These teen patti rules explain the three-card game that comes out at almost every Diwali gathering and family get-together in India. Also called 3 patti or flash, it is simple to learn: everyone gets three cards, you decide whether to stay in or pack, and the best hand wins the round. On this site we play it the friendly way, with matchsticks, chips or points on paper and no money at all. Learn the hand ranking chart first, as everything else follows from it.
Quick rules
- 3 to 7 players, one 52-card deck, no jokers. Each player is dealt 3 cards face down.
- Everyone puts a small starting amount of points, called the boot, into the middle.
- Players can play blind (without looking) or seen (after looking at their cards).
- On your turn you either stay in by adding points (chaal) or pack (fold).
- Blind players add the current stake; seen players add double.
- When two players remain, either can ask for a show. The higher hand wins the points in the middle.
Teen patti hand ranking chart
| Rank | Hand | What it means | Best example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (highest) | Trail or set (trio) | Three cards of the same rank | A A A |
| 2 | Pure sequence | Three consecutive cards of the same suit | A K Q of hearts |
| 3 | Sequence (run) | Three consecutive cards, mixed suits | A K Q, mixed suits |
| 4 | Colour | Three cards of the same suit, not in sequence | A K J of spades |
| 5 | Pair | Two cards of the same rank | A A K |
| 6 (lowest) | High card | None of the above | A K J, mixed suits |
Note that in teen patti a sequence beats a colour, the opposite of five-card poker hand rankings. This is because with three cards a run is rarer than a flush.
Ranking within each hand
- Trails: A A A is highest and 2 2 2 is lowest.
- Sequences: A K Q is the highest. Most players rank A 2 3 second, above K Q J; some groups treat A 2 3 as the lowest run, so agree first. Q K A is valid but K A 2 is not.
- Colours and high cards: compare the highest card, then the second, then the third.
- Pairs: the higher pair wins; with equal pairs, the higher third card wins.
- The weakest possible hand is 2, 3, 5 in mixed suits.
What you need
- One standard 52-card deck with jokers removed.
- Chips, matchsticks, buttons or a points sheet. Give every player the same starting amount, such as 100 points.
- A scoreboard or notebook if you play with points on paper.
Setup
- Choose a dealer and a boot amount, such as 1 point per player.
- Every player puts the boot into the middle. This is the starting pool, and the boot is also the first current stake.
- The dealer shuffles and deals 3 cards to each player, one at a time, face down, starting from the player on their left.
How to play
Blind and seen players
Every player begins blind. You may keep playing blind for as many turns as you like, or look at your cards at any time and become seen. Once seen, you cannot go back to blind.
- A blind player adds an amount equal to the current stake (or up to twice it, which raises the stake).
- A seen player adds twice the current stake (or up to four times it, which raises the stake).
Taking turns
- Play starts with the player to the dealer's left and goes clockwise.
- On your turn, either chaal (stay in by adding points as above) or pack (fold, place your cards face down and leave the round).
- Players who pack lose whatever they have already put in.
- Rounds of turns continue until only two players are left, or until a limit agreed by the table is reached.
Side show
A seen player may ask the previous player, if that player is also seen, for a side show after adding their own chaal. If accepted, the two compare cards privately and the lower hand must pack. The player asked may refuse, and play continues.
Show
- When only two players remain, either may ask for a show on their turn by adding the normal amount.
- Both reveal their cards. The higher hand wins everything in the middle.
- If everyone else packs, the last player wins the round without showing.
Scoring
The winner of each round collects all the points or matchsticks in the middle. Keep track on paper and play for a fixed time or number of rounds. The player with the most points at the end wins. Exactly equal hands are rare; most families split the pool, while some rules say the player who asked for the show loses. Agree this before you start.
How to win
Win individual rounds by holding the best hand at the show, or by staying in confidently until everyone else packs. Win the session by finishing with the most points.
Variations
- Muflis (lowball): the hand rankings are reversed and the lowest hand wins.
- Joker: one card is turned up after dealing and all cards of that rank are wild.
- AK47: all aces, kings, 4s and 7s are wild.
- 999: players arrange the values of their three cards as a three-digit number, and the number closest to 999 wins.
- Four card: each player gets 4 cards and makes the best 3-card hand.
Tips and strategy
- Playing blind for a few turns costs less and keeps others guessing.
- Pack early with weak high-card hands rather than slowly losing points.
- Remember a pair is already a good hand in three-card play.
- Watch how others play after they see their cards. A sudden raise usually means a strong hand.
House rules to agree first
- Boot amount, starting points and a maximum stake per turn.
- Where A 2 3 sits in the sequence ranking.
- Whether side shows are allowed, how equal hands are settled, and how a show works when one player is still blind (rules vary from family to family).
- Points only: no money, and a set finishing time so the game stays relaxed.
For more Indian card fun, read our 13 card rummy rules, learn 29, or plan a festive afternoon with kitty party games and tambola.
Questions people ask
What is the teen patti ranking order?
From highest to lowest: trail (three of a kind), pure sequence, sequence, colour, pair and high card. A A A is the best possible hand and 2, 3, 5 of mixed suits is the worst.
Which is bigger in teen patti, colour or sequence?
A sequence is bigger than a colour in teen patti. A pure sequence, which is both a run and the same suit, ranks above both and is beaten only by a trail.
How do you play teen patti card game?
Each player puts a boot into the middle and gets 3 cards. Players take turns either adding points to stay in or packing. When only two remain, a show decides the winner by the hand ranking chart.
What is the difference between blind and seen in teen patti?
A blind player has not looked at their cards and adds only the current stake each turn. A seen player has looked and must add twice the current stake. Playing blind is cheaper but riskier.
Is A 2 3 the highest sequence in teen patti?
No. A K Q is the highest sequence. Most players rank A 2 3 as the second highest, just above K Q J, though some groups count it as the lowest run.