What is Partnership (2 against 2)?
In the standard game every player plays alone, and the last player still holding cards is the durak, the fool. In the partnership game four players form two teams of two, and partners sit opposite each other: the first and third seats play against the second and fourth.
Because every bout is an attack on the next player, an attack always goes from one team to the other, so partners never attack each other. The defender still defends alone: a partner cannot beat cards for them or pass them cards.
When a player runs out of cards, they are still part of their team: whenever it would be their turn to attack or defend, their partner takes the turn instead. The game ends at the end of a bout as soon as both players of one team have no cards. That team wins together, and the team still holding cards loses. If both teams run out in the same bout, the game is a draw.
Rule changes
| Rule | Standard Durak | Partnership (2 against 2) |
|---|---|---|
| Players | Standard DurakTwo to six, each playing alone. | Partnership (2 against 2)Exactly four, in two teams of two. |
| Seating | Standard DurakEvery player is on their own. | Partnership (2 against 2)Partners sit opposite: the first and third seats against the second and fourth. |
| Who attacks whom | Standard DurakEach bout, a player attacks the next player in turn. | Partnership (2 against 2)The same, so attacks always go to an opponent. The defender defends alone, as usual. |
| A player out of cards | Standard DurakLeaves the game, and play skips them. | Partnership (2 against 2)Their partner takes their turns, attacking or defending in their place. |
| End of the game | Standard DurakWhen only one player still holds cards, that player is the fool and loses. If nobody holds cards, it is a draw. | Partnership (2 against 2)At the end of a bout in which a whole team has run out of cards: that team wins and the other loses. If both teams run out in the same bout, it is a draw. |
| Other options | Standard DurakTransfers, a 24-card deck and a five-card first bout can be chosen. | Partnership (2 against 2)All of them work with teams. With the 24-card deck, four players are dealt the whole pack, so there is no talon and the last card dealt sets the trump suit. |
History
Podkidnoy Durak is often said to be best for four people playing in teams, two against two, with partners sitting opposite each other. Its usual rules match the ones here: you cannot help your partner beat off an attack or attack your partner, a player with no cards has their turn taken by their partner, and the game ends at the end of a bout in which all the players of one team have run out of cards. The team still holding cards loses.
Descriptions of team play also give the rule that players may not add to attacks on their teammates. Team games for six players are known as well, as three pairs or two teams of three; those are not played here.