Durak
Agree these five things before a game of Durak
Durak is played from memory, so no two households quite agree. Settle these before the first card goes down.
Most games of Durak are played without a rule book, which is part of its charm and the source of most of its arguments. These five questions come up at almost every new table.
1. Who may throw in?
In the common version, every player except the defender may throw in matching cards. Some tables let only the main attacker add cards until they pass, after which the others may join in. Agree which you are using, and in what order people may throw in.
2. How many cards in one bout?
The usual limit is six attack cards per bout, and never more than the defender holds at the start of the bout. Many players also cap the first bout of a round at five.
3. Throw-in or transfer?
In transfer Durak the defender can pass the attack on with a card of the same rank. Mixing up the two versions mid-game is how many arguments start, so say which one you are playing.
4. Who starts the next round?
Some tables let the lowest trump start every round. Others have the previous fool deal and the player to the fool's left attack, or have the fool defend first.
5. What happens with a draw?
If the last two players get rid of their cards on the same bout, most players call it a draw. Some count it as a loss for the defender.
The short version
If in doubt, use the rules on the Durak Card Game rules page and agree any house rules from the variants list. Writing them on a scrap of paper at the start of the night saves a lot of time later.