How to play
All the cards are dealt out. Threes are the lowest cards, then fours and so on up to kings, aces, and finally twos, the highest. Suits don’t matter.
The leader plays one card, or two, three or four of the same rank. Going round, each player must play the same number of cards of a higher rank, or pass. Once you pass, you sit out the rest of that trick. When everyone else has passed, the last player to play clears the pile and leads again.
The first player to run out of cards is Top Duck, the next is Second, and so on down to Bottom Duck, the last one holding cards. Each place scores points (Top Duck gets the most). At the start of the next round, Bottom Duck gives Top Duck their two best cards and gets Top Duck’s two worst back; with four or more players, the second-last and Second swap one card too. Bottom Duck then leads. After five rounds, the most points wins.
Tips
Get rid of your low cards while you can lead, and keep a two or an ace for when you need to take back the lead. Pairs and triples are hard to beat, so don’t break them up unless you have to.
Playing together
Seat three to seven players in any mix of people and computer players. On one device, pass it round so only the player whose turn it is sees their hand. In Play online (when it’s available) everyone plays on their own phone.