Durak

Russian attack-and-defend shedding game — beat cards played against you or pick them up; loser is the 'durak' (fool).

🌤indoor

What is Durak?

Durak (Russian for 'fool') is a shedding-style Russian card game and by far the most-played card game across the former Soviet Union. A 36-card deck is used; the last card dealt becomes the trump suit. Players take turns attacking each other with cards; the defender must beat each with a higher card of the same suit or a trump, or pick up all the cards. Last player still holding cards loses and is the 'durak'.

Quick facts

Category

Card Games

Type

Individual

Players

2–6

Where played

indoor

Country of origin

🇷🇺 Russia

Estimated origin

Late 19th-century Russia — the most-played card game in Russia

Olympic

No

Popularity

regional

Sources & provenance

Last verified 2026-08-24.verified