Durak variants

Durak is played in many ways across Russia and Eastern Europe. These are the main variants and house rules, and all of them can be switched on in the game’s settings.

Podkidnoy Durak (throw-in)

The most popular version and the one most people mean by “Durak”. After the first attack, the other players may throw in more cards of any rank already on the table, up to six in a bout, and never more than the defender can answer. It is the default game here.

Perevodnoy Durak (transfer)

Before beating any card, the defender may transfer the attack by adding a card of the same rank. The attack, now one card bigger, passes to the next player, who can transfer it again. Once a card has been beaten, transferring is no longer possible in that bout.

A common house rule lets the defender transfer by just showing a trump of the same rank instead of playing it. Turn on “Transfer by showing a trump” in the settings to play that way.

Deck sizes

The standard deck has 36 cards (six to ace). A 24-card deck (nine to ace) makes short, sharp games for two or three players, and a full 52-card deck (two to ace) gives longer rounds and more room at a table of five or six.

House rules you can turn on

• First bout capped at 5. The opening attack of a round may hold at most five cards.
• Strict throw-in order. Only the main attacker may add cards until they pass; then the others may join in.
• Loser is attacked first. In the next round, the previous fool defends first.
• Draw counts against the defender. If the last two players empty their hands at the same time, the defender is the fool.

Number of players

Durak works for 2 to 6 players, and is at its best with 3 or 4. With two it is a pure duel of memory and timing; with five or six the throw-ins pile up and the deck runs out fast. Online tables seat 2 to 6, and computer players can fill empty seats.