Durak Transfer Rules: How to Pass an Attack in Transferable Durak
In Transferable Durak (perevodnoy) you may pass an attack on instead of beating it. Put down a card of the same rank as the attack cards on the table, and the next player must now beat everything. The transfer is only possible before you have beaten a card, and only if the next player holds enough cards.
- Game
- Transferable Durak
- Players
- 3-6 for transfers (with 2 players there is no transfer)
- Transfer card
- Same rank as the attack cards, any suit, even a trump
- Card limit
- 6 per bout, 5 in the first bout of the game
On this page
When you may transfer an attack
A bout is one round of attack and defense. When you are the defender, you have three choices: beat the card, take the cards, or transfer. A transfer means you put down one more card of the same rank as the attack card, next to it.
The suit does not matter, and you may transfer with a trump. One such card is enough. After that you are no longer the defender. The next player in turn is.
Look at the table. If nothing is beaten yet and you hold a card with the same rank as the attack cards, a transfer may be possible. Then check the next player's hand size, as described below.
What happens after a transfer
The next player must beat all the cards on the table, including the one you added. You join the attackers, so you may throw in cards later. The player who started the bout also stays among the attackers.
The new defender has the same three choices. If they hold a card of the same rank and nothing is beaten, they can transfer again. The attack can travel around the table this way.
The chain is always short. The deck has only four cards of each rank, and the first attack card is one of them. So after the opening card there can be at most three transfers.
When a transfer is not allowed
| Situation | Why |
|---|---|
| You already beat one card of this attack | A transfer is only possible while no card is beaten |
| You said "Take" | After you take, you can no longer change your mind |
| The next player holds fewer cards than would be on the table after the transfer | They must be able to answer every card. With 2 cards on the table after your transfer, they need at least 2 cards |
| Only two players are playing | The attack cannot be passed back to the player who attacked, so there is no transfer |
| You hold no card of the attack rank | There is nothing to transfer with |
Card limits in Transferable Durak
Throw-ins follow the usual limits. No more than 6 cards in one bout, and no more than 5 in the very first bout of the game. You also cannot put down more cards than the defender had in hand at the start of the bout.
Throw-ins use the ranks already on the table, attack cards and the cards used to beat them. The suit does not matter. The defender cannot throw in.
What comes after "Bito" and after "Take"
- After [bito](glossary#bito): every card is beaten and nobody throws in more. The cards leave the game. The last defender attacks next.
- After [take](glossary#take-cards): the defender collects all the cards on the table and skips the attack. The player after them attacks.
- Drawing: everyone draws back up to 6 cards while the deck lasts. If there was a transfer, drawing starts with the player who opened the bout, and the defender draws last.
Worked example with three players
Attack and transfer
Cora beats with
Ana attacks with the 8 of hearts. Ben holds the 8 of diamonds, so a transfer is possible. Cora has six cards, and after the transfer there will be 2 cards on the table, so she has enough.
Ben puts down 8d. Now the table shows 8h and 8d, and Cora is the defender. Ben becomes an attacker.
Cora beats 8h with Jh (same suit, higher) and 8d with 6s (any trump beats a non-trump card). Ana holds 8c and could throw it in, but she passes. Ben has no more eights, so he cannot throw in.
Result: "Bito". The four cards leave the game. Cora, the last defender, attacks next. Everyone draws up to 6, in this order: Ana, Ben, Cora.
Change one detail: Cora holds 8s as well. She may transfer again. Ana is next in turn and must hold at least 3 cards. The table would show 8h, 8d and 8s, and Ana would have to beat all three.
Tips for using the transfer
- Transfer with a plain card when you can. Trumps beat cards and help you go out at the end of the game.
- Remember it can come back. The next player may also hold a card of that rank, and then there are more cards on the table.
- Count the cards of one rank. The more have been played, the less often a transfer is possible.
- Check the next hand. A player with few cards cannot receive a transfer, which is also a defense for you when you are that player.
These are rules of thumb. They do not decide every hand, and the cards you are dealt matter.
Common mistakes
- Beating one card first and then looking for a transfer. After the first beaten card it is too late.
- Transferring a high trump when a low card of that rank was available.
- Forgetting that a transfer adds a card, so the next player has more to beat.
- Expecting a transfer in a two-player game. With two players it plays like plain Durak.
Frequently asked questions
Can I transfer with a trump?
Yes, you can transfer with a trump if it has the same rank as the attack cards. It is usually better to keep trumps and transfer with a plain card.
Can I transfer after I beat one card?
No, a transfer is only possible while none of the attack cards is beaten. Once you beat a card or say "Take", the transfer is gone.
Is there a transfer in a two-player game?
No, with two players there is no transfer, and the game follows the rules of Durak with throw-ins.
How many times can an attack be transferred?
At most three times after the opening card, because the deck has only four cards of each rank. In real games the chain is usually shorter.
Who attacks after a transferred bout ends?
After "Bito" the last defender attacks next. After "Take" the defender skips the attack and the next player attacks.