Six players, two teams

You are one of six players at a table, three against three. This guide deals you a hand and teaches the whole game.

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Learn Fish · the short version

Six players, two teams

Six players, two teams of three, in alternating seats. 54 cards — a full pack plus both jokers — dealt nine each. You see only your own cards.

The cards split into nine half-suits of six: the low half of each suit (2 to 7), the high half (9 to Ace), and the four 8s with the two jokers. The first team to win five half-suits wins the game.

Asking

Name one card and one player. All four must hold:

An opponent, never a teammate.
A half-suit you already hold.
Not a card you hold.
Someone who still has cards.

Hit — they must hand it over and you ask again. Miss — the turn goes to them. Break a rule, or refuse a card you hold, and that half-suit goes to the other team.

Claiming

Name the half-suit, then which teammate holds each of its six cards. Never an opponent. All six right and your team is awarded it. Wrong for any reason and the other team is awarded it.

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The full guide deals you a hand and walks you through eight steps in about five minutes. It runs entirely in your browser, but it does need JavaScript. Turn it on for this site and reload, or open this address in another browser.