About Russian Fool

We are glad to present you ancient Russian game. It is not similar to a bridge or poker. It has very simple rules. Read the rules and enjoy the game!

History

This game has appeared in Russia in the nineteenth century. It gained big popularity among people. Various kinds of game began to appear.

Now "Russian Fool" is the most known game in Russia. In Russia every man plays this game. Rules are simple, but "Russian Fool" still attracts millions of people. Now we suggest you to play this fascinating game.

Game Controls

The opening screen (main menu) has options for starting a new game, listing high scores and exiting the program.

When selecting a new game you will be taken to the game settings page. You can select game type, game mode and number of plays ( only for duel ) there. Tap the “CHAMP” button to play championship, or tap the “DUEL” button to play duel. Touch the left, Winking Fool for a Friendly Game, or touch the right, Devilish Fool for an Aggressive Game. You can select number of plays (from 1 to 99) for duel by taping up/down buttons ( you can use up/down button on your device instead of these buttons on the screen ) in the lower left corner of the screen. To start the game touch the “begin” button.

The Game Screen is divided into three parts .

The Top Control Bar contains (from left to right):

- Green Touch Point in the upper left corner that pauses the game and takes you to a page with choices for continuing, returning to the main menu, exiting the game and selecting of the other skin. If you leave the game to start another Palm application the game is automatically paused and you will be taken to this page when you return.

- Yellow Touch Point (with a question mark) that takes you to the Game Instructions

- Battery Meter

- Clock (24 hour time)

The Bottom Control Bar contains (from left to right):

- Score Counter

- Game Counter

- Play Status Indicator

- “END” touch spot (appears only when needed)

The Game Play Area occupies the remainder of the screen. The computer's cards are on the top left and your hand is displayed at the bottom. In the middle are (initially) five Playing Positions, to the right of which lies the Deck.

Rules

General Rules

The goal is to get rid of all your cards. The player left with at least one card loses. The deck has 36 cards (standard Russian deck), consisting of all four suits and card values ranging from 6 through Ace (highest).

Starting the Game

Each player is dealt six cards. The thirteenth card is put face up on the table and the Deck placed upon it. This card is trump, and is considered the last card in the deck. The player holding the lowest trump card plays first (automatically selected by the computer). Players trade roles between Attacker and Defender. These roles are shown on the Play Status Indicator, by “smile” (you) and “computer” icons. The arrow points in the direction of play.

Game Progress

The player going first is the Attacker and selects any card he/she wants from his/her hand by touching the card with the stylus (the card elevates) and plays it in any of the initial five Playing Positions on the center of the table (usually starting with the left most one) by touching that Playing Position with the stylus (the card moves to there). The Defender may only cover with a higher card of the same suit or trump the trick (trump can be played anytime).

When the Defender covers all (one or more of) the attacker's discards (in Russian called “bito”) roles are switched and on the next turn the Defender becomes the Attacker. After the first “bito” the number of Playing Positions on the table increases from five to six.

While the Defender is never obligated to cover Attacker's discard(s) (either due to lack of the proper card, or by choice), not playing results in a penalty consisting of taking all cards that have been played by both sides on that turn into Defender's hand. In this case, roles do not change and the same Attacker plays again on the next turn.

The Attacker may play additional cards of the same value as cards already showing on the table immediately or during the progress of his/her turn. For example, if Attacker plays an 8/Spades and this is covered by Defender's Jack/Spades, then the Attacker may play any (suit) 8 or any (suit) Jack in one of the remaining Playing Positions. Continuing the example, if the Attacker then plays an 8/Hearts which is covered by Defender's King/Hearts, then Attacker can play any (suit) 8, Jack or King on one of the remaining Playing Positions.

The Defender may choose whether or not to play on these additional cards. As the Attacker and Defender play additional cards, each new card value creates a new opportunity for Attacker discards. The maximum number of plays is six (but can not exceed the number of cards remaining in the defending player's hand, which can be reduced to below six near the end of the game, when the Deck has been exhausted). The Attacker and/or the Defender may discard a maximum of six cards in one turn in this manner, thus winning the game (rarely happens).

When you are defending and play is complete, you must touch the “END” spot on the right side of the bottom control bar (it only appears when needed). You will always end play this way when defending. You will be required to end play this way as Attacker when the computer covers all of your discards or takes cards by not covering.

The Attacker maintains his/her role as long as he/she keeps winning hands. When he/she loses a hand roles change and the Defender becomes the Attacker and plays as above, on as many positions as he/she can or cares to.

After each round the computer draws cards for both players from the deck so that there is at least six in his/her hand, until the deck is exhausted. If a player already has six or more cards in his/her hands there is no draw from the deck.

The first player to get rid of all his/her cards wins!

Games can end in a draw.

The game is lost if the time counter reaches zero.

The game can be paused by touching the green touch point on the upper control bar.

Scoring

Scoring is not a factor in game outcome, but is included to keep track of progress.

Note, that in the high scores table you can see just an average values of scores for duel and overall values of scores for championship.

Scoring for friendly games:

•  A friendly game begins with 75 points.

•  When you are the Defender and cover all the Attacker's discards (“bito”) you earn 2 points for every card played.

•  When the computer is Attacker and fails to cover all of the cards (and is forced to take them into its hand) you earn 4 points for each of those cards.

•  When you are Attacker and fail to cover all of the cards (and are forced to taken them into your hand) you lose 3 points for each of those cards.

•  You lose 10 points when the computer beats you on a play.

•  You win 50 points when you beat the computer on a play.

•  There are no scores if the game ends in a draw.

Scoring for aggressive games:

•  An aggressive game begins with 45 points.

•  When you are the Defender and cover all the Attacker's discards (“bito”) you earn 2 points for every card played.

•  When the computer is Attacker and fails to cover all of the cards (and is forced to take them into its hand) you earn 4 points for each of those cards.

•  When you are Attacker and fail to cover all of the cards (and are forced to taken them into your hand) you lose 4 points for each of those cards.

•  You lose 20 points when the computer beats you on a play.

•  You win 25 points when you beat the computer on a play.

•  There are no scores if the game ends in a draw.

Scoring for championship is the same with duel.

The game counter on the bottom control bar is used to keep track of games played.

EndUserLicenseAgreement

Russian Fool is Copyright © 2004 Plazon. All rights reserved.

Plazon makes no warranty, either express or implied, with respect to this software, its performance, merchantability or suitability for a particular purpose. The software and all associated items are supplied to the user 'as is'. We can accept no responsibility for any problems or damages arising directly, indirectly or consequentially from the use or misuse of the software and/or associated items.

This program is not free software, it is a shareware program. If you find this program useful then you must register. On payment of the registration fee, you will be granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the Software and documentation, for use in accordance with this license agreement on a single Palm OS device by many persons, or on many Palm OS devices by single person. The registered users would be provided with registration key. This registration key may not be passed onto others.

The Software shall not be modified, reverse engineered, decompiled, disassembled or used for any derivative works based on the Software for any purpose.

Distribution of unregistered Software is permitted only for the whole software package without any modifications. All accompanying files must be included. You are specifically prohibited from charging or requesting donations for any such copies and from distributing the Software and/or documentation with other products (commercial or otherwise) without prior permission from the author.

Registration

Information about registration you may find here: www.plazon.net.

You can also find latest version there.

Customer support

With all questions about “Russian Fool” mail: support@plazon.net. Your reports, suggestions and requests help us to improve our software!

Special Thanks

Arthur Yamaletdinov, Bloody Angel, Carlos, Goldstein Marc, Gregory, Jeffrey Barrie, Kolya Grechkin, Michael Vasiliev, Moris Michael, Timur Gataullin and all other people using and testing our software!

Your letters help us to improve our software!