Hand rankings, best to worst
| Rank | Name | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trail (set) | Three of a kind | |
| 2 | Pure sequence | Straight flush | |
| 3 | Sequence (run) | A-K-Q is highest; in most rules A-2-3 is second | |
| 4 | Colour | Flush | |
| 5 | Pair | ||
| 6 | High card |
Note the order: with only three cards, a sequence is harder to make than a colour, so it ranks higher, which is the reverse of five-card poker.
How a round works
- Everyone puts a fixed boot amount into the pot.
- Each player receives three cards face down.
- Players may play blind (without looking) or seen. Blind players bet at half the rate of seen players.
- Betting moves around the table until all but one player fold, or until two remain and one asks for a show.
- A seen player may request a side show with the previous player, comparing hands privately. The weaker hand folds.
Popular variations
- Muflis (lowball): the lowest hand wins.
- AK47: all aces, kings, fours and sevens are wild.
- Joker / wild card: a randomly chosen rank is wild.
- Four-card Teen Patti: players get four cards and choose the best three.
Where and how it is played
Teen Patti is a centrepiece of Diwali card parties across India and the diaspora. The legal status of playing for money varies by Indian state and by country, so check local rules before you play for stakes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest hand in Teen Patti?
A trail, or set: three cards of the same rank. Three aces is the best possible hand.
What is the difference between blind and seen players?
A blind player has not looked at their cards and bets half as much as a seen player. Seeing your cards gives information but doubles the cost of staying in.
Is Teen Patti the same as poker?
It descends from the English game three-card brag and shares poker's betting and bluffing, but uses three cards and its own hand rankings.