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To play Go Fish, ask an opponent for a rank you already have in your hand. If they hold that rank, they give you every card of it and you take another turn. If they do not, draw one card from the pile; collecting four cards of one rank makes a book. The instructions below use one straightforward version, with common rule choices called out separately.
What you need and how to deal
Use a standard 52-card deck. Shuffle, then deal seven cards to each player in a two-player game, or five cards each when there are three or more players. Keep your cards hidden from the other players. Place the undealt cards face down in the middle as the draw pile, sometimes called the pond.
How to take a turn
- Ask for a rank you hold. Choose one opponent and ask for a rank already in your hand—for example, “Do you have any 8s?” Ask for the rank, not a suit.
- If they have it, take all of that rank. The opponent must give you every card of the requested rank in their hand. You then take another turn.
- If they do not have it, go fish. They say, “Go Fish,” and you draw the top card from the pile. If it is the rank you asked for, show it and take another turn. If it is a different rank, keep it and pass the turn in this basic version.
Example: If you hold two 8s and ask for 8s, an opponent who has any must hand over all of their 8s. If they have none, draw one card. A drawn 8 earns you another turn; another rank ends your turn.
Make books and decide the winner
Four cards of the same rank make a book. Set each completed book aside. In the version described here, play ends when a player has no cards or the draw pile runs out; the player with the most books wins. The Task-based Activities for LBS rules sheet states, “The winner is the player who has the most books.”
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- FISH ARE FRIENDS NOT FOOD: Swim with the sharks and lunch with the lobsters while playing this classic card game of Go Fish! A family favorite just got even more fun with these creative designs.
- EDUCATIONAL: Go Fish is a great way for young kids to learn how to play cards – how to hold them, how to deal, how to read the numbers, and how to be polite by taking turns.
- FAMILY TIME: Playing games with your child is an excellent way to foster closeness, teach social interaction skills, as well as challenge them to use their knowledge and strategize.
- CONTENTS: Includes deck of 48 cards in a sturdy box along with instructions for three game variations; the art is fun, friendly and fresh and they are packaged to make a great gift!
- SPECIFICATIONS: For 3 to 6 players ages 3 years and older; Go Fish is designed for easy and frustration free game play to encourage fun and challenges for your little ones.
Simple option for a child’s first game
To make an introductory round easier, a children’s guide suggests playing with two players, dealing five cards each, using number cards only, and collecting pairs instead of books of four. Treat that as a simplified teaching version, not the standard rules above. Once players are comfortable asking, answering, drawing, and taking turns, use the full deck and collect four of a kind.
House rules to agree on before dealing
Published instructions differ on a few details, and Go Fish has no single universally binding rulebook established by the sources cited here. Agree on these choices before play:
Rank #2
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- Who plays after an unsuccessful fish? Some versions pass play to the person who said “Go Fish”; others continue to the next player in the regular turn order.
- What happens when the draw pile is empty? Decide whether play ends immediately or continues under an agreed rule.
- What happens when a player runs out of cards? Some versions have that player draw a fresh hand if cards remain; others treat the empty hand as an end condition.
Specific-card requests and collecting pairs are documented alternatives, but rank requests and four-card books keep the basic game simple.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Used Book in Good Condition
Rank #4
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Rank #3
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Sources
- Task-based Activities for LBS, Canada: Card Game Rules Information Sheet: Go Fish
- Pagat: Go Fish – Card Game Rules
- Go Fish Online: Go Fish Rules — Complete Card Game Guide (rules reviewed July 21, 2026)
- Go Fish Online: Go Fish for Kids: Easy Rules, Setup, and Teaching Tips (rules reviewed July 21, 2026)
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