Durak or Fool (Russia)
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Durak
This is probably my second favorite card game ever and my second card game post on this forum! As I mentioned in my 1st cards post (Zole) I learned to play many card games at university including this game and the Latvian game Zole.
Durak is probably the most popular card game in Russia so I believe. I think every Russian person I met at university claimed to know how to play this game. The word "Durak" means fool, the fool in this case being the loser of the game - the only player who is left with cards after everyone else has run out. The game described in this thread goes by the proper name of "Podkidnoy Durak", which means "fool with throwing in". This name refers to the fact that after an attack has begun, it can be continued by "throwing in" further cards whose ranks match those already played.
The Rules
1. Purpose of the game
As I mentioned before this game has no winner - only a loser. Durak is played with 36 cards: the A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7 and 6 from a standard 4-suit 52-card deck. At the start, each player is dealt six cards, which are played in a series of bouts of attack and defense.
The best way to enjoy this game is with 4 players or maybe even 5. Although it is possible to play with 2 or 3, its best played with more people, and you will see why later.
After the players have received all their cards, the top card from the remaining deck is revealed and placed in the middle of the table, Then the deck is placed on top of the revealed card, covering it half way. This card represents the trump suit and is now at the bottom of the deck. Cards in this suit hold a higher value then the Aces of all other suits. Within the trump suit card hierarchy is maintained.
When a player's hand is reduced to fewer than six cards it is replenished from the talon of undealt cards. After the talon is exhausted, there is no more replenishment and the aim is to get rid of all the cards from your hand. The last player left holding cards is the loser.
This player is the fool (Durak) and is ridiculed by the other player/s.
2. Attack
Decide who goes first, usually player to the left of the dealer and continuing play in a clockwise direction. The Attacker reveals a card from his hand by placing it on the table so opponent can see.
After the first card has been defended attacker may add cards to the table as long as they are of the same face value as other cards in play.
Maximum cards to be defended must be as many as have been originally dealt to each player (6) or until the defender runs out of cards, whichever is less.
3. Defend
Defender must respond to the revealed card by beating it with a card of the same suit of higher value or a card of the trump suit.
If the defender has no appropriate card he must pick up the card and add it to his hand, thereby losing his turn to attack. If the defender picks up the first attacking card, the turn is over.
Defender must beat all revealed cards. Otherwise he must pick up all cards in play including ones that have been beaten.
Maximum cards to be defended must be as many as have been originally dealt to each player (6) or until the defender runs out of cards, whichever is less.
A successful turn ends when the defender beats all attacking cards. All cards that have been revealed during this turn are removed from the game.
... now here is the really fun bit...
As long as there are less than 6 cards for the defender to beat, any other player including the attacker can add cards (of same face value) of their own to strengthen the attack thus making it harder for the defender to win and easier for you to get rid of your own cards. but be careful which cards you place because this can sometimes become an advantage to the defending player. All cards placed on the table cannot be picked up again unless it is an obvious mistake or the defending player cannot beat those cards.
4. End of turn
When a defender has successfully beaten all the attacking cards, all the cards that have been in play are removed from the game.
Every player must take his turn to refresh his hand by taking as many cards from deck as needed to bring his hand to a total of as many as have been originally dealt to each player (6). Attacker refreshes his hand first. Defender refreshes his hand last.
If the deck has been exhausted, players who are left empty handed withdraw from the game. They are lucky, for they will not have the chance to be announced as the loser by the rest of the players.
Durak - Fool !
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