Official Game Rules

Object

 

To collect the most sets of 4 cards.

 

Setup

 

Shuffle the cards and deal 7 cards face down to each player. Deal 5 cards to each player if there are 4 or more players. Place the remaining cards face down in a draw pile where everyone can reach them. Arrange cards by number so that all the 1s are together, all the 2s are together, and so on.

 

The Play 

 

The player to the left of the dealer goes first and play continues clockwise. The first player asks a specific person if he or she has any cards of a specific number. For example, player one might ask player three if she has any 2s. Player one must have at least one 2 in his hand in order to ask for it. If player three has any 2s, she must give them all to player one. Player one may then go again and can continue playing until he does not get the card he asks for.

 

If player three does not have any 2s, she says “Go fish!” and player one must take 1 card from the draw pile. If the picked card is the card he wanted, a 2, he must show it to all players and can then go again. If it is not the card he asked for, then it is the next person’s turn. Once a player has collected 4 of a kind, he places the cards in front him. The game ends when either someone has no cards in his hand or the draw pile runs out.

 

Game End

 

The winner is the person who has collected the most sets of 4 cards. For a simpler version, collect pairs rather than 4 of a kind. Game plays and ends in the same manner as the standard game.

 

Fish Out of Water Variation

 

For a fun play-by-yourself game, shuffle the cards and lay all 48 cards face down randomly on a smooth surface. Turn over 2 cards – if they match, take the cards. If not, turn them back over in the same place and try again. Continue until you have paired all the cards.