Go Fish
Ask for cards, go fishing and collect sets of four.
How to play Go Fish
Go Fish is one of the best-known family card games. It is simple enough for young children, but a good memory makes a big difference. You play with a normal deck of 52 cards against one, two or three computer players.
Goal
Collect the most books. A book is a set of all four cards of the same rank, for example the four 7s or the four Queens.
The deal
With two or three players everyone gets 7 cards. With four players everyone gets 5. The rest of the cards go face down in the middle. This is the pond.
Turn by turn
- On your turn, choose a rank that you already hold, and ask one other player for it. For example: "Do you have any 7s?"
- If that player has any cards of that rank, they must give you all of them. You then get another turn.
- If they have none, they say "Go fish!" You draw the top card of the pond.
- If the card you fished is the rank you asked for, show it and take another turn. If not, your turn ends and the next player goes.
- As soon as you hold all four cards of a rank, you lay the book down in front of you.
- If your hand is empty on your turn, you draw one card from the pond and then ask. When the pond is empty, players with no cards sit out.
End of the game
The game ends when all 13 books are on the table. The player with the most books wins. If two players share the most books, it is a tie.
Playing on this site
Tap a card in your hand to pick its rank. Then tap the player you want to ask, or use the buttons under the table (keys 1–3 also work). Your books and everyone else's show next to each name. Undo takes back your last question.
Strategy tips
- Listen to every question. When a player asks for 9s, they hold at least one 9. Ask them for 9s on your next turn.
- Remember the "Go fish" answers. A player who just said they have no Kings has none, unless they have fished since.
- Ask for ranks you hold only one of. More copies are out there, so the chance that someone has one is higher.
- Every question gives you away. Asking for a rank tells the table you have it. When the odds are equal, ask for a rank they already know you hold.
- Ask players with many cards. A big hand is more likely to contain what you need.
Go Fish FAQ
What is a book in Go Fish?
A book is a set of all four cards of one rank, like four Jacks. You lay it down as soon as you have it, and the player with the most books wins.
Do you go again if you fish the card you asked for?
Yes. If the card you draw from the pond is the rank you just asked for, you show it and take another turn.
How many cards do you deal in Go Fish?
Seven cards each for two or three players, and five cards each for four players.
What happens when you run out of cards?
On your turn you draw one card from the pond and carry on. If the pond is empty too, you sit out until the game ends.
