Are you bored of playing online slots and traditional table games like blackjack? Perhaps you’re looking for a more exciting or unusual game? If so, teen patti might be just the thing for you.
Sometimes known as “flush” or “Indian poker,” the game is hugely popular on the Indian subcontinent. It shares a few similarities with poker and other games but with some twists along the way.
Teen patti is one of those casino games you should try at least once in your life. In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to do just that.
What Is Teen Patti?
Teen patti is a popular card game that evolved in India and the surrounding area. The game’s origins are likely tied to the English three-card brag game. It’s most popular in South Asia, but it’s played worldwide these days. That’s largely down to live dealer casinos offering a version of teen patti online, spreading its popularity far and wide.
The goal of the classic game is similar to poker, except you’re aiming for the best three-card hand. To achieve this, you’ll need to consider factors like the strength of your hand, how your opponents play, and various probabilities.
It’s perhaps not quite as testing as Texas hold’em, but there’s more skill involved than playing jackpot slots. So, if you’re looking for something a little different that’s thought-provoking but not too taxing, you’ll want to learn the teen patti rules.
How To Play Teen Patti Game
Teen patti can be played with three to six players and uses a standard 52-card deck. Each card is ranked traditionally, with the ace as the highest and the deuce as the lowest. You win a round if your three-card hand is the highest-ranked of the players remaining at the showdown.
Teen Patti Hands
The hands are ranked as follows, from the highest to the lowest:
- Trail: Three cards of the same rank. A hand with three aces is the highest, while three twos are the lowest — sometimes called three-of-a-kind, set, or trio.
- Pure Sequence: Three consecutive cards of the same suit. Ace-king-queen of hearts would be an example of the highest-ranking pure sequence — alternatively named a straight flush or run by some players.
- Impure Sequence: Three consecutive, unsuited cards — often dubbed a straight or normal run.
- Color: Three cards of the same suit, but not consecutive. The highest is ace-king-jack, while the lowest is 5-3-2 — sometimes called a flush.
- Pair: Two cards of the same rank. A pair of aces is best, while a pair of 2s is the worst. If two pairs of the same rank are played against one another, the third card is used as a tiebreaker. The player with the highest card wins.
- High Card: Any three cards that don’t fit into any of the previous categories, like regular poker. If two high-card hands are tied, compare the second-highest cards and then the third-highest.
Teen Patti Round Progress
At the start of each turn, a player must place an ante bet called the “boot” to play. Afterward, the players are dealt three face-down cards each. Players then have to decide whether they want to look at their cards and play “seen” or not to look and play “blind.”
Blind bets must be at least equal to the size of the pot but not more than double. Playing blind obviously leaves you at a disadvantage. But simultaneously, you only need to pay half the stake of a seen player.
Players take turns clockwise, from the dealer’s left, raising or calling the bet amount. Of course, you can also fold. Like most forms of poker, the game continues until only one player remains and wins the round.
However, a showdown occurs if more than one player remains at the end. All remaining players reveal their hands. Whoever has the highest-ranking hand wins the pot. If there’s a tie, the pot is divided evenly.
Teen Patti Tips
Here, you’ll find some additional tips that might help you when playing teen patti.
Read Your Opponents
One reason teen patti is one of the best non-traditional games to try is that it’s about hidden information. Such games are always popular due to the skill involved. To see that, you only have to look at Texas hold’em, Omaha, and seven-card stud.
Study your opponents and try to read their patterns of play. Are they tight or loose? Consider playing the first few rounds conservatively to watch them and better understand their playing. Once you do so, you can adjust your bets and actions accordingly.
Study the Game
One could employ many strategies and concepts in teen patti — too many to fit in a single article. Thankfully, many resources are available so that you can hone your skills.
It’s great to know your weaknesses, as you can work on them. If you want to master the game, learning from others is crucial. Discuss hands and share your strategies and experiences.
Set Boundaries
While this isn’t the most strategic tip, it will help you enjoy the game more responsibly. Place a fixed limit on how much you’re willing to lose during any given session of teen patti. Hopefully, you’ll play well and win, but things don’t always go to plan. If the worst case happens, walk away.
Teen Patti in the Casino
This popular family card game has recently been adapted for casinos, allowing you to enjoy a one-player version of teen patti against the house.
Texas hold’em and several other forms of poker were similarly modified to create table games. Thanks to the emergence of live dealer casinos, they’ve become some of the most popular online casino games. Teen patti appears to be following a similar path.
Here’s how to play teen patti at the casino.
How To Play
In the casino version, you always see your cards. However, the dealer’s hand must reach a minimum standard to qualify.
You’ll first place your ante and any side bets offered before receiving three cards from the dealer. Your cards are turned face-up while the dealer’s hand is face-down. After checking your hand, you may fold or play.
You place an additional ante bet to play, effectively doubling your wager. At this point, the dealer reveals their hand. It must be at least queen-high to qualify.
If the dealer doesn’t qualify, it’s a push, and your play bet is returned to you. However, your ante bet wins, paid at even money.
When the dealer qualifies, the hands are compared. If yours is worse, you lose both bets, but if yours is better, both bets win and are paid at 1 to 1.
Try Teen Patti Today
If you’d like to play teen patti, register at BetMGM and give this intriguing game a try.
