How to play: Durak
Play Durak online for free, right in your browser, with no sign-up and no download. Take on the computer at three levels or send a link and play with friends: two to six players, throw-in or transfer rules.
Read the full guide with pictures and tips
The aim
Durak has no winner, only a loser. Get rid of all your cards; the last player still holding cards is the durak (the fool).
Cards and the trump
The game uses 36 cards, six to ace in four suits. Everyone gets six cards. The next card is turned face up and placed under the deck: its suit is the trump for the whole game. A trump beats any card of another suit.
The player with the lowest trump attacks first.
Attack and defence
The attacker plays any card to the player on their left, the defender. The defender beats it with a higher card of the same suit, or with any trump. A trump can only be beaten by a higher trump.
Once a card is on the table, the attackers may throw in more cards of any rank already on the table, up to six cards in one bout (five in the very first bout), and never more than the defender has cards in hand.
If the defender beats every card and nobody adds more, the cards are discarded and the defender attacks next. If the defender can't or won't beat a card, they take every card on the table and miss their turn to attack.
Throw-in and transfer rules
Throw-in Durak (podkidnoy) is the basic game described above.
In transfer Durak (perevodnoy) the defender has one more choice: before beating anything, they can play a card of the same rank next to the attacking card. The attack then moves on to the next player, who must beat all the cards. You can only transfer if the next player holds enough cards to beat them.
Drawing and the end
After each bout everyone draws back up to six cards, the attacker first and the defender last. When the deck runs out, play continues with the cards in hand. Players who run out of cards leave the game. The last one holding cards loses.
Questions and answers
Can I play Durak alone against the computer?
Yes. Press Play and the computer takes the other seats. You can choose 2 to 6 players and three levels of difficulty.
How do I play with friends?
Press Play with friends and send the link. Everyone who opens it sits at your table; empty seats are filled by the computer. Nobody needs an account.
What is the difference between throw-in and transfer Durak?
In transfer Durak the defender can pass the attack to the next player by playing a card of the same rank. In throw-in Durak the defender must either beat the cards or take them.
How many cards can be thrown in?
Up to six cards per bout, five in the first bout of the game, and never more than the defender has cards in hand.
Is it free?
Yes, completely. There is nothing to buy and no account to create.