The History of Durak
The best-known card game of Russia, where losing gives you a nickname until the next game.
A Russian Folk Game
Durak is thought to have spread among ordinary people in Russia in the 19th century, played with the 36-card pack common there. In the 20th century it became one of the most widely played card games across the Soviet Union and the countries around it, taught at home, on trains and in the army.
Unlike most card games it has no winner, only a loser: 'durak' means 'fool', and the last player holding cards is called that until the next game begins.
Many Ways to Play
The form played here, in which extra cards may be thrown in, is known as podkidnoy durak. In another popular form, perevodnoy durak, the defender may pass the attack on with a card of the same rank - PaperGames offers that as an option.
Countless house rules exist on top of these, for example about how many cards may be thrown in during the first round. Families often argue about them, which is part of the game's charm.