Teen Patti is a casino card game that originated in South Asia. It combines elements of poker, rummy, and other well-known casino table games. This card game has spread from the Indian subcontinent and is now played by people all over the world.
You too can begin enjoying this awesome card game once you learn how to play Teen Patti. Once you master the Teen Patti rules, you can start playing right away by using our top casino sites.
What Is Teen Patti?
This card game, which first became popular in India, requires at least three players to be played correctly. It can be played using a standard 52-card deck.
The aim of the game is to be the last player standing. If more than one player remains at the end, the winner is the person with the highest ranking hand.
How to Play Teen Patti
At the start of each round, every player at the table has to make an ante bet in order to be included in the hand. Players are then dealt three face-down cards.
This is where the strategy component of Teen Patti begins, Players have the choice of looking at their cards and playing “seen.” Or you can choose to play “blind” and not look at your cards.
Playing blind allows players to wager only half of the stake amount that “seen” players have to use. However, the risk is that you do not know how strong your hand is. Blind players can choose to become seen players at any point, but their betting amount increases.
Once every player has decided how they will play, the fun really begins. The action moves around the table in a counterclockwise motion. Players take turns raising or calling the bet amount, similar to other real money poker games.
The game continues until only one player remains. When two players are left, either player can call for a “show.” If this happens, then both players have to reveal their hands, and the person with the highest-ranking hand wins.
Teen Patti Hand Rankings
Each player only has three cards to work with when playing Teen Patti. So, like many other three card poker variants, some hands are unavailable. Royal flushes, four-of-a-kind, and other top hands from standard poker are not possible.
Here are the hands you need to be familiar with when playing a Teen Patti game.
- Trio/Trail/Three-of-a-kind – Three cards of the same card
- Straight flush/Pure run/ Shahi – Three cards of the same suit, in order
- Runs, straight – Three cards in sequential order, can be of any suit
- Flush – Three cards of the same suit
- Pair – Two of the same card
- High card – The highest ranking card in your hand, only used when no other options are available
Teen Patti Rules
Mastering the hand rankings in Teen Patti is only one aspect of the game players need to learn. Here are three other important rules that you need to know before you play.
Seen or Blind
One of the biggest decisions players must make every round is whether they are going to play blind or seen. This choice is a key part of any Teen Patti strategy.
Seen players are allowed to look at their cards. This gives players the advantage of knowing right away whether their hand is worth playing or not. However, it also means that they have to play with a higher betting minimum.
Blind players are not allowed to look at their cards. The trade-off here is that blind players only have to wager half as much as seen players.
You do not need to play the whole round as a blind player, either. You can decide to look at your cards and become a seen player. However, when you do this you then have to play using the higher stake amount used by seen players.
Rules for Betting
The difference in betting amounts between seen and blind players is not the only wagering rule players should be aware of. There are also strict rules regarding how much players need to bet.
Seen players have to double the stake amount of blind players. The reverse is also true, So if a seen player raises their bet from two units to four, then the stake for blind players also goes up.
The betting amount is also increased for seen players who have already wagered. So, instead of just adding another two units to the pot, every seen player would have to bet a minimum of four units the rest of the round.
Calling for a Show
A round of Teen Patti continues until only one person is remaining. When there are two players left in the game, a person is allowed to call for a show and force both people to show their cards.
However, there are rules for this maneuver. For example, a seen player cannot call for a show if the other person is still playing blind.
Another important factor to consider is that you still have to make a bet even if you are calling for a show. Once players reveal their hands, a winner is determined. If the hands are tied, then the person who did not call for the show is declared the winner.
There is also the option of a sideshow. This allows a seen player to look at the cards of the person who came before them in the betting order. Both players must agree to this option, and the player with the lower hand is forced to drop out of the round.
Tips for Playing Teen Patti
Studying the rules of Teen Patti is a great way to improve your game. However, there are other steps you can take to become a better player as well.
Always Start Blind
Betting on a hand that you have not seen can be a big risk. If you are serious about being a winning Teen Patti player, though, you need to be comfortable not looking at your cards.
Playing blind gives you a huge advantage over any seen players. It allows you to save your bankroll until there are fewer players left in the game.
This is not a perfect strategy. After all, you could still end up betting a lot of money on a losing hand. It is worth the risk, however, and will make you seem like an instant pro.
Practice With Free Online Games
Another great way to become a better Teen Patti player is by practicing with free versions of the game. Brick-and-mortar casinos do not usually offer free games.
Luckily, top casino sites like DuckyLuck Casino offer free versions of this awesome game. You can use these demo versions of the game to master the ins and outs of Teen Patti.
Playing free Teen Patti online will also allow you to preserve your bankroll. You can play as much as you want without worrying about spending money.
Build the Pot Slowly
Experienced poker players know the importance of not scaring away other players too early. You need players to stay in long enough to build the pot.
The same strategy applies when playing a Teen Patti game. You will need all of the other players to drop out of the game eventually. But you want them to play the hand long enough to build up the pot.
This can be a tricky skill to learn, but it will be well worth it. The best way to accomplish this is to bet small amounts at first so more players stick around. When you are ready to start pushing players out of the game, you can start betting more aggressively.
Only Play Strong Hands
Teen Patti players will also benefit from this poker tip of only playing strong hands. If you are playing blind then, of course, you will not know how strong your hand is.
Once you become a seen player, though, you should only play your hand if it is strong enough to win. This could mean folding after you have already invested several rounds of betting into the pot.
Losing in this way is not fun, but it can be necessary at times. Otherwise, you will continue to invest your bankroll in a hand that is unlikely to win. Folding will help you save your bankroll for a hand that you can actually win.
Are You Ready to Play Teen Patti?
Teen Patti is the perfect game for bettors who are looking for a new spin on classic poker games. The Indian card game is easy to learn and it is a lot of fun to play. You can even practice for free using some of the best casino apps.
