Teen Patti, sometimes written as Teen Pathi, means “three cards”. It is an Indian game, also known as Flash (or Flush), and is almost identical to the British game 3 Card Brag. It uses an international 52-card pack and the cards are arranged in order from Ace (high) to 2 (low). Any number of people can participate as long as it is appropriate, but preferably 4-7.
The rules of the show are as follows:
- The show will not start until all but two players have been eliminated.
- If you are the blind player, the cost of the show is the current bet amount, paid into the pot, regardless of whether the other players are blind or seeing. You will not see your cards until after you have paid for the show.
- If you are the player being looked at, and the other players are blind, you cannot claim the show. The player who has been seen has no choice but to continue betting or withdraw.
- If both players are seen, either player may in turn appear, paying double the current wager.
- At the show, both players’ hands are revealed, and the person with the highest ranked hand wins the pot. If both players have the same hand, the player who did not pay for the show wins the pot.
- When all players have been seen, on your turn, after placing the minimum amount (twice your current bet), you may ask the player who bet just before you (also known as the spectator) to compromise. The player in front of you can either accept or reject this compromise.
So these are 3 patti rules. If the compromise is accepted, the 2 involved players must compare their cards in private, and the player with the lower hand must fold immediately. If they are the same, the player who asked for the compromise must fold.
If the compromise is rejected, the player after the player who asked for the compromise bets as usual.
For Example: Let’s assume that Players A, B, C, and D are playing a 3 patti game. They all put one unit on the table and dealt a D deal. Player A decides to play the blinds and places another unit. Player B looks at his cards and folds.
Player C plays the blinds and places one unit. In addition, Player D looks at his cards and puts in 2 units (the minimum amount), leaving his current bet at 1 unit. Player A raises two units, increasing his bet. Player C looks at cards and folds. Also, Player D puts in 4 units (which is the minimum amount for the player who is looking, since A has raised his current bet to 2).
In addition, player A decides to look at his cards, and after putting in 4 units, asks to see his cards. Player D also shows his cards and the winner takes all the money.
Note that the betting process in this game is completely different from the betting process in poker. There is no concept of balanced betting, and it is impossible for more than two players to showdown.
Variations
Some players set higher limits on the amount they can bet, for example, blind players can bet more than twice their current bet, while lookalike players can bet more than four times their current bet.
Some players set limits on the number of times you can blind, for example, you can blind the first three turns, but from the fourth turn onwards you must look at your cards and bet as a looker.
For example, you can be blinded for the first three turns, but on the fourth turn you must look at your cards and bet as the player you are looking at from that point on.
Over the years, players have posted many variations, many of which involve wild or exposed cards. The situation is similar to dealer’s choice poker, where new variations keep popping up as players come up with different ways to make the game more exciting, or at least different.