced older favorites like in popularity, evolving into a cultural staple that reflects Russian values of resilience and social interaction. In standard play, known as Podkidnoy Durak (or "throw-in Durak"), a trump suit is established by turning up the bottom card of the deck after dealing 6 cards to each player, with the remaining cards forming a face-down . The lowest trump holder begins as the attacker, playing a card of any rank to start an "attack"; the defender must respond by beating it with a higher card of the same suit or any trump. Additional attacks of matching ranks can follow up to a limit (often 6 cards or equal to the number of players), and successful defense allows the defender to become the next attacker. Players draw from the after each round to replenish to 6 cards until the stock depletes, at which point hands shrink progressively; the game ends when only one player holds cards. Variants exist, such as Perevodnoy Durak (transfer Durak), where attacks can be passed to others, but the core emphasis remains on outlasting opponents through tactical card management.

Introduction

History and Origins

Durak originated as a folk card game in , evolving from earlier trick-taking traditions that utilized shortened 36-card decks common in . The game's mechanics, centered on attack and defense rather than strict trick accumulation, likely drew from influences introduced during the , including possible French card-playing customs brought by soldiers. By the early 19th century, it had taken root among rural peasants and urban working classes, reflecting the simplicity and accessibility of folk pastimes in Tsarist society. The game gained traction among commoners during the Tsarist period, particularly through its adoption by Imperial Army conscripts during the 1812 Russo-French War, where it served as a morale-boosting diversion in military camps. The exact early history remains somewhat obscure, with the first reliable documentation appearing in the late 19th century. Following the 1917 Revolution, Durak experienced a dramatic surge in popularity across the Soviet Union, becoming an everyday staple for the masses due to its minimal requirements and egalitarian appeal, which aligned with Bolshevik ideals of accessible recreation. It displaced more intellectually demanding games like Preferans, previously favored by the pre-revolutionary elite, as communal living and resource scarcity favored simple, group-oriented activities. By the mid-20th century, the game had spread widely to post-Soviet states including Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan, as well as parts of Eastern Europe like Poland (where it is known as Dureń), facilitated by shared cultural ties and Soviet-era migration. It was commonly played in Soviet communal settings, fostering social bonding. Today, Durak remains Russia's most popular card game, emblematic of enduring folk traditions.

Objective and Cultural Role

The primary objective of Durak is for players to discard all cards from their hand through a series of attacks and defenses, with the last player holding cards declared the durak (fool) and thereby losing the game. This goal emphasizes strategic shedding over trick-taking, distinguishing it from many Western card games and fostering a dynamic where alliances shift based on hand strength. Durak is deeply embedded in Russian and Eastern European social traditions, serving as a tool for in homes, military barracks, and rural villages, where it promotes camaraderie and lighthearted competition among players of all ages. In informal and casual settings, particularly among friends or in social gatherings, players commonly play without monetary stakes, instead wagering items such as cigarettes or beer, or engaging in humorous punishments like shchelban (flicks to the forehead), push-ups, other funny forfeits, or simply "na zhelanie" (for a wish/dare) or "na interes" (for interest/fun), highlighting the game's recreational and entertaining nature free from financial risk. Its popularity surged in the Soviet era, becoming a widespread pastime that transcended class boundaries after the 1917 Revolution. In post-Soviet identity, Durak endures as a staple at social gatherings across the 15 former Soviet republics, particularly in Russian-speaking regions like , , and , where it reinforces cultural ties and communal bonding. English adaptations often nickname it "," capturing the game's taunting yet affectionate tone toward the loser. Today, it maintains its status as a vibrant element of regional heritage.

Equipment and Setup

Deck and Materials

Durak is played using a standard 36-card deck drawn from a French-suited pack, comprising the ranks 6 through across the four suits of hearts (red), (red), clubs (black), and spades (black). This configuration excludes the lower ranks 2 through 5, making it the shortened deck traditionally associated with many Russian card games. For 2 players, a shortened 24-card deck (ranks 9 through in four suits) is used instead. The cards within each suit are ranked in descending order of strength from (highest) to 6 (lowest), with the intermediate ranks following as , queen, jack, 10, 9, 8, and 7. For comparative purposes, such as determining the first attacker by the lowest trump card, the ranks are often assigned numerical values: 6 through 10 retain their pip values, jack equals 11, queen equals 12, equals 13, and equals 14; all non-trump suits hold equal status except when overpowered by the trump suit. The game accommodates 2 to 6 players. For 3-5 players, the 36-card deck provides sufficient cards for dealing 6 to each participant plus a remaining talon for draws during play; for 6 players, no talon remains; for 2 players, the 24-card deck is used with a talon. No specialized materials beyond the deck itself are required, though optional aids like paper and pencil may be used for tracking scores across multiple rounds if playing to a predetermined number of wins. While the standard 36-card deck suits groups of up to 6, adaptations for more players occasionally incorporate a full 52-card deck, though this is uncommon and alters the dealing dynamics. Traditional Russian-produced decks for Durak frequently incorporate distinctive artwork, such as illustrated figures inspired by historical or cultural motifs, whereas international editions typically employ conventional French-suited symbols and minimalist designs for broader accessibility.

Dealing and Trump Suit

Durak is typically played with 2 to 6 players. For 2 players, a 24-card deck (ranks 9 through ) is used; for 3-6 players, the standard 36-card deck (ranks 6 through ) is employed. The dealer is determined by the loser of the previous hand, or randomly for the first round, and the role rotates after each complete deal. The dealer shuffles the deck thoroughly and deals six cards face down to each player in order, starting with the player to their left, distributing one card at a time until everyone has their initial hand. For 6 players with the 36-card deck, the dealer first deals 5 cards to each player, then turns the next card (the 31st) face up to determine the trump suit and adds it to their own hand, before dealing the remaining cards to complete each hand to 6. The remaining cards (if any) form the draw pile, placed face down in the center of the table. To establish the trump suit, the dealer turns the top card of the draw pile face up and places it perpendicularly beneath the pile, making its the trump for the entire round; this card remains visible throughout the game. In the 6-player variant with no draw pile, the turned-up trump card is added to the dealer's hand as described. Any card of the trump beats a non-trump card of any other , regardless of rank, providing a key strategic element in . Each player begins with exactly six cards in hand, which they keep concealed from others. For the first round, the player holding the lowest trump card initiates the attack; in subsequent rounds, the player to the immediate left of the dealer initiates the first attack.

Core Gameplay

Attacking

In Podkidnoy Durak, the attacking phase begins with the principal attacker, who is the holder of the lowest trump card for the first bout or the successful defender from the previous bout, playing any card from their hand face up on the table to initiate the assault against the defender, the player immediately to the attacker's left in order. This initial card's rank establishes the baseline for subsequent additions, with ranks following standard ordering (6 lowest to highest) within suits, while the trump suit—determined during setup—adheres to the same hierarchy but beats any non-trump card. Once the defender successfully beats the initial card, the principal attacker may add further cards to the assault, followed by other non-defending players (including allies in team variants, where partners sit opposite each other and cannot attack their own teammate), provided each additional card matches the rank of any card already played to the table in the bout (either as an attack or a defense). Trump cards may be used in attacks optionally, following the same rank-matching rules within the trump suit, allowing attackers to strategically incorporate them to pressure the defender without altering the bout's escalation mechanics. The assault is limited to prevent overwhelming the defender: the total number of attack cards cannot exceed the current number of cards in the defender's hand, with many variants capping it at six regardless of hand size to maintain balance. In team play adaptations for up to six players (often two teams of three), allied attackers coordinate additions to maximize pressure but must respect the rank and quantity limits, ensuring the bout remains focused on the designated defender. If the attack succeeds, the defender becomes the attacker for the next bout, leading against the player to their left.

Defending

In Durak, the defender counters an attack by playing a card that beats each attacking card individually. To beat a non-trump attack card, the defender must play a higher-ranked card of the same suit or any card of the trump suit, with exact rank matches in the same suit not permitted as they do not constitute a valid beat. A trump card, however, can only be beaten by a higher-ranked trump card, maintaining the standard rank hierarchy where lower numbers (starting from 6) are inferior to higher ones up to . When facing multiple attack cards, the defender must provide one beating card for each attack card played during the bout, ensuring all are covered to successfully repel the attack. Failure to beat even a single card obligates the defender to take the entire set of played cards into their hand. The defender plays these beating cards face up on top of the corresponding attack cards, typically in pairs or sets that align visually for clarity during play. If unable or unwilling to beat all attack cards, the defender may decline the defense by verbally indicating acceptance (often saying "take" or equivalent) and picking up all cards from the table, which adds them to their hand and ends the bout immediately. This option prevents further additions to the attack but results in the defender losing their turn to initiate the next attack. Upon successfully beating all attack cards, the played cards are discarded from the game, and before the next attack begins, all players—including the defender—draw cards from the deck to restore their hands to six cards, starting with the original attacker and proceeding . This drawing phase ensures balanced hand sizes and allows the defender, now becoming the attacker, to prepare for the subsequent turn.

Turn Resolution

In Durak, a turn, or bout, concludes either through successful defense or failed defense, determining the flow of subsequent play without any point scoring system, as the game is solely based on eliminating players from holding cards. If the defender successfully beats all attacking cards played during the bout—typically up to six cards or matching the defender's hand size—the played cards (both attack and defense) are removed from the game and discarded to a separate pile. The defender then becomes the attacker for the next bout, leading the attack against the player to their left in order. Following this resolution, all players draw cards from the remaining deck (talon) to restore their hands to six cards, beginning with the previous bout's initial attacker, followed by any additional attackers in the order they contributed, then the defender, and finally the other players in sequence. In the case of a failed defense, where the defender cannot or chooses not to beat the final attacking card, the defender must add all cards involved in the bout—both the unattached attack cards and any played defense cards—to their hand. The bout ends immediately, and the unsuccessful defender skips their opportunity to lead an attack; instead, the player immediately to the defender's left (in clockwise order) becomes the new attacker for the subsequent bout. Drawing then proceeds as in a successful defense, with players replenishing to six cards in the same order relative to the just-concluded bout. When the draw pile is exhausted, no further cards are drawn after bouts, and play continues with players using only their remaining hands until elimination occurs. Specifically, once players have drawn their final cards—often leaving each with exactly six—the "at the end" phase begins, where bouts proceed without replenishment, heightening the risk of failure as hands dwindle. This maintains the game's elimination focus, with no tracking of beats or scores beyond who retains cards.

Advanced Rules and Winning

Special Conditions

One notable special condition in Durak is the "fool with epaulettes" (durak s pogonami), an optional rule that adds a layer of playful ridicule to defeats. If an attacker's final card in a bout is a six—the lowest-ranking card—and the defender fails to beat it, taking all the cards, the defender is mockingly designated as the fool with epaulettes, symbolizing a particularly ignominious loss. In variants of this rule, if two sixes are involved in the final attack, the loser receives "epaulettes on both shoulders," intensifying the humorous penalty. In multi-player games with more than three participants, a frequent modification limits the initial attack against the first defender to no more than five cards, rather than matching the defender's full hand size, to prevent overwhelming early pressure and promote balanced play. Rare variants introduce further modifications, such as the "changeable trump" rule, where a hidden card placed under the visible trump card becomes the new trump suit if the original trump is drawn from the talon, altering strategic dynamics mid-game. These optional conditions enhance social interaction but are not part of core rules.

Victory and Defeat

The primary objective in Durak is for players to discard all cards from their hand through successful attacks and defenses, with the game ending when only one player remains holding cards; this last player is declared the "Durak" or fool and loses the round. Players who empty their hands first achieve partial by exiting the round, but the overall contest continues among the remaining participants until a single loser is determined, emphasizing strategic elimination over outright winning. If the draw pile depletes while multiple players still hold cards, no further draws occur, and attacks proceed solely from hands. For prolonged sessions, Durak is often played over multiple rounds, with the loser of each round—the Durak—responsible for dealing the next hand, a task viewed as a minor penalty. Play may continue until a player accumulates a set number of Durak penalties (such as five) or for a predetermined number of rounds, at which point the player with the most penalties is the overall loser. Scoring variants exist to enhance competition, such as tallying instances of being Durak across rounds to determine the ultimate fool.

Team Play Adaptations

Team play adaptations of Durak, particularly in the podkidnoy variant, are designed for 4 to 6 players divided into partnerships, transforming the individual competition into a effort while maintaining the core mechanics of attacking and defending. For four players, the standard setup forms two teams of two, with partners seated opposite each other across the table to facilitate strategic awareness without direct adjacency. In this configuration, the game proceeds , but team members collaborate indirectly through their plays rather than explicit signals. With six players, adaptations typically involve two teams of three, where players sit alternately around the table (e.g., team A, team B, team A, and so on), ensuring balanced proximity for attacks; fixed pairs are less common, though three teams of two can occur with partners opposite. Attacks in team play allow for shared responsibility among teammates targeting a single opponent, enhancing coordination. The principal attacker from the attacking initiates by playing a card, after which other eligible team members—usually those to the defender's left or adjacent—may join by adding cards of matching ranks, up to a limit of six cards total or the defender's hand size. For example, in a four-player game, both members of the attacking team (e.g., West and East) can contribute to an on North, provided they follow rank-matching rules and turn order. Defenses, however, remain strictly individual: the defender must beat each attacking card alone using a higher card of the same or any trump, without assistance from their partner, who waits for their own attacking opportunity. If the defender fails, they pick up all cards, ending the bout, and the next attacker is selected from the opposing . The game ends after a bout when all members of one team have emptied their hands; the team with cards remaining loses. The team that achieves this wins the hand, while the last team holding cards loses and may face penalties in multi-hand games, such as determining the next dealer. Communication is prohibited in formal play—no signaling of cards or direct hints are allowed, with teams coordinating solely through the sequence and choice of plays to maintain fairness. In six-player games, restrictions like limiting attacks to players adjacent to the defender help prevent overwhelming imbalances, ensuring the game remains playable and strategic.

Variants

Standard Podkidnoy Durak

Standard Podkidnoy Durak, often simply referred to as the standard or "throw-in" variant of the game, derives its name from the Russian term "podkidnoy," meaning "throw-in" or "adding," which highlights its core mechanic of allowing the attacker to add additional cards to an ongoing assault after the defender successfully beats an initial card. This feature distinguishes it from simpler variants by enabling a more dynamic and aggressive exchange, where the attacker can escalate the pressure on the defender by playing extra cards whose ranks match either the previously attacked card or the card used to beat it. The process begins with the attacker playing one or more cards of the same rank to start the turn, after which successful defenses permit further additions, fostering strategic depth through rank-based escalation. The attack buildup in this is limited to a maximum of six cards in total or the number of cards in the defender's hand, whichever is smaller, ensuring the turn does not overwhelm but maintains intensity up to the defender's capacity. Additional attacks must adhere to the rule of matching the rank of any card already played in the exchange (either attack or defense), preventing arbitrary high-value plays and emphasizing tactical rank management. The defender responds to each new attack card individually and sequentially, playing a higher card of the same suit or a trump card to beat it, with no option to pass or decline mid-turn; failure to beat any card results in taking all played cards into their hand. This sequential obligation heightens the variant's aggression compared to non-throwing versions, where exchanges are typically limited to a single initial attack without additions. As the default form of Durak in and on most online platforms, Podkidnoy Durak promotes faster-paced gameplay that rewards bold attacking strategies, making it the most popular variant and the basis for the majority of games played in traditional and digital settings. Its widespread adoption stems from this increased interactivity, which contrasts with more restrained non-throwing mechanics by allowing multiple opportunities for the attacker to force the defender into unfavorable positions during a single turn.

Simplified Prostušnij Durak

Simplified Prostušnij Durak, also known as "simple fool," is a streamlined variant of the traditional Russian Durak that restricts attacks to a single card per turn, eliminating the option to add additional cards during the assault. This single-attack rule simplifies gameplay by focusing on direct confrontations, where the attacker leads one card from their hand, and the defender responds accordingly without the complexity of escalating exchanges. The game's faster pace arises from its structure, where each turn concludes in one straightforward exchange, making it particularly suitable for beginners or short sessions. Turns resolve quickly as the defender either beats the attacking card—using a higher-ranking card of the same or a trump card, as per core Durak mechanics—or draws the card into their hand if unable to defend. This defense simplicity prevents prolonged battles, emphasizing basic strategy over layered tactics. It remains popular in educational contexts across , where parents often introduce it to children to foster logical thinking, memory, and social interaction through accessible rules.

Regional and Modern Variations

A variant of Durak incorporates two joker cards as super trumps that can beat any card of the opposite color; this adaptation uses the full 52-card deck with 2s as the lowest rank. The addition of jokers allows for more flexible beating options, where a joker matches the color of the attacked card to trump it effectively, differing from standard rules by introducing wildcard unpredictability. This version maintains the core attacking mechanics of podkidnoy durak but extends play to larger groups or longer sessions in social settings. The perevodnoy durak (transferable fool) variant, popular in including , introduces a passing mechanism, allowing the defender to transfer an ongoing attack to the next player by playing a card of the same rank as the attacking card, thereby reducing defensive pressure and shifting responsibility; this rule fosters alliances and bluffing in multi-player games common in these regions. The transfer can occur only after the first attack card, and subsequent players must then defend or further pass if possible, making the game more dynamic and less isolating for individual defenders compared to the base podkidnoy rules. Modern digital adaptations have revitalized durak's popularity, with apps like Durak Online launched in 2010 offering configurable rules, AI opponents for solo practice, and online tournaments for 2-6 players; by 2025, the Frigate Studios version alone has surpassed 10 million downloads on , reflecting a post-2020 surge driven by pandemic-era remote socializing and global access to post-Soviet gaming traditions. The online boom, including soft launches like KamaGames' 2020 release that garnered 1.5 million downloads initially, has expanded the player base beyond traditional regions, with features like real-time multiplayer and leaderboards encouraging competitive play worldwide. Western adaptations, often called "Idiot" in English-speaking contexts, adapt durak to a standard 52-card deck while sometimes omitting ranks below 6 for familiarity, though full-deck versions treat 2s as the lowest to accommodate shorter suits; these changes simplify entry for non-Russian players while preserving the fool-avoidance objective. Such versions emphasize shedding mechanics similar to climbing games, with the last player holding cards declared the "idiot," and have gained traction in informal Western card game circles as an accessible alternative to complex trick-takers.

References

  1. https://www.rbth.com/lifestyle/333885-durak-card-game-russia
  2. https://www.denexa.com/blog/durak/
  3. https://www.coololdgames.com/card-games/shedding/durak/
  4. https://www.pagat.com/beating/podkidnoy_durak.html
  5. https://folkways.today/blog-russian-cards-durak/
  6. https://bargames101.com/durak/
  7. https://opinionatedgamers.com/2021/06/19/dale-yu-review-of-blaze/
  8. https://gathertogethergames.com/durak
  9. https://blacksreds.com/durak
  10. https://perso.ens-lyon.fr/edouard.bonnet/publi/durak.pdf
  11. https://www.wikihow.com/Durak-Card-Game
  12. https://www.pagat.com/number/6_players.html
  13. https://www.shoppopcultured.com/shop/p/durak-russian-card-game-deck
  14. https://officialgamerules.org/game-rules/durak/
  15. https://crazypanda.helpshift.com/hc/en/20-durak/faq/687-basic-rules-of-throw-in-fool/
  16. https://www.durak.app/en/rules/
  17. https://www.ostfront.com/pages/rules-for-playing-durak
  18. https://playjoy.com/en/durak/rules/
  19. http://www.catsatcards.com/Games/Durak.htm
  20. https://gambiter.com/cards/Durak.html
  21. https://www.pagat.com/beating/durak.html
  22. https://www.ijcai.org/Proceedings/16/Papers/023.pdf
  23. http://www.gamecabinet.com/rules/Durak.html
  24. https://www.pagat.com/beating/prostoy_durak.html
  25. https://online-durak.com/en/strategy-of-game-durak-subtleties-and-nuances/
  26. https://www.gamecabinet.com/rules/Durak.html
  27. https://fungamesclub.com/en/durak/how-to-learn-to-play-the-card-game-durak/
  28. https://www.pagat.com/beating/perevodnoy_durak.html
  29. https://blacksreds.com/durak-perevod
  30. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.frigatestudios.durak
  31. https://www.pocketgamer.biz/kamagames-durak-picks-up-15-million-downloads-in-soft-launch/
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