Need a fun card game this winter break? Here's how to play Go Fish.

Need something to keep the cousins busy this winter break or a way to pass the time while you're snowed in? With simple rules and a quick, entertaining play, card games are a good way to pass the time or to learn matching and memorization. 

"Go Fish" is a classic. It's an Honor System game, which means it’s entirely possible, though unadvisable, to lie during turns. But if you want to play "Go Fish" the right way, we've got an illustrated guide to the rules for you to follow.

How to play Go Fish:

Decide who will go first, either by drawing cards and having the player with the lowest card go first or by another method, like flipping a coin.

Deal

Shuffle the cards and deal seven cards to each player. The player to the left of the dealer is the one who goes first. Place the remainder of the deck facedown on the table. This is the stock.

Play

The first player chooses an opponent to ask for a card. In a two-person game, you will always ask the other person. With larger games, the player may choose who to ask for a card. The player who is fishing asks for a card that they have at least one of in their hand. Their goal is to get every suit of that rank.

Rank refers to the value of a card, like Queen, Jack, ten, nine and so forth.

If you have the card requested, you must give all cards of that rank to the player. If not, say “Go fish!” to the player whose turn it is, and they’ll pick up the first card in the stock. 

If a player receives the card they asked for, either by getting it from another player or by picking it up in the stock, they get another turn. If there are more than two players, you can ask the same player for a card or a different player. 

If a player does not receive the card they asked for from the stock, their turn ends. 

Players continue asking, fishing and “making catches” until all thirteen books have been won. If a player runs out of cards before all books have been made, they can draw a card from the stock on their next turn to continue. You can also end the game when a player runs out of cards.

Score

Count up how many books each player has. Whoever has the most books wins the game.

 Strategy: How to win Go Fish

According to a 2020 survey, the majority of U.S. adults believe Go Fish is a game of chance rather than skill. And while you can't control the cards you're dealt, there are some tips you can use to keep the game in your favor:

• Put your memorization to use: Try to keep track of your opponent's cards so you can take them if you happen to pull a card they have
• Rotate which cards you ask for: Just because you already asked for one rank doesn't mean you can't ask for it again. Players draw between turns and may draw the card you need
• Wait a bit before asking again: While you should absolutely ask for a card more than once, give it a few turns so there's a greater chance your opponent has picked up the card you need
• Repeat, repeat, repeat: This strategy works well in big groups. Rather than asking equally, ask about one or two ranks and hide the rest of the cards you have until you know who has the others
• Keep a poker face: Try to keep your expressions to a minimum, don't let your opponents see what you've got
• Stay organized: This may sound obvious, but arranging your cards in ascending or descending order is the best way to ensure you never miss an opportunity to make a book

Alternate ways to play

If you're looking to switch things up, play Go Fish with one or more of these popular variations:

• Play with pairs instead of books (Good for younger players)
• Try asking for a specific card instead of a rank (Eight of diamonds rather than asking for eights)
• Only give one card when asked, even if you have more than one of that rank
• If you’re playing until a player runs out of cards in their hand, try scoring by adding a point for each book obtained and deducting a point for each card a player has at the end of the game
• Play with two decks instead of one with a big crowd
• Fish for cards clockwise or counterclockwise by always asking the same player, instead of random fishing

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