How to play Go Fish
- The deal: each player gets 7 cards. The rest are spread face down as the pond.
- Asking: on your turn, ask your rival for a rank you already hold, such as "Have you got any 7s?"
- Yes: if they have any, they must hand over all the cards of that rank, and you ask again.
- Go fish: if they have none, they say "Go fish!" and you take the top card of the pond. If it's the rank you asked for, show it and ask again. Otherwise, your turn ends.
- Books: as soon as you hold all four cards of a rank, put them down as a book.
- Running out: if your hand is empty at the start of your turn, take a card from the pond. If the pond is empty too, your turn passes.
- Winning: when all 13 books are down, the player with more books wins.
Controls
- Ask: tap a card to choose its rank, then press Ask (or tap the card again).
- The answer appears in a speech bubble, and any cards you get fly into your hand. Drawing from the pond happens for you.
- Keyboard: ← and → or Tab move between your cards, and Enter chooses one.
Your hand is sorted by rank, and each player's books are shown beside their cards. With 2 Players, a cover screen hides the cards whenever the device passes to the other player.
Computer levels
The computer never sees your cards or the pond. What separates the levels is memory: what you ask for tells everyone which cards you hold, and "Go fish!" tells everyone what you don't.
| Level | How it plays |
|---|---|
| Easy | Always asks for the rank it holds most of, and forgets what you said, so it may ask for the same rank again and again. |
| Medium | Asks for any rank it holds, at random, and remembers nothing. |
| Hard | Remembers every ask and answer: it asks for the ranks you've asked for, and won't ask for a rank you just didn't have. Otherwise, it picks at random. |
| Expert | Remembers everything too, and otherwise asks for the rank it holds most of, to finish its books. |
Tips to win
- Remember what your rival asks for. If they asked for queens, they have at least one. Ask for queens on your next turn.
- Don't ask twice for nothing. If your rival just said "Go fish!" to your 5s, they won't have any until they draw more cards.
- Ask for your biggest sets. Three of a rank needs only one more card to make a book.
- Watch the books. A rank that's already been booked can't be asked for, so the cards that are left belong to fewer ranks.
- Count the cards in the pond. Near the end, with few cards left, every card in your rival's hand is easier to work out.
About Go Fish
Go Fish is one of the first card games many children learn, and it's just as much fun for grown-ups. It's quick to learn, needs only a normal pack of cards, and is good practice for memory and counting to four. The rules here are the common ones for two players: seven cards each, books of four, and another go when you get what you asked for.
Questions
How many cards do you deal in Go Fish for two players?
7 cards each. The other 38 cards make the pond.
What is a book in Go Fish?
All four cards of the same rank, such as four 9s. When you collect one, it goes down in front of you and counts towards your score.
What happens when you run out of cards?
At the start of your turn, take a card from the pond. If the pond is empty too, your turn passes.
Who wins Go Fish?
When all 13 books have been made, the player with more books wins. With 13 books there's always a winner.
Can you ask for a rank you don't have?
No. You can only ask for a rank you already hold at least one card of.
Can two people play Go Fish on one phone?
Yes. Choose 2 Players: a cover screen hides your cards while you pass the device, and the asking happens out loud on the screen.
Is Go Fish free?
Yes. It's free in your browser, with no download, no sign-up and no ads during a game.
Updated 8 November 2026