Go Fish rulesAsk a question. Complete a book.
Ask opponents for cards and collect all four of a rank. Learn the game through one simple request and its possible outcomes.
Choose one opponent with cards.
If they have none, draw one card.
The most books wins.
Collect four-card books.
Collect ♠, ♥, ♦, and ♣ of the same rank to make a book. A pair of two is not enough. When all 13 books are complete, the player with the most books wins.
There is one book for each rank, A through K: 13 in total. This guide uses four-card books, not a two-card matching variant.
Deal the hands and leave a stock.
Use 52 cards without jokers. In this app, deal seven cards each with two or three players, or five each with four players. The rest form a face-down stock.
| Players | Cards each | Starting stock |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 7 | 38 |
| 3 | 7 | 31 |
| 4 | 5 | 32 |
In the app, you take the first turn. Any complete four-card set in the initial deal is automatically made into a book.
Ask one opponent for one rank.
Choose a rank in your own hand and ask one opponent who still has cards. If you ask for sevens, they must hand over all their sevens. You do not request a particular suit.
“Do you have any sevens?”
You hold ♣7 and ♥7; the opponent holds ♠7 and ♦7. Ask for sevens and receive both, completing a four-card book, which is set aside from your hand.
When your request succeeds—or misses.
After receiving cards from an opponent, you normally ask again. If they have none, “Go Fish”: draw one card. Whether you continue depends on the rank you draw.
| Result of asking for 7 | What happens next |
|---|---|
| Receive 7s from the opponent | Ask again |
| They have none; you draw ♦7 | Requested rank: continue |
| They have none; you draw ♣K | Keep K and pass the turn |
Completing a book with a different drawn rank does not itself earn another turn. Continuing depends on drawing the rank you requested.
Which rank can you request?
Your hand is ♣6, ♦9, ♠10, ♥J, and ♣J. Your opponent has cards. Which of the following ranks may you request?
Read all answers
Q — You cannot request queens: you hold no queen.
J — Correct. You hold jacks, so you may request them. You could also request 6, 9, or 10. The opponent gives you all jacks they hold.
A — You cannot request aces because you hold none.
An empty stock does not end the game.
If the stock runs out, players who still have cards continue requesting from each other. An unsuccessful request with no stock passes the turn without a draw. The game ends when the total number of books reaches 13.
At the start of a turn, an empty-handed player draws one card if stock remains. With no stock, that player is OUT and skipped. Their completed books still count.
Example book totals
| You | CPU1 | CPU2 | CPU3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
The total is 13 books. You win with five. Tied leaders share first place; if you are one of them, the app records a draw.
Try the exchange in the app.
Select a rank and an opponent in Asomana Card Games. No speaking is required. Watch the responses and cards received to learn the flow.
Choose one to three CPUs and set each difficulty. There is no undo, redo, or hint. You can save and resume the game.
The top shows the turn, stock size, and total completed books.
Opponent panels show remaining cards and book counts.
The rank tiles are your request choices. ×2 on J means you hold two jacks.
Select a rank and opponent, then confirm below. Read the outcome in the central message area.
Remember what opponents ask for.
An opponent asking for sevens holds at least one seven at that moment. If you later hold a seven, that request is a clue about whom to ask. Their cards may have changed in the meantime.
If an opponent has two, do I take only one?
No. You receive every card of the requested rank. The opponent cannot pretend not to have it.
Does drawing the requested rank always continue my turn?
Normally yes, but play cannot continue if there is no eligible opponent or the game has finished.
Does the first player with no cards win?
No. Completed books decide the winner. Refilling an empty hand and sitting out are explained above.
Put the rules into practice.
Try what you have learned by moving real game cards in Asomana Card Games. Visit the app page for features and availability.
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