Durak

Aim of the game: Avoid being the last player with cards in your hand. The player who has cards left at the end is the Durak (‘fool’). Game materials: A deck of 32 cards (7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace) in four suits. 2 to 5 players (ideally 3–4 for smooth gameplay). Game preparation: 1. Shuffle and deal: Each player receives 6 cards. 2. Determine the trump card: The top card of the remaining deck is placed face up under the draw pile. Its suit is trump. The remaining cards are placed on top as the draw pile (across the trump card). 3. Starting player: The player with the lowest trump card in their hand starts the game.

1. Attack: The attacker plays any card face up against the player on their left (the defender). Other players may add cards with the same numerical value (e.g. several 9s). The maximum number of cards that may be played is equal to the number of cards the defender has in their hand.

2. Defend: The defender must defend each card individually – either by playing: A higher card of the same suit, or Any trump card. Trump cards beat all suits except higher trump cards.

3. Defend: or pick up If all cards are defended, they are placed on the discard pile. If even one card cannot be defended, the defender must pick up all cards (including those already defended). The defender may not attack in the next round.

4. Draw cards: After each round, replenish your hand to 6 cards in the following order: 1. Attackers 2. Players joining in (if any) 3. Defenders

5. Next move: If the defender was successful, they become the new attacker. If they were not successful, the next player clockwise becomes the attacker (skipping the defender). End of the game: The game ends when: The draw pile is empty And all players have been able to discard their cards – except for one. The last player with cards is the Durak.

Have fun!