How to play Go Fish

Play Go Fish now

How to play Go Fish

Go Fish is the classic family card game. Ask your opponent for cards of a rank you hold, fish from the pond when they have none, and collect sets of four — called books. Most books wins.

The deal

With two players each gets seven cards; the rest are spread face down as the pond (stock). With three or more players, deal five each.

Asking

On your turn ask a player for a rank you already hold — for example, 'Do you have any 7s?'. If they do, they must hand over every card of that rank and you ask again.

Go Fish

If they have none, they say 'Go Fish' and you draw from the pond. If you draw the rank you asked for, show it and go again; otherwise the turn passes.

Books and winning

Four of a kind is a book — lay it down. When you run out of cards, draw one from the pond. The game ends when all 13 books are made; whoever has most wins.

Tips from the table

  • Remember what your opponent asks for — they're holding that rank, so ask for it back when you draw one.
  • Ask for the rank you hold most of first; three of a kind needs only one more card.
  • The computer here remembers your asks too, so mix up your requests.