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Teen Patti: rules, hand rankings & legal status
Teen Patti (“three cards”) is India's classic 3-card betting game — simpler than poker, faster than rummy. Learn the boot, blind vs chaal, and every hand rank from trail to high card.
Legal note
Teen Patti played online for money falls under the same central ban as money rummy: prohibited across India since 1 May 2026 under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. This page teaches the game, not money play.
How a hand works
- Boot. All players ante an equal minimum stake (the boot) to the pot before cards are dealt.
- Deal. Each player receives 3 cards face down.
- Blind or seen. Players acting without looking at their cards play blind (smaller stakes); those who looked play seen/chaal (usually double the blind stake).
- Rounds of betting. Play moves clockwise; each player matches the current chaal, raises, or packs (folds).
- Show. With two players left, either may request a show — hands are compared and the higher rank takes the pot. Or everyone else packs and the last player wins uncontested.
Hand rankings (highest first)
| Rank | Hand | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Trail (trio) | Three of a kind | A♥ A♦ A♣ (strongest possible) |
| 2. Pure sequence | Same-suit run of 3 | Q♠ J♠ 10♠ |
| 3. Sequence (run) | Off-suit run of 3 | 9♥ 8♦ 7♣ |
| 4. Colour (flush) | Same suit, not in sequence | K♦ 9♦ 4♦ |
| 5. Pair | Two of a kind | J♥ J♣ 5♠ |
| 6. High card | None of the above | A♦ 10♣ 7♥ |
Teen Patti vs rummy
- Cards: 3 per player (Teen Patti) vs 13 (rummy).
- Skill type: betting psychology and odds (Teen Patti) vs pattern-building and memory (rummy).
- Pace: hands resolve in minutes (Teen Patti) vs longer strategic deals (rummy).
- In common: both are Indian card staples — and both are banned online for money under the same 2026 law.
Teen Patti guides on this site
- Rules · Beginner
How to play Teen Patti
Boot, blind vs seen, sideshow and showdown — the full 10-minute guide.
- Reference
Hand rankings & cheat sheet
All six ranks, sequence order, kickers and a one-screen cheat sheet.
- Comparison
Teen Patti vs poker vs rummy
Side-by-side: rules, skills, betting and pace across all three games.
- Explainer
Gold, Star, Master: brands explained
Why so many apps share the name — plus chip scams and clone APKs.
Compare with rummy
See how the melding game differs: how to play rummy and all variants compared.
Frequently asked questions
How is Teen Patti different from rummy?
Teen Patti is a 3-card betting game (closest to poker); rummy is a 13-card melding game of sequences and sets. Both are played for money in some formats — and both fall under India's online money-gaming ban.
What is the highest hand in Teen Patti?
A trail (trio, three of a kind) — three aces is the strongest possible hand — followed by pure sequence, sequence, colour, pair and high card.
Is Teen Patti legal in India?
Teen Patti played online for money is banned under the same central law as money rummy. Social play with no stakes is a separate matter — see our legal explainer.
Is the Teen Patti app legal in India?
No app can legally offer Teen Patti for money online in India since 1 May 2026, regardless of its name or ratings. Apps still advertising cash play are promoting a banned category.