Which Card Games are the Most Popular in India?

If you are an Indian, even you know the popularity of card games. Whether it’s holi, diwali, or that little kittie party, card games have always been one of the best forms of leisure and entertainment.

Be it a huge social gathering or a small family reunion, the celebration is incomplete without a few rounds of your favourite card game. There are many varieties of card games played across India. While some games are specific to geographical locations, others are popular throughout the country.

Having said that, let’s look at the most popular card games played in India.

1. Teen Patti

Teen Patti is not only one of the most popular card games but also a highly played online casino game too. It is a 3-card game that shares many similarities with poker and 3-card brag. Each player will get 3 cards in this game. The players must decide the minimum bet amount to start the game.

Players can continue to bet and the pot keeps growing with each round. Players also have the option of folding (quitting) at any point. The game continues until everyone but one has folded or the last two remaining players decide to have a “show.”

The winner gets the entire pot amount. It is a popular game during festivals and social gatherings in India.

2. Rummy

Rummy is arguably the most popular card game in India. Rummy is a skill-based game that requires the player to use math and analytical skills to win.

A minimum of two players can play this game. In its most popular format, each player will get 13 cards. The objective of the game is to form sets and sequences of the cards by drawing and discarding cards. Some variants of rummy can also be played with 10 and 21 cards. In recent days, online rummy is getting popular among Indians.

3. Andar Bahar

Andar Bahar is another popular card game in India with very simple rules. Here, a card is picked from the deck and placed face up on the table. The dealer then starts dealing cards face-up to his left and right side. Players must bet which side the value of the chosen card will show up. This is a simple game that offers a 50-50 chance of winning for all players.

4. Satte Pe Satta

Satte Pe Satta translates to 7-on-7. This can be played by any number of players. Once all the cards are dealt, the player who holds the 7 of hearts has to start the game by playing it in the middle. The next player must put either 6 of hearts or 8 of hearts.

The next player can also place 7 of another suit. If the next player lacks all these cards, he or she has to pass the turn. The game continues until all the cards are laid. The objective of the game is to block another player’s chance of laying down cards using strategic methods.

5. Poker

Poker is the most popular international game. This skill-based game is getting popular throughout India. Each player gets two cards.

There are also 5 community cards on the table. Players can place their bets based on the strength of the cards they hold. The player who has the best ranking cards wins the final pot. Similar to rummy, online poker is also getting widely popular in India in recent days.