Last Updated on May 18, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Podkidnoy Durak (Подкидной дурак), or “Throw-in Fool,” is the most popular variation of Durak, a Russian shedding card game. Players try to get rid of all their cards while attacking and defending with strategic throws. The last player holding cards is the Durak—the fool. Here’s a breakdown of the rules:

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How to Play Durak

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Objective

Play all your cards and avoid being the last player holding cards.

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Components

• 36-card deck (6–Ace in each suit)
• 2–6 players

For 6+ players, a 52-card deck can be used.

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Card Ranks (Low to High)

6 (lowest), 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen, King, Ace

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Setup

1. Deal 6 cards to each player.
2. Reveal one card from the deck to determine the trump suit.
3. Place the revealed trump under the draw pile, face-up and partially visible.
4. Remaining cards form the talon (draw pile).
5. First attacker is the player with the lowest trump card in hand.

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Card Strength

• Trump cards beat any non-trump card, regardless of rank.
• Higher cards beat lower cards within the same suit.

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How to Play

Attacking

• The attacker plays one or more cards of the same rank against the player to their left.
• Initial attack must be one card, but more cards can be thrown in during the turn.

Defending

• The defender must beat each attacking card individually with:
  • A higher card of the same suit, or
  • Any trump card (if the attack is non-trump)
• Beaten cards are stacked on top of attacking cards in pairs.

Throwing In (Podkidnoy Mechanic)

• After the initial attack, other players, including the attacker, may throw in additional cards matching the rank of any card already on the table (attack or defense).
• You can only throw in if the total number of attacking cards does not exceed the number of cards in the defender’s hand.

If the Defender Succeeds

• All cards on the table are discarded.
• The next attacker is the player to the left of the previous attacker.

If the Defender Fails

• The defender picks up all cards on the table (both attack and defense).
• The attack passes to the player to the left of the failed defender.

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Replenishing Hands

• After each turn, players draw cards from the talon to refill up to 6 cards.
• Draw order: attacker first, then clockwise.
• When the draw pile is empty, players continue without drawing.
• The face-up trump is drawn last.

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Ending the Game

Individual Play

• When the talon is empty, play continues until only one player has cards.
• That player is the Durak and loses the game.
• The Durak deals the next hand.

Team Play

• The game ends when all players of one team are out of cards.
• The team still holding cards loses.
• The losing team may choose who among them will deal the next hand.

Tip: If teams have players of different skill levels, let the weaker player deal—this puts the stronger player in the important position of first defender.

Draw

• The game can only end after a complete turn (a bout).
• If all remaining cards are used in an attack and defense, and no one has any cards left afterward, the game ends in a draw.
• In a draw, the previous Durak deals again.

Russian proverb: “Staryy durak khuzhe novykh dvukh” — “An old fool is worse than two new ones.”

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Variations

• Starting Player (Old Rule): In some groups, the first attacker of the first game is always the player to the dealer’s left, regardless of the trump.
• After the First Game: Choose one of these house rules:
  • “Duraka uchat” – The Durak is attacked first (by the player to their right).
  • “Is pod duraka khodyat” – The player to the Durak’s left attacks first.
• Trump Exchange Rule:
  • Most allow the player holding the 6 of trumps to exchange it for the face-up trump.
  • Some restrict this to only the Ace of trumps, or don’t allow exchanges at all.
• 52-Card Variant:
  • Rarely, 5–6 player games use a full 52-card deck.
  • In that case, the 2 of trumps can be exchanged instead of the 6.
• First Defender Limit (Large Games):
  • In games with 4+ players, a common rule limits the first defender to no more than 5 cards attacked at once, instead of 6.
• Cutting the Deck:
  • In some groups, the player to the dealer’s right must cut the deck before dealing.

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2-Player Variant

Podkidnoy Durak also works well with 2 players using a 24-card deck: A–K–Q–J–10–9 in each suit.

All standard rules apply, with minor adjustments for play speed.

The 9 of trumps becomes the card eligible for exchange.