Go Fish – Rules

Play Go Fish against the computer

1. Overview

What is it about? Go Fish is one of the first card games children learn. You ask another player for a rank you hold yourself. If they have any, they must give them to you. If not, they say “Go fish!” – and you draw from the pool. Four cards of the same rank make a book.

2. Cards and material

• Pack: 52 French cards without jokers.
• Ranks: A, 2, 3 … 10, J, Q, K – 13 ranks with four cards each.
• Suits and ranking: don't matter.
• Books: 13 possible books (four aces, four twos …).
• Face up and face down: Hand cards concealed, the pool (stock) face down, finished books face up in front of their owner.

3. Preparation and start

1. Shuffle: The dealer shuffles.
2. Deal: With 2 or 3 players everyone gets 7 cards, with 4 or more 5 cards.
3. Pool: The remaining cards go face down in the middle.
4. Check for books: Anyone already holding four of a kind lays them down as a book.
5. Start: The player left of the dealer begins.

Start example: Player 2 deals 5 cards each to Players 1, 3 and 4. Player 3 sits to his left and asks first.

4. Goal and winning

• End: The game ends when all 13 books have been made (or nobody has cards left).
• Won: Whoever has the most books.
• Tie: Players with equally many books share the win.

5. Play in detail

A turn.

1. Ask a particular player for a rank, e.g. “Player 4, do you have any sevens?” You must hold at least one card of that rank yourself.
2. They have some: They must give you all cards of that rank. You may ask again (the same or another player).
3. They have none: They say “Go fish!”. You draw a card from the pool.
4. Lucky draw: If you draw exactly the rank you asked for, show it and ask again. Otherwise it's the turn of the player who said “Go fish” (or your left neighbour – as agreed).
5. Book: As soon as you have four of a kind, lay them face up in front of you.

Example with Players 1 to 4.

1. Player 1 has two sevens. He asks Player 4: “Do you have any sevens?” Player 4 gives him a seven. Now he has three.
2. Player 1 may ask again: “Player 3, do you have any sevens?” Player 3 says: “Go fish!”
3. Player 1 draws from the pool – a seven! Lucky draw: he shows it and now holds four sevens: a book.
4. Player 1 asks again: “Player 2, do you have any kings?” – “Go fish!” He draws a three. Now it's Player 2's turn.

6. Scoring

• Each book counts 1 point.
• Whoever has the most books at the end wins.
• Over several games: Add up the books of each game.

7. Special rules and situations

• Out of cards: A player with no cards in hand draws one from the pool and plays on. If the pool is empty, they're out.
• Pool empty: Then players only ask; whoever hears “Go fish” passes the turn.
• No lying: A player who is asked must hand over all matching cards.
• Ask for your own ranks: You may only ask for ranks you hold.
• Common mistakes: forgetting what others asked for; asking for a rank you don't hold.

8. Variants

Standard in this description: books of four cards, lucky draw allowed.

When playing against the computer on cardgames.zone you play with 2 to 5 players; you can choose whether drawing the rank you asked for gives you another turn.

9. Tips for beginners

1. Listen carefully: Whoever asks for a rank holds it – remember that.
2. Ask back: If Player 3 asked for queens, ask him for queens later.
3. Prefer many cards: Ask for ranks you already have two or three of.
4. Don't give too much away: Asking for the same rank often tells everyone what you collect.
5. Pick the right player: Ask whoever last received cards of that rank.
6. Watch the pool: The fewer cards in the pool, the more your memory matters.
7. Stay calm: “Go fish” is part of the game – next time it'll work.

10. Summary in 10 steps

1. Shuffle 52 cards.
2. 7 cards (2–3 players) or 5 cards (4+ players) each.
3. The rest is the pool in the middle.
4. The player left of the dealer starts.
5. Ask a player for a rank you hold.
6. They have some: hand over all, you ask again.
7. They have none: “Go fish!” – you draw.
8. Drew the rank you asked for: ask again.
9. Four of a kind = a book, laid face up.
10. All books made: most books win.

11. Frequently asked questions

Must I hand over all cards of the rank?

Yes. A player who is asked must give up all cards of that rank.

May I ask for a rank I don't have?

No. You need at least one card of that rank.

What if I run out of cards?

Draw a card from the pool. If it's empty, you're finished.

What is a book?

Four cards of the same rank, e.g. four kings.

From what age can you play Go Fish?

From about five years.

How long does a game take?

Ten to twenty minutes.

Origin & history

Go Fish is a traditional children’s game from the English-speaking world, related to the older game Authors. In Germany the principle is known as “Quartett” with themed cards.