Teen Patti Rules: How to Play, Hand Rankings & Betting Explained (2026)

Teen Patti (“three cards”) is India’s most popular card game, similar to three-card poker. This guide covers the basic Teen Patti rules, the hand rankings and how betting works, so you can follow a table before you play. Rules can vary slightly between apps and house games, so check the in-app help of the app you use.

The basics

Played with a standard 52-card deck, usually 3 to 6 players.
Each player gets three cards face down.
Before the deal, every player puts in a small starting stake called the boot (ante) to form the pot.
The best three-card hand at the end wins the pot, or the last player left after everyone else folds.

Teen Patti hand rankings (highest to lowest)

Trail / Set — three cards of the same rank (e.g. three kings). Three aces is the highest.
Pure Sequence (Straight Flush) — three consecutive cards of the same suit.
Sequence (Straight) — three consecutive cards of mixed suits.
Color (Flush) — three cards of the same suit, not in sequence.
Pair — two cards of the same rank.
High Card — none of the above; the highest card decides.

In most rule sets A-K-Q is the highest sequence and A-2-3 the second highest. Suits are normally not ranked, so identical hands split the pot, but a few apps use their own tie-break rules.

How betting works

Blind: a player who bets without looking at their cards. A blind player bets the current stake (or can double it).
Seen (chaal): once a player looks at their cards, they must bet at least double the current blind stake.
Pack: fold your hand and leave the round.
Show: when only two players remain, either can ask for a show; cards are compared and the better hand wins.
Side show: a seen player can ask the previous seen player to compare cards privately; the lower hand must fold.

Common variations

Joker, Muflis (lowest hand wins), AK47 and Lowball are popular variations. Each changes which cards are wild or which hand wins, so read the table rules before you sit down.

More Teen Patti guides

Playing Teen Patti apps

Real-money Teen Patti apps follow these same core rules, plus their own table limits and rake. Compare them in our Teen Patti apps list or see Yono VIP. Before depositing, check whether real-money play is legal in your state and test a small withdrawal first. Teen Patti involves financial risk; play only with money you can afford to lose. 18+ only.

Frequently asked questions

What are the basic rules of Teen Patti?

Each player gets three cards and puts a boot (ante) in the pot. Players bet in turns, either blind or seen, and the best three-card hand wins the pot, or the last player left after others fold.

What is the highest hand in Teen Patti?

A Trail (set), meaning three cards of the same rank. Three aces is the highest Trail, followed by Pure Sequence, Sequence, Color, Pair and High Card.

What is the difference between blind and seen in Teen Patti?

A blind player bets without looking at their cards and bets the current stake. A seen player has looked at their cards and must bet at least double the blind stake.

What is a side show in Teen Patti?

A side show lets a seen player ask the previous seen player to compare cards privately. The player with the lower hand must fold.

Is Teen Patti a game of skill or luck?

It combines both. Hand strength is luck, but betting, reading opponents and knowing when to fold are skills. Whether real-money play is legal depends on your state and current Indian law.