The selected variant is defined below; agree on changes before dealing.

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

The two players start with 7 cards each and a shared closed stock. Completed four-of-a-kind books are displayed separately from their hands. Fans and piles are schematic; the rules specify card counts.
The two players start with 7 cards each and a shared closed stock. Completed four-of-a-kind books are displayed separately from their hands. Fans and piles are schematic; the rules specify card counts.

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History and selected rules

Go Fish collects books of equal ranks and is related to Authors and family packs. These sources do not establish the exact inventor of the standard-card version. Select Bicycle play for 2–5 until every book is complete, rather than stopping when stock first empties. Use 52 cards without jokers; suit and rank hierarchy do not affect requests.

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Setup and deal

Choose a dealer randomly. Deal singly clockwise: 7 each with 2–3 players, 5 each with 4–5. Remaining cards form a closed stock. Immediately expose and set aside any complete books. Dealer’s left begins; turns pass left. Conceal hands and keep completed books visible.

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Playing a hand

Name an opponent holding cards and a rank you hold at least one of. They must give every card of that rank, not just one. A successful request lets you ask anyone again for any held rank. Never lie about absence. On collecting all 4, expose and set them aside immediately and continue.

If none, they say “go fish”: draw stock’s top card. If it is the requested rank, show it and continue; otherwise conceal it and pass left. With empty stock an unsuccessful request simply passes the turn. With no cards on your turn, draw one and request its rank; without stock, leave play. If making a book empties your hand, use the same replenishment before continuing requests.

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Ending and result

End when all 13 books are exposed. Score 1 per book; most wins, tied highest share victory. Completed books cannot be requested. For another game rotate dealer left; there is no penalty for a mistaken guess about someone’s hand.

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Worked example

You hold 6♣–6♦ and ask someone holding 6♥–6♠ for sixes. They give both. Lay down the book and ask for another held rank; you cannot keep asking for sixes now removed from your hand.

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

A asks B for sixes. Hand fragment A: 6♣, 6♦, 7♥. Hand fragment B: 6♥, 6♠, K♣. A holds sixes, so the request is legal. B must give every six held. Complete book on the table. A’s book: 6♣, 6♦, 6♥, 6♠. Hand fragment B: K♣. Set the four sixes aside. A still holds 7♥ and may continue by asking for sevens. B hands over both sixes. A immediately lays down the complete book, then may request another rank still held.
B hands over both sixes. A immediately lays down the complete book, then may request another rank still held.

Common questions

May I ask for a rank I do not hold?+

No. You must hold at least one card of the requested rank.