Go Fish Rules

Go Fish is a popular card game that is perfect for children due to its simple yet engaging gameplay. It's a classic game that has been enjoyed by generations, and it requires a standard 52-card deck, making it easy to find a deck suitable for kids on Amazon.

Objective

The objective of Go Fish is to collect sets, or "books," of four cards of the same rank. The player with the most sets at the end of the game is declared the winner.

Setup

The game is typically played with 3-6 players, but it can also be played with just two. In a 2-player game, each player receives 7 cards, while in a game with 3 or more players, each player receives 5 cards. The remaining cards form a draw pile. The player to the left of the dealer starts the game.

How to Play

A turn consists of asking a specific player for a specific rank. For example, if it's your turn and you're asking Mary, you might say, "Mary, please give me your jacks." The one rule that trips up newcomers: the asker must already hold at least one card of the requested rank, so you need a jack in hand to ask for jacks.

If the player asked has cards of that rank, they must hand over all of them — not just one — and the asker immediately gets another turn, free to ask any player for any rank they now hold.

If the player asked has none, they say "Go Fish!" The asker then draws the top card of the stock. If that card happens to be the rank asked for, the asker shows it and gets another turn. If it isn't, the asker keeps the card anyway and the turn passes to the next player to the left.

As soon as a player collects a book of four cards of the same rank, it must be shown and then discarded face down. The game continues until either someone has no cards left in their hand or the stock runs out.

Scoring and End of Game

There is no running score in the basic game: once play stops, the winner is simply whoever has the most books. Some groups prefer a longer format, playing a series of hands and scoring one point per book, until someone reaches an agreed target such as 10 points. A few score the cards inside the books instead — face value for 2 through 10, 11 for jacks, 12 for queens, 13 for kings and 15 for aces.

Common Variations

There are several variations of Go Fish. For example, some players ask for specific cards instead of a rank. You must hold at least one card of the requested card in this variation. If you play this version, you should agree on whether it's permissible to ask for a card you already hold.

Other variations include continuing to play even when the draw pile runs out, drawing a new hand when you run out of cards, and passing the turn to the player who said "Go Fish" instead of the player to the left.

A Bit of History

Games of this type first appeared in the mid-19th century and were originally played with special cards. In Britain there was Spade the Gardener, in which players collected families of five cards; it was later superseded by Happy Families, where each family consists of four cards — mother, father, son and daughter. In the USA, Dr Busby, also based on families, was first published in 1843, followed by Authors in 1861. Whether these games grew out of an earlier game played with a standard pack, or whether the adaptation to 52 cards came later, is not known.

One naming trap is worth knowing: Go Fish is often called simply "Fish", but that name — along with Canadian Fish and Russian Fish — is also used for Literature, a considerably more complex partnership game.

Where to Get the Game

kids 52-card deck on Amazon

Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

The classic beginner mistake is asking for a rank you hold no card of — you must always already have at least one card of the rank you name. On the other side of the exchange, players often hand over a single card when asked; you owe every card of that rank in your hand. A third slip comes right after a "Go Fish!": the card you drew stays in your hand even when it isn't a match, and it is only in that case that the turn moves on. Finally, don't sit on a completed set — as soon as you have four of a rank, show it and discard it face down.

FAQ

1. Can I ask for a card I already have in my hand?

   • It depends on the variation you're playing. In some versions, you can ask for a card you already have in an attempt to mislead other players. In others, this is not allowed.

2. What do I do if I draw a card from the draw pile and it matches the card I asked for?

   • If you draw a card that matches the card you asked for, you can continue your turn and ask another player for a card.

3. What happens if I run out of cards?

   • In some variations, you draw a new hand of 5 cards when you run out of cards. In others, the game continues and you continue to draw cards from the draw pile when you run out.

4. Can I play Go Fish with a deck other than a standard 52-card deck?

   • While a standard 52-card deck is traditionally used, there are variations of Go Fish that use specialized decks with different themes. These decks are still available and can be found on Amazon.

Similar games

• set card game
• kids 52-card deck
• happy families card game
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