Go Fish Rules: How To Play, Winning, Card Game For Kids

Sitting around with your friends and wondering what to do? Don’t worry! We have the perfect game for you and your friends – Go Fish! This card game is where players must make sets of each card type – that’s it! If you are wondering what the rules for Go Fish are, then you are at the right place.

Today, we will explain the Go Fish rules for kids and leave you with some clever tips & strategies. Although there is no age bar for this game, the version we will discuss in detail is the primary elementary card game that kids and adults can play. Keep reading to know how to play Go Fish!

How To Play Go Fish?

Most people start sweating at the thought of learning a new card game—understanding the hierarchy, drawing rules, matching suits, values, etc. There is a lot going on in these card games, and it is understandable why most kids avoid them. However, that is different with Go Fish.

Go Fish is a card game that relies simply on one pretext – making 2 pairs (4 cards) of the same number. Basically, every player needs to make sets of a card to win. The player with the most card sets wins the game. But how do you get all the cards? How many cards does each player get? What are the Go Fish rules for kids? All in good time!

Objective

The objective for every player should be to collect as many sets of cards (4 cards of the same type, four 6s) while following the rules for Go Fish. To do this, a player can ask for the card they need from the rest of the players during their turn. The player with the most sets at the end of the game wins.

Go Fish Rules

Once the dealing and the setup are complete, you will be ready to play Go Fish Card Game. But how do you play it? What are the rules of go fish? Allow us to explain.

The Go Fish rules for kids are as follows:

• The first player to go is the player to the dealer’s immediate left. However, you can also have a ‘highest card drawn’ contest where the player who draws the highest card from the drawing deck gets to go first. After this, the play continues clockwise.
• The starting player (let’s say Player 1) asks any other players for a card that they need to make a set or contribute to making the set, per the rules of Go Fish. 
• If the asked player has the card that Player 1 asked for, they have to hand it over to the player. 
• If the player does not have the card that Player 1 asked for, they must say, ‘Go Fish.’
• According to the rules of Go Fish, if a player asks Player 1 to ‘Go Fish,’ meaning they do not have that card, then Player 1 has to pick up one card from the drawing pile. 
• If the card they picked up is the one they asked for, they can show it to the table or choose not to. This is entirely at the player’s discretion.
• If a player picks up a card after ‘Go Fish’ but that card is not the one they asked for, they must not show the picked card to the rest of the table. 
• However, if Player 1 asks Player 4 for a card and Player 4 gives it to Player 1, then Player 1’s turn continues until another player asks them to ‘Go Fish.’
• During their turn, a player can ask any player for any card they want, provided they have at least one card of the same type. 
• Let’s say Player 4 has three 7s, and Player 2 has one 7-numbered card. During their turn, if Player 1 asks Player 4 for a 7, then Player 4 will have to give away all their 7s (all three 7-numbered cards)—not just one, per the rules of Go Fish card game.
• The objective of each player is to make as many card sets as possible. The moment a player gets four cards of a kind (let’s assume four 7 cards), they must put down the four card set on the table. Depending upon the rules set before the game, they can place them face-down or face-up.
• According to the official Go Fish rules for kids, if a player runs out of cards in the middle of a round, they must take 5 cards from the drawing pile without looking. This will be their new playing hand.
• If the drawing pile has less than 5 cards left but a player has to draw cards to play, that player draws whatever cards remain in the drawing pile.
• When the middle deck runs out, play continues until all the cards are used to make sets. The game ends once all the cards have been used to make sets.
• If a player runs out of playing cards and the middle deck is empty, they have to wait for the other players to finish playing their hand.
• Once all the players have played their hands and are out of cards (all sets made), the game ends, and scores are taken. The player with the most sets (4 cards of each suit) wins the game.

Deal & Setup

Before we dive into the gameplay, general rules of Go Fish, and strategies section, let us understand how the game is set and how it all works:

• Go Fish can be played between 2-4 players or more. In case the number of players is 4 or less, you can deal 7 cards to each player. If there are more than 4 players in one game, then each player gets 5 cards.
• A standard deck of playing cards containing 52 playing cards is used for this game. 
• A dealer is appointed (decided mutually between the players) who shuffles the entire deck (face-down) and gives out 5 or 7 cards to each of the players, one card at a time. 
• The rest of the deck is then kept face-down at the center of the table, creating the drawing pile.
• Players can then look at their cards or hands, according to Go Fish rules for kids. However, they must be careful not to show their hands to the rest of the players and may not ask to look at the other players’ hands.
• Once the players have checked their cards and arranged them in their preferential order, the game is set to begin. The player to the left of the dealer goes first.

Tips & Strategies

Now that we have learned about the rules of Go Fish card game, let’s focus on its strategies. We know what most of you are thinking – Go Fish sounds like a game with its fair share of luck. Well, it does, but there is more to it than just luck. Here are some insightful tips and strategies to help you up your game:

• Keep a close eye on who asks for what and how many times they ask for that card. For example, if Player 1 asks Player 2 for a 4 and gives away two fours, then one of two things can be the situation: either Player 1 has the other two 4 cards, or they have one and still need another. Awareness of your opponent’s hand will give you an advantage in this game.
• Rules of Go Fish card game state that you should focus on finishing your card sets as quickly as possible. This will let you draw 5 cards and start making new sets. The more sets you make, the better your chances are at winning.
• Bluff your way to picking up a card. It’s not always a bad thing. Sometimes, on your turn, you ask an opponent for a card that you might not have. This might waste your turn, but it can also throw your opponent off if they are trying to figure out your game or what’s in your hand. Also, picking up a card means there is a 50-50 chance that you might end up with a card that you actually need.
• Keep a leash on your risk-taking appetite. Take risks, but only when it’s the right time. The initial phase of the game is an excellent time to try new things. However, try to play it safe in the last few rounds, especially if you are winning.

Winning

In Go Fish, the players aim to create sets by collecting four of the same kind of cards while following the rules for Go Fish card game. The round continues until all players are out of playing cards and sets have been made. Then, the results are decided based on which player has more sets. The player with the most sets (four cards of the same type) wins the game.

Did You Know?

• Go Fish is believed to have been discovered in the United States in the early to mid-19th century. However, its exact origins and founders remain unknown. 
• There are many digital versions of Go Fish available to play online.
• The game’s simplicity draws people of all ages to play this game. Go Fish is a great game for friends and family at gatherings and dinners.
• The Australian game Happy Families is a very popular take on Go Fish. France has its own adaptation, called ‘Jeu des 7 families’.
• Reports suggest that President Franklin D. Roosevelt used to play this game during his time in office. It is said to have been one of his favorite diversions.

FAQs

Conclusion

Go Fish is probably one of the simplest card games anyone can learn. However, if you want to make this enjoyable, there are adult versions of the game where money is put on the line. So get your cards and start playing Go Fish with your friends and family, but make sure you abide by the Go Fish rules for kids. Refer to the Tips and Strategies mentioned, implement them in your game, and let us know if they helped! Happy playing! Stay with Play With Rules to learn more about such exciting games.

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