Durak

Use a 36-card deck (6s through Aces). Deal 6 cards each. The remaining deck is the draw pile. The bottom card is placed face-up, and its suit is trump for the game.

The last person holding cards is the durak (loser). Everyone else wins. In some social versions, the durak deals the next game.

The player with the lowest trump starts by attacking the player to their left. Attacker plays a card; defender must beat it with a higher card of the same suit or any trump. Other players can add to the attack with cards matching any rank already in play.

Save your trumps for desperate defenses - they're precious. Attack with pairs or cards of similar rank to make defense harder. Passing the attack (playing the same rank to the next player) is a powerful option.

Durak emerged in Russia in the early 20th century and became immensely popular during Soviet times. It remains the most played card game in Russia and throughout the former Soviet states.