Go Fish is the card game every family learns first, free to play online against a computer opponent called Otto — no download, no account, no second player needed. You each hold a hand of cards and take turns asking for a rank: "Got any sevens?" A hit hands over every seven in his hand and you ask again. A miss sends you fishing in the pond, and if you happen to hook the exact rank you asked for, you get another turn anyway. Four of a kind goes down as a book, and whoever owns the most books when all thirteen are down wins. The twist across 12 levels is Otto's memory: at first he asks almost at random, but by the later levels he remembers every rank you have asked him for, chases his own near-books, and stops wasting turns on asks that just missed.
How to play Go Fish
- You and Otto are each dealt a hand (seven cards on most levels, five on the tighter ones). The rest of the deck becomes the pond.
- On your turn, tap one of the rank buttons. You can only ask for a rank already in your own hand — that is the core rule of Go Fish, so the buttons only ever show ranks you hold.
- If Otto has any cards of that rank, he must hand over all of them, and you get to ask again straight away.
- If he has none, it is "go fish" — you draw the top card of the pond. Draw the exact rank you asked for and you keep your turn; anything else and it passes to Otto.
- Whenever four cards of the same rank land in your hand, they are laid down automatically as a book. Books are what the game is scored on, not cards.
- The game ends when all thirteen books are down. The bigger book pile wins; win a level to unlock the next one, where Otto listens more carefully.
Tips
- Every rank you ask for tells Otto what you are holding. From level 4 he acts on that, so on the higher levels do not ask for a rank you only hold one of unless you are willing to lose it.
- A rank button glowing amber means you already hold three of them — one hit finishes the book, so those are the asks worth spending a turn on.
- Right after Otto hands you cards, ask again immediately for the same or a nearby rank while you know his hand is thinner.
- When the pond gets low, the game speeds up sharply — every miss costs you the turn with no draw at all. Bank near-complete books before that happens.
- If Otto keeps asking for the same rank, he is holding two or three of them. Never ask him for that rank; you would only be confirming your own card.
FAQ
Is Go Fish free to play online?
Yes. Go Fish runs entirely in your browser with no download, no account, and no in-game purchases. Level progress saves on your own device.
Can I ask for a card I do not have?
No — the standard rule is that you can only ask for a rank already in your hand, which is why the game shows you a button per rank you hold instead of a free choice of all thirteen.
What happens if I draw the card I asked for?
You keep your turn and ask again. That is the usual house rule and it rewards asking for ranks you hold several of, since those are more likely to still be in the pond.
Does the computer cheat by looking at my hand?
No. Otto only ever uses public information — the ranks you have asked him for, plus what he holds himself. Higher levels make him better at remembering that, not better informed.
Is Go Fish good for kids?
Yes. The rules are simple enough for young children, there is no reading required beyond card ranks, and the early levels give a very forgiving opponent. It works on a phone or tablet with taps only.