Teen Patti, also called 3 Patti or flush, is the three-card game many Indian families play at Diwali, and it is now one of the most searched card games online. Before you play Teen Patti real cash tables, you need three things clear: how betting works for blind and seen players, how hands rank, and which variation the table is using. This guide covers all three. It explains the boot, chaal, show and side show, lists the six hand rankings with the real chance of being dealt each one, and sets out the popular variations you will meet online.
Quick answer
- Each player gets three cards and plays either blind (cards unseen) or seen.
- A blind player bets half of what a seen player must bet.
- Hands rank: trail, pure sequence, sequence, colour, pair, high card.
- A show compares hands when only two players remain.
- Variations such as Muflis, AK47 and Joker change which hands win, so check the table rules first.
The basics: cards, players and the boot
Teen Patti uses a standard 52-card deck with no jokers, unless the variation adds wild cards. Tables usually seat three to seven players. Aces are the highest card, and the ace can also be used low in the sequence A-2-3.
Every round starts with the boot: a fixed amount every player puts into the pot before cards are dealt. The boot also sets the first stake, the minimum bet for the round. Each player then receives three cards face down.
Blind and seen players
This is the rule that confuses new players most. You do not have to look at your cards.
- A blind player bets without seeing their cards. Their bet must be at least the current stake and no more than twice it.
- A seen player has looked at their cards. Their bet (called chaal) must be at least twice the current stake and no more than four times it.
So a blind player pays half as much to stay in. Once a blind player looks at their cards, they become a seen player for the rest of the round. If a blind player raises, the new stake applies to everyone after them.
At any turn you can also pack (fold). You lose what you have already put in, and you are out of the round.
How a round is played
Betting moves clockwise. Each player in turn bets blind, bets seen (chaal) or packs. The round continues until one of two things happens: everyone else packs, so the last player wins the pot, or only two players remain and one asks for a show.
Show. When two players remain, either can ask for a show by paying the show cost. Both hands are turned up and the better hand wins. In most rules, if one of the two is blind, the show is paid at the blind rate. If the two hands are exactly equal in rank, the player who did not ask for the show usually wins, though some tables split the pot.
Side show. A seen player can ask the previous seen player for a side show, a private comparison of hands. The other player can accept or refuse. If accepted, the weaker hand must pack. Side shows are not allowed with blind players, and many online tables turn them off, so check the table.
Teen Patti hand rankings
From strongest to weakest, there are six hand types. The chance column shows how often you are dealt each hand from a fresh 52-card deck (22,100 possible three-card hands).
- Trail (set or trio): three cards of the same rank. A-A-A is the best hand in the game.
- Pure sequence (straight flush): three consecutive cards of the same suit.
- Sequence (straight or run): three consecutive cards in mixed suits.
- Colour (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, then the second, then the third.
Notice the order of pure sequence and trail. A pure sequence is actually slightly rarer (48 combinations against 52 for a trail), but tradition ranks the trail first, and almost every table follows that order.
In sequences, A-K-Q is the highest. Most rules rank A-2-3 second, just below A-K-Q, and K-Q-J third. Some tables rank A-2-3 lowest, so it is worth a look at the rules. The Wikipedia entry on Teen Patti rules and variations notes the same regional differences.
Breaking ties
When two hands are the same type, compare the highest card first, then the next, then the last. Between two pairs, the higher pair wins; if the pairs match, the odd card decides. Suits do not rank in standard Teen Patti, so two hands with identical ranks are a true tie, settled by the table rule (often the player who asked for the show loses).
Popular variations
Most online Teen Patti tables play the classic rules above. The variations below change which hands win, so read the game name and rules panel before you sit down.
| Variation | What changes |
|---|---|
| Muflis (lowball) | The lowest hand wins; rankings are reversed |
| AK47 | Every ace, king, 4 and 7 is a wild card |
| Joker | One card is picked as the joker and can stand for any card |
| 999 | Card values are added; the hand closest to 999 points wins |
| Hukam | A trump suit is chosen and beats other suits |
| Best of four | Each player gets four cards and picks the best three |
Live casino versions, such as one-day or 20-20 Teen Patti, are a different format. You do not play against other players; you back one of two dealt hands, Player A or Player B, and the house pays the winning side at fixed odds.
Playing Teen Patti for real money: before you start
Real-money tables add costs that home games do not have. Many platforms take a small commission (rake) from each pot. Check the boot amount, the maximum chaal and the pot limit before you join a table, because a single round can run much higher than the boot.
Set a session budget in advance, and treat the boot as an entry cost rather than a bet you need to win back. Searches for names such as Vikrant Exchange or vikranthexch can lead to copycat pages asking for deposits, so type the official address yourself.
On Winfix, the table rules panel is the place to confirm the variation, the side show rule and how ties are settled. Wfix Fun offers card games from the same group that you can compare, and our page on the 3 Patti real cash game explains what to look for in a table.
FAQ
What are the basic rules of Teen Patti?
Each player puts in the boot, receives three cards face down and bets in turn as a blind or seen player, or packs. When only two players remain, either can ask for a show, and the better hand wins the pot.
Which is the highest hand in Teen Patti?
A trail (three of a kind) is the highest hand type, and A-A-A is the best possible hand. A pure sequence ranks second.
What is the difference between blind and seen in Teen Patti?
A blind player has not looked at their cards and bets one to two times the current stake. A seen player has looked and bets two to four times the stake.
Is A-2-3 the highest sequence in Teen Patti?
In most rules A-K-Q is the highest sequence and A-2-3 is second. Some tables rank A-2-3 lowest, so check the rules of the table you join.
What is a side show in Teen Patti?
A side show is a private comparison a seen player can request with the previous seen player. If the other player accepts, the weaker hand packs. Many online tables do not allow it.
Before you play
Betting and real-money games are for adults aged 18 and over. Set a budget you can afford to lose, and use deposit limits and time-outs if you play more than you planned. India’s Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 and its 2026 rules affect real-money online games, and state laws differ, so check the laws that apply where you live.
