How to play
Durak uses 36 cards, the 6 up to the ace (ace high). Everyone gets six. The bottom card of the deck is turned face up: its suit is trump for the whole game. Nobody wins Durak: the aim is not to be the last one holding cards, the durak (“fool”).
The player with the lowest trump attacks first, by playing any card at the next player. The defender must beat it with a higher card of the same suit, or with any trump (a trump can only be beaten by a higher trump).
Each time the defender beats a card, the attacker may add another card of a rank already on the table (up to six). When the attacker is done, or can’t add, the cards are cleared and the defender attacks next. If the defender can’t or won’t beat a card, they pick up everything on the table and the player after them attacks.
After each round everyone draws back up to six, the attacker first and the defender last. When the deck is gone, anyone who plays their last card is out. The last player left with cards is the durak.
This page plays the simple form with one attacker at a time.
Tips
Save your trumps: they win fights later, when the deck is empty. Attack with low cards, and with pairs so you can add the second. Sometimes picking up a few low cards early is better than spending a high trump.