Game guide
Durak
Your goal
Get rid of your cards after the draw pile runs out. The last player left holding cards loses; beating an attack helps you avoid taking extra cards.
How to play
- Choose a table against bots or play online. A 36-card deck is dealt six cards per player. The revealed bottom card determines trump, and the lowest trump starts.
- Attack with a card. Defend with a higher card of the same suit or a trump; a trump can be beaten only by a higher trump. Other attackers may add ranks already present on the table.
- Beat every attack card to discard the table. If you cannot or do not want to defend, choose Take and collect the cards after the throw-in window.
- After the round, draw back up to six: attacker first, defender last. Successful defence gives the defender the next attack; taking skips that opportunity.
Controls
Computer
Click a highlighted card to play it. When a defence card can beat several targets, choose the target on the table. Use Take or Pass when appropriate.
Phone or tablet
Tap a card rather than dragging it. Choose a table target only when several are possible. Follow the role and timer indicators: attackers can throw in while the defender responds.
Progress and the end of a game
- The attack is limited to six cards and to the number held by the defender at the start of the round. Adding a new rank can make more throw-ins possible.
- Finishing your hand is decisive only after the draw pile is empty. Players who finish leave the contest; the last hand remaining is the Durak. Full timing and throw-in rules are below.
Useful tips
- Save trumps for attacks you cannot beat in suit, especially while the pile still contains many cards.
- Watch ranks already on the table and the defender's remaining hand. An apparently harmless defence can give the attackers a new rank to throw in.
Detailed table rules
- 36 cards, from six to ace. Each player receives six cards. The face-up bottom card sets the trump suit; the lowest trump starts.
- Beat a card with a higher card of the same suit, or with a trump. Only a higher trump beats a trump. Tap a card in your hand to defend. Choose a target on the table only if several targets are possible.
- After the first lead, all attackers may throw in matching ranks simultaneously, including while the defender is responding. At most six attack cards, and no more than the defender held at the start of the round. Bots react after a random delay of 1.5–3 seconds.
- When all cards are beaten or the defender takes, there are 8 seconds left to throw in; the bar above your cards shows the time. A new card cancels or restarts the countdown. Once every attacker has pressed Pass or has nothing to add, the round closes about a second later. A new rank on the table or the defender taking cancels earlier passes. After a successful defense the defender attacks next; taking skips that attack.
- After each round draw back to six, attacker first and defender last. Once the deck is empty, get rid of every card. The last player with cards is the Durak.