Teen Patti, also known as “Indian Poker,” is a popular card game played with a standard deck of 52 cards.
It is similar to the western game of poker and has some similarities to the British game of three-card brag. Here are the basic rules and gameplay guidelines for Teen Patti:
- Number of Players: Teen Patti is typically played with 3 to 6 players.
- Card Ranking: The cards are ranked from highest to lowest as follows: Ace, King, Queen, Jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. However, in some variations, the Ace can also be considered the lowest card.
- Chip Distribution: Each player is given an equal number of chips at the beginning of the game.
- Ante: All players contribute a predetermined amount of chips as an “ante” to the pot before the game starts.
- Betting Rounds: Teen Patti is played in multiple rounds of betting. The game typically consists of two or three betting rounds.
- Dealer and Turns: The dealer is chosen randomly at the beginning of the game, and the turn to deal rotates clockwise after each hand. The player to the right of the dealer starts the betting.
- Gameplay: Each player receives three cards face down from the dealer. Players can look at their cards, but they should keep them hidden from the other players.
- Betting Options:
- Chaal: The player can place a bet equal to the current stake or the previous player’s bet. This continues until all players have placed their bets or folded.
- Pack: A player can choose to fold their hand and not participate in the current round. They lose any chips they have already contributed to the pot.
- Side Show: If there are only two players remaining in the game, the non-dealer can request a side show. The dealer then has the option to accept or decline. If accepted, both players reveal their cards, and the player with the lower-ranking hand must fold.
- Hand Rankings: Teen Patti hand rankings are similar to traditional poker. The highest-ranking hand is a trail (three of a kind), followed by a pure sequence (straight flush), sequence (straight), color (flush), pair (two of a kind), and high card. Note that in some variations, the rankings may differ slightly.
- Winner: At the end of the final betting round, if more than one player remains, the players reveal their cards. The player with the highest-ranking hand wins the pot. If two players have the same hand ranking, the player with the higher individual cards wins. In case of a tie, the pot is divided equally.
Here are a few additional details and variations you may find useful:
- Boot Amount: In some games, a “boot” amount is required to enter the game. This is an additional fixed amount that players must contribute to the pot before receiving their cards.
- Limit and Pot Limit: Teen Patti can be played with betting limits or pot limits. In limit games, there are specific predetermined bet sizes, while in pot limit games, players can bet any amount up to the current size of the pot.
- Blind Bets: In some variations, before the cards are dealt, the two players to the left of the dealer must place blind bets. These bets are made without seeing their cards and ensure there is some money in the pot to compete for.
- Seen and Blind Play: After the cards are dealt, players have the option to play “seen” or “blind.” Seen players pay double the current stake, while blind players pay the current stake. Blind players can only see their own cards and not the other players’ cards.
- Variation of Hands: Some variations of Teen Patti include additional hand rankings, such as a pure sequence of Ace-2-3 (known as a trail) or the highest-ranking hand being a pure sequence rather than a trail.
- Joker: In some games, a joker card is added to the deck. The joker can act as any card to complete a sequence or set.
- Betting Options: In certain variations, players have additional betting options like “Pack” (fold), “Show” (reveal their cards without betting), or “Tie” (a bet on the outcome being a tie between two or more players).
- Pot Distribution: Depending on the rules, the pot may be distributed differently. It can be won entirely by the player with the best hand, or it can be split between the best high hand and the best low hand.
- Online Platforms: Teen Patti has gained popularity as an online game, allowing players to compete against others over the internet. These platforms often have variations and features that enhance the gameplay experience.