Go Fish

Go fish is a card game where you collect sets of four cards of the same rank, and this page lets you play it online against 1, 2 or 3 computer players. It runs entirely in your browser, is free to use, and needs no account or sign-up.

The aim is to finish with the most books, where a book is all four cards of one rank. On your turn you ask one opponent for a rank you hold. If they have it, they hand over every card of that rank and you ask again. If not, you draw from the pond and the turn passes.

You can choose the number of opponents, how well the computers remember earlier asks, and the computer speed. Your settings and win count are saved in your browser on this device.

How to play go fish online

1. In the toolbar, open Opponents and choose 1 (the default), 2 or 3 computer players. Changing it starts a new game straight away.
2. If you want, set Computer memory to good (the default) or forgetful, and Computer speed to normal (the default) or fast.
3. Look at your hand at the bottom. Cards are sorted by rank, and cards of the same rank sit together as one group.
4. Tap or click any card of the rank you want. The group lifts and gets a blue outline. Tap it again to un-choose it.
5. Tap the opponent you want to ask. While a rank is chosen, the opponents pulse blue.
6. Read the result. If the opponent gives you cards, you ask again. If they say “Go fish!”, you draw the top card of the pond, and your turn ends unless that card is the rank you asked for.
7. If you are stuck, click Hint. It names a rank and an opponent in the status line and outlines them for 6 seconds. It only works on your turn.
8. Click Rules for a short summary. Press Esc to close it.

With the keyboard, click the table or press Tab to focus it. Use Left and Right to move across your rank groups, Enter or Space to choose one, then 1, 2 or 3 to ask that opponent. Esc un-chooses the rank. H gives a hint, N starts a new game, and F turns on fullscreen.

Go fish rules: how to play go fish

Go fish uses a 52-card deck with no jokers. Each player is dealt 7 cards with 2 or 3 players, or 5 cards each with 4 players, and the rest of the deck becomes the pond, placed face down. You always go first, and play goes clockwise.

On your turn you ask one opponent who still holds cards for a rank you hold at least one card of. If they have any cards of that rank, they give you all of them, and you ask again. If they do not, they say “Go fish!” and you draw the top card of the pond. If the card you draw is the rank you asked for, you show it and go again. Otherwise your turn ends.

Whenever a player holds all four cards of a rank, those four cards are laid down at once as a book. A player who starts a turn with no cards draws one card from the pond and asks with it. If the pond is also empty, that player is out and the others play on. The game ends when all 13 books have been made. The player with the most books wins, and a tie for the most is shown as a tie.

Go fish strategy and tips

Asking often is the main idea, because a successful ask gives you another turn. Build your hand around ranks you already hold, since three cards of a rank mean one more card completes a book.

Ask the opponent with the most cards when you can. More cards gives them more chances to hold the rank you need. A “Go fish!” answer tells you that opponent has none of that rank, so keep that in mind for later turns.

When an opponent asks you for a rank, they hold at least one card of it. Remember that, because the cards you are missing for a book may be with the player who asked.

How do the computer players choose what to ask?

Computer players only make legal asks. They first ask for a rank they hold if they know an opponent has it. Otherwise they ask for the rank they hold the most cards of, from the opponent with the most cards. They do not bluff, and they do not use “Go fish!” answers as clues.

With good memory, a computer remembers every ask in the game. With forgetful memory, it only remembers the last four events, asks and books together, and treats older events as unknown. In a 200-game test with two players, the forgetful computer averaged 6.28 books against 6.42 for the good-memory one, so memory matters a little. The Hint always uses good memory.

Frequently asked questions

Is go fish free, and do I need to sign up?

Yes, it is free. There is no account or sign-up, and the game runs in your browser without sending anything to a server.

Can I play go fish on a phone?

Yes. The layout fits a 320 px wide phone without sideways scrolling. Tap a card to choose its rank, then tap the opponent to ask.

Is my game saved?

Yes. After every ask, the game is saved in your browser on this device. Reloading the page returns you to the same position, and the computers carry on from there. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Can I undo a move?

No. The game has no Undo, because the other players’ cards are hidden.

How many computer players can I play against?

You can choose 1, 2 or 3 computer players in the Opponents box. Changing the number starts a new game.

What happens if the pond runs out?

If you must go fish and the pond is empty, nothing is drawn and your turn passes. A player who has no cards and an empty pond is out, and the others keep playing.

What if two players have the same number of books?

The game shows a tie and names the tied players. There is no tie-break.

More games

• Crazy Eights: a shedding card game if you want a change from collecting ranks.
• Memory Game: a matching game of remembering where each card is.
• Gin Rummy: a card game of building sets and runs from your hand.
• Hearts: a trick-taking card game where you try to avoid points.
• Cribbage: a counting card game, played with pegs on a board.
• Spades: a trick-taking card game played in partnerships.