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VARIATIONS

If you are just learning how to play Durak, search for: Durak: A Russian Classic. It will go over the base rules.

Durak can be a drinking game in hundreds of different ways, but they all revolve around the same concept: the Durak is the one who drinks. One variation, the simplest, is that the Durak upon losing must drink one full serving of alcohol, or even a large glass of vodka. More complex variations delve into the value and suit of the cards in the Durak's hand.

Variation A: If the Durak has any number valued card, he/she must drink that many units of alcohol, at a concentration previously agreed upon. Units can be shots, ounces, mL, glasses, or anything you could think of that is quantifiable. If the type of alcohol wasn't decided upon, either the Durak can choose, or the other players can vote, or the last dealer can flip a coin/roll dice.

Variation B: Same as Variation A, except Jacks are worth 11, queens 12, kings 14, and Aces are 16 units.

Variation C: Same as Variation B, except that Trump Suit multiplies the units by a previously agreed multiplier like 0.5, 1.5, 2, or even 3.

Combat specific-Variation D: When in COMBAT, the first attacker, or the person to the left of the current defender, can play any card in front of the defender, but the other attackers may only play a card if it is of the same value.

Combat specific-Variation E: Same as Variation D but the secondary attackers may only play if it matches the suit of the first attacker.

Combat specific-Variation F: If a defender takes or must take cards, he/she must drink a small amount of alcohol per card taken.

Combat specific-Variation G: During combat, if the attackers play any cards, they draw from the base deck to refresh their hand, up to the number of cards that the defender currently has. Play is normal after the base deck is exhausted.

Remember, be safe with these variations, especially to newcomers. Durak is a fun card game by itself... but the Russians don't always play "dry" Durak. And as we all know: the Russians know how to have fun.

Learn more about this author, David Hon.
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