Play Go Fish online at Solitaire365 and see how many books you can collect. Ask other players for matching cards, draw from the pond when they say “Go fish,” and keep track of who has the cards you need.
This Go Fish card game is for 2 to 4 players, with 5 cards dealt to each player. Each completed book earns one point, and the player with the most books wins. The rules are easy to learn, but remembering your opponents’ requests can help you make better choices on every turn.
What Is Go Fish?
Go Fish is a classic card game in which players collect sets of four cards of the same rank. These sets are called books. All four queens make one book, for example, and all four sevens make another.
The game uses a standard 52-card deck, which contains 13 possible books. Suits do not affect which cards belong together: you collect matching ranks, not matching hearts, diamonds, clubs, or spades.
The face-down cards available to draw are called the draw pile, or the pond.
How Many Cards Do You Deal in Go Fish?
In this version, each player starts with 5 cards, whether there are 2, 3, or 4 players. The remaining cards are placed face down to form the pond.
Keep your hand hidden from the other players. As the game progresses, their requests and answers give you clues about the cards they hold.
How to Play Go Fish
1. Choose a rank from your hand
On your turn, ask one other player for a rank you already hold.
For example, if you have a nine, you can ask, “Do you have any nines?” You cannot ask for queens unless you have at least one queen in your hand.
2. Collect the cards they have
If that player has cards of the requested rank, they give you all of them. If they hold two nines, you receive both.
A successful request lets you ask again. Pay attention to the cards changing hands: that information can help you choose your next opponent and rank.
3. Go fish if they have none
If the player has none of the cards you requested, they say, “Go fish!” You then draw one card from the pond, provided it still contains cards.
That new card may help complete a book or give you another rank to ask for.
4. Complete books of four
When you collect all four cards of a rank, lay down the completed book. It is worth one point and is no longer part of your hand.
Keep collecting books throughout the game. Having the fewest cards does not determine the winner; your completed books do.
Go Fish Rules at a Glance
| Rule |
How it works |
| Players |
2 to 4 |
| Deck |
Standard 52-card deck |
| Starting hand |
5 cards per player |
| Goal |
Collect the most books |
| Book |
Four cards of the same rank |
| Asking for cards |
You must hold at least one card of that rank |
| Successful request |
Receive all cards of that rank from the chosen player and ask again |
| Unsuccessful request |
Draw one card if the pond has cards |
| Scoring |
One point per completed book |
| Possible books |
13 |
Scoring and Winning
Each book scores one point, regardless of its rank. Four aces are worth the same as four twos.
The player with the most completed books at the end wins. Cards left in an incomplete set do not score.
What happens if you run out of cards?
If the pond still contains cards, draw one and continue playing.
If the pond is empty, you are out of the round. The books you already completed still count toward your final score.
What happens when the pond is empty?
Play continues with the cards still in players’ hands until nobody can make another valid request. Any ranks that were never completed into books score no points.
An empty pond does not immediately end the game, and running out of cards does not automatically make you the winner.
Go Fish Strategy Tips
Remember what other players ask for
Every request reveals something. A player asking for kings must have at least one king at that moment. If you later get a king, that player may be a useful person to ask.
Track cards as they move
Remembering an earlier request is helpful, but cards can change hands. If one player gives their kings to another, update your mental picture of who holds them.
Use information before guessing
Holding three cards of a rank puts you close to completing a book. If you also know who has the fourth, you have a strong next move. Without that information, consider whether another request has a better chance of succeeding.
Remember that a missed request is temporary information
An opponent who had no eights earlier might draw one later. Their answer tells you what they held at that moment, not what they will hold for the rest of the game.
Focus on books rather than hand size
A large hand gives you more ranks to ask for, but only completed books earn points. Watch the book totals as well as the cards remaining in each hand.
More Card Games to Try
Enjoy collecting matching cards? Try Rummy, where you build sets and runs.
For a different challenge, play Crazy Eights. Instead of collecting books, you match cards by suit or rank and try to empty your hand.
You can also explore our easy card games guide for more games to learn.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you play Go Fish?
Ask another player for a rank you already have in your hand. If they have any cards of that rank, they give you all of them and you ask again. If they have none, draw from the pond if cards remain. Collect four cards of the same rank to complete a book.
How many people can play Go Fish?
This version of Go Fish is for 2 to 4 players.
How many cards do you start with in Go Fish?
Each player starts with 5 cards in this version of Go Fish. The same deal applies to games with 2, 3, or 4 players. The remaining cards form the draw pile, or pond.
What is a book in Go Fish?
A book is a complete set of four cards of the same rank, such as all four jacks. Each book is worth one point.
Can you ask for a card you do not have?
No. You must hold at least one card of the rank you request. For example, you need a five in your hand to ask another player for fives.
Do you give away all matching cards or just one?
You give the requesting player all the cards you hold of the requested rank. If they ask for tens and you have two tens, you must give them both.
How do you win Go Fish?
Collect more completed books than the other players. Each book earns one point, and incomplete sets do not score.
What happens if you run out of cards in Go Fish?
If the pond still has cards, draw one and continue. If the pond is empty, you are out of the round, but your completed books still count.
What happens when the draw pile runs out?
Players continue making requests using the cards still in their hands until nobody can make another valid request. Incomplete books do not earn points.
Do suits matter in Go Fish?
No. Books are formed by rank, not suit. The four sevens form a book even though each seven has a different suit.
How many books are in Go Fish?
A standard 52-card deck contains 13 possible books: one for each rank from ace through king.
