Of late, it has become more of a challenge to play card games the conventional way due to the hectic lifestyle that most of the people lead. However, the same old card games are now accessible right on your laptop or smartphone and it is possible to play these games virtually with your friends and family. Here’s a look at card games in India, which are very popular online.
Rummy
Rummy is the name that would top any list of popular card games in India. With easy online accessibility, the already popular card game has reached every nook and corner of the country exponentially. This skill-based game requires the players to think quickly and devise appropriate strategies to win.
In this 13-card game, the players need to form sequences and sets before making a winning declaration. It’s compulsory to form two sequences to win out of which at least one has to be a pure sequence. Sequence here refers to a group of 3 or more successive cards of the same suit. In a pure sequence, the players shouldn’t use a Joker card; if a Joker card is involved, it is an impure sequence. Players can also form sets, which means 3 or 4 cards with the same value but belonging to diverse suits. Almost every casino portal that has table games has Rummy on its list of card games.
Teen Patti
Teen Patti, which literally translates to Three Cards, is a card game that gets its inspiration from 3-Card Brag, a well-known British card game. It also has some similarity with Poker, which is why it also referred to as the Indian Poker. The other names by which this game is known are Flash or Flush. A Bollywood movie has also been named after this card game.
You can play Teen Patti live online with up to 5 players on the table. There are two sets of 3 cards each placed on the table. Each set would have two closed cards and one open card. Each player is dealt with 3 cards. The players have to arrange their cards in one of the several combinations that have different rankings, ranging from Set or Trail, Sequence and Pure Sequence to Pair, High Card and Colour.
Satte Pe Satta
Here’s another very popular Indian card game – the popularity of this game is so huge that a Bollywood movie has also been named after it. Satte Pe Satta is referred to by various names in English, including Sevens, Fan Tan, Parliament and Dominoes. This strategy-based game is filled with fun.
This game is played by 3-8 players using a deck of 52 cards. The player who gets the first card with value 7 belonging to hearts suit starts the game. The next player gets a chance to play if he has the card 6 or 8 from hearts suit. In case he doesn’t have it, the turn passes to the next player. The game proceeds when a card of value 7 from any other suit is laid. With this, the process for that colour gets unlocked. The winner of the game is the player who first finishes all the cards.
Bluff
Known by several other names like Cheat and BS, Bluff involves bluffing in order to finish all the cards at the earliest possible chance and win. This exciting card game can be played by four or more players. It is a strategy-based game that calls for mastermind abilities and expressionless face in addition to a bit of luck. You have to monitor the behaviour of your opponents and then call their bluff.
A player needs to put down at least one card (or more than that) face-down with similar values. Then, he has to declare which cards those are (example: two Kings, one ace etc.). The remaining players have to guess whether the player is telling the truth or bluffing and check the cards. If the player was telling the truth, the cards would return to him and if he was bluffing, the cards would go to the player who checked. This exciting game can keep all the players on the edge throughout the game.
Andar Bahar
This traditional 50/50 card game is very popular among the Indian card game lovers. This simple card game has very easy rules to follow. Locally referred to as Katti, it requires a balance of luck and well-informed guesses.
Andar Bahar is played with a deck of 52 cards. At the beginning of the game, the players are supposed to bet on their assumption of how the game will end. The dealer deals a single card with face upwards at the centre of the table and the other cards face up to its right and left. When a card matches the middle card’s value, the game ends.
Bridge
Bridge is a common card game that is played not only in India but across the world. Several books have been written based on this game. It’s common to find Bridge tournaments happening across the globe.
Played using a pack of 52 cards, each player is dealt with 13 cards. At least four players are needed to play this game. In Bridge, the suits follow ranking with the lowest ranking from Clubs and the highest from Diamonds, Hearts and Spades. Involving bid and play, this is a highly challenging card game that needs a mindful approach for winning.
Card games are filled with fun and excitement. Each of the above-mentioned games has its own turns and twists, which make the game interesting to play. If you are new to all card games in India, try your hand at any of these and you will realise how engaging they can be.
