Teen Patti

• Aliases

The game commonly appears under different spellings and different names: Teenpatti, Teen Pathi, Teen Patty, 3 Cards, 3 Patti, Flush, Flash.

• Number of players

2 to 10 can play (4 to 7 is best; more that 10 can play, but a high number of players becomes harder to manage)

• Cards used

A standard French-suited 52-card deck is used. Cards rank in the usual order from Ace (high) down to Deuce (low).

• Game objective

To win money by maximizing the pot before the showdown and then winning the pot with the highest-ranking hand.

• Ranks of hands

There are only six ranks of hands in Teen Patti. The following table shows these hands from highest to lowest.

	Three of a Kind or Trio (three cards of the same value; A-A-A makes the best trio and 2-2-2 is the lowest)
	Straight Flush or Straight Run (three consecutive cards in the same suit; the best straight run is A-2-3; next comes A-K-Q, then K-Q-J and so on, down to 4-3-2; 2-A-K does not count as a valid run)
	Straight or Normal Run (three consecutive cards unmatched by suit; the best normal run is A-2-3, next comes A-K-Q, then K-Q-J and so on, down to 4-3-2; 2-A-K does not count as a valid run)
	Flush or Color (any three cards of the same suit; suits do not matter, but when two colors compete, the color containing the highest card wins; the highest color is A-K-J and the lowest is 5-3-2.)
	Pair (two cards of the same value; when two pairs compete, the pair composed of the highest-ranking cards wins; if these are the same, the highest-ranking odd card wins; the highest pair hand is A-A-K and the lowest is 2-2-3)
	High Card (three cards in no particular order and unmatched by suit; the highest card wins, then the second highest, then the lowest; the best high card hand is A-K-J of mixed suits, and the worst is 5-3-2)

• The play and the betting process

Before play begins, players must agree on the value of the minimum bet. At the start of every round, before the cards are dealt out, all players must ante up, by putting this amount into the pot.

The dealer distributes the cards clockwise, one at a time, until all players receive a total of three cards. The players then proceed by betting on who has the best three-card hand. The betting starts with the player to the left of the dealer, and continues clockwise around the table, for as many betting rounds as needed until all but one or two players have folded. Each player in turn can either put an additional bet into the pot to stay in, or pay nothing further and fold. The amount that a player has to put into the pot, in order to stay in the game, depends on the "current stake", and if the said player is playing "blind" or "seen". To stay in, seen players have to bet twice as much as blind players. Initially the current stake is one unit (i.e. the amount that each player put into the pot as an ante). Each player may decide on one of these two options:

1) To play as a Blind Player: in which case the player leaves his cards face down on the table and bets an amount either equal to the ante or at must double the ante. The current stake for the next player is then the amount that the blind player put into the pot.

2) Becoming a Seen Player: in which case the player can either fold, thus removing himself from this round and loosing any money he has contributed to the pot, or stay in the game by betting an amount at least double the ante, and not more than four times the current stake. The current stake for the next player becomes half the amount that the seen player bet.

As a genera rule, in order to remain in a hand, each player can match the bet (with the "current stake" being the minimum a blind player must put in or double the current stake if a player chooses to become a seen player) or raise the bet.

If a blind player chooses to look at his cards when it is his turn to bet, that player becomes a seen player and from that turn onwards he must adhere to all the rules of a seen player and bet at least twice the current stake, or fold. If all players become seen players, the last bet becomes the "current stake", and the players only need to put-in that amount into the pot to stay in the game.

The betting continues in this way until one of the following scenarios happens:

1. All except one player have folded. In that case the last surviving player wins all the money in the pot, irrespective of the cards held.
2. All except two players have folded. In that case one of these players, at their turn, pays for a "show" and the cards of both players are exposed and their hands are compared to determine the winner.

The rules for a show are as follows:

• A show may not take place until all but two players have folded.
• If you are a blind player, the cost of a show is the "current stake", paid into the pot, irrespective of whether the other player is blind or seen. (Blind "current stake" is half the "current stake" of seen players). A blind player cannot look at his own cards until after paying for the show.
• A seen player may not ask a blind player for a show. A seen player may only drop out or continue betting.
• If both players are seen or if both players are blind then either may ask for a show by paying the appropriate "current stake".
• In a show, both players' hands are exposed and the player whose hand ranks higher wins the pot. If the hands are tied then the player who did not call for the show wins the pot.

If all the players are seen, then at your turn, immediately after betting the minimum amount (twice the current stake), you can ask the player who bet immediately before you for a compromise. That player can accept or refuse the compromise.

• If the compromise is accepted, the two players involved privately compare their cards, and the player with the lower ranking cards must immediately fold. If they are equal, the player who asked for the compromise must fold.
• If the compromise is refused, the betting continues as usual with the player after the one who asked for the compromise.

Note that the betting process in this game is not the same as proper Poker betting procedure. There is no concept of equalizing the bets, and a showdown is not possible with more than two players.

• Odds and Probabilities

The following table shows the possible hands in three-card poker (which also apply to Teen Patti), the number of combinations of each hand, and the probability of forming the given hand. It should be noted, however, that the odds of catching a three of a kind are actually greater than the odds of catching a straight flush, even though three of a kind is a higher ranking hand in Teen Patti.

Variations

Some play with a higher limit on the amount by which the bet can be increased - so a blind player can bet more than twice the current stake, and a seen player can bet more than four times the current stake.

Some players set a limit on how many times any given player can bet blind. A common rule is to allow a player to bet blind on the first three turns, but on the fourth turn all players would have to look at their cards and continue playing as seen players.

Some players have adopted the rule that the amount to be paid for a show is twice the minimum bet; i.e. twice the current stake for a blind player, or four times the current stake for a seen player.

The game is sometimes also played with variations of 5 or more cards. When playing these variation, players sometimes use more than one pack of cards, although the traditional version of the game requires the use of one standard 52-card deck.

Some players agree to pay to get 1 or 2 new cards on seen hands, sort of like Draw Poker. Others simplify things, and only allow each player one or two betting "turns" per round.

No Limit Games

Teen Patti can also be played as a no limit game and is quite similar to No Limit Texas Hold'em Poker. Instead of putting-in double the current stake on a blind hand and quadruple for a seen hand, in a no limit game players can raise any amount of chips they have, thus raising the current stake to that amount, if they are blind, or half that amount if they are seen.

Tournament Structure

Teen Patti can also be structured as a tournament, in much the same way as a poker tournament. Players pay a flat fee to enter the tournament, thus creating a pool, and getting a fixed number of chips. Prizes are divided amongst the last 1 to 3 players remaining in the game (or more in large tournaments). Players compete against each other to remain in the game and knock other players out by getting their chips. Tournaments are usually No Limit games, and the antes are raised in predetermined time intervals.