Durak♠

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The selected rules

Durak is documented in Russia and neighbouring countries; in Poland it is called Dureń. Sources describe many local forms without establishing an invention date here. Transfer Durak has its own page.

This guide selects individual play for two to six with 36 cards. Only the defender’s two neighbours may add attacks, with the original attacker taking priority. Every bout has a six-card maximum, including the first. There is no trump-six exchange and no transfer. These are explicit home agreements.

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Cards, deal and opening lead

Use 6–7–8–9–10–J–Q–K–A in each suit. Deal six each clockwise. Expose the next card for trumps and place the remaining stock crosswise above it; draw that exposed card last. With six players, expose dealer’s last dealt card for trumps, then return it to dealer’s hand.

The holder of the lowest trump in hand opens the first game, but may attack with any card. If no player has a trump, our agreement gives the opening to dealer’s left. Later games are dealt by the loser and opened by their left neighbour. Following a draw, the same dealer deals again.

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Attack and defence

The next active player clockwise defends. Attack with any card, or several equal ranks within the limit. Beat a nontrump with a higher card of its suit or any trump. Beat a trump only with a higher trump. You may trump even when holding the led suit.

Place each defensive card over the attack it beats, keeping both visible. The defender acts alone and may choose to pick up even when a successful defence is possible.

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Adding cards

After the first response, additional attacks must match a rank already on the table, including defensive cards. An eight beaten by a nine permits further eights and nines of any suit. Old discard piles do not qualify.

The attack limit is the smaller of six and the defender’s hand size at the start of the bout. A defender starting with three cannot receive a fourth attack, even after announcing a pickup. Defensive cards do not count towards this limit. Only the agreed neighbours may add attacks, after the original attacker yields priority.

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Defended or picked up

Once every attack is beaten and the eligible attackers stop, discard the whole table face down permanently. The successful defender attacks next.

On a pickup, the defender takes every table card, including cards already used in defence. Eligible attackers may add further legal cards within the original limit before closing the bout. The unsuccessful defender loses the next attack: their next active clockwise neighbour attacks instead. Do not add cards or reverse the decision after closure.

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Replenishing and finishing

After a bout, replenish to six: original attacker first, other players clockwise, defender last. Each draws their full allowance before the next person draws. Keep a hand larger than six. Once stock runs out, there are no further draws.

An empty hand does not leave while replenishment is available. After stock is empty, players with no cards leave at the end of a bout and are skipped. The last person holding cards loses. If the final successful defence empties every remaining hand, the game is a draw. A session may record one loss per defeated player; money is unnecessary.

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A limit in action

Stock is empty and diamonds are trumps. Defender starts with 9♥, J♦ and 6♣. An 8♥ attack is beaten by 9♥. A 9♠ may now be added; J♦ beats it. J♥ can then be added because a jack is on the table.

The remaining 6♣ cannot beat J♥. Defender picks up all five table cards, keeping 6♣, for a six-card hand. No fourth attack is legal: the original limit was three. Had attackers stopped after the two successful defences, four cards would be discarded and defender would keep only 6♣ and attack next.

← On a small screen, scroll the diagram horizontally. →

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Other agreements

Common alternatives limit the first defence to five attacks, allow everyone to add cards, or attack the previous loser first. Trump-six exchanges, 24- or 52-card packs and partnerships also occur. Agree before dealing. Transferring an attack belongs to Transfer Durak and cannot be introduced halfway through this game.

Common questions