Set up the table
Use a standard deck of 52 cards with no jokers. Three to six players is a common table size. Choose a dealer, decide the boot contribution and agree on the maximum bet and pot size. Each player contributes the boot, then receives three cards face down.
House rules matter. Agree on sequence ordering, tie handling, sideshow eligibility and the cost of a show before anyone places a bet.
Know the six hand categories
| Rank | Hand | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trail | A♠ A♥ A♦ | Three cards with the same rank. Aces are the highest trail. |
| 2 | Pure sequence | A♠ K♠ Q♠ | Three consecutive cards of the same suit. |
| 3 | Sequence | 9♠ 8♥ 7♦ | Three consecutive cards in mixed suits. |
| 4 | Color | K♥ 9♥ 4♥ | Three cards of one suit that do not form a sequence. |
| 5 | Pair | Q♠ Q♦ 6♣ | Two matching ranks; the third card breaks an otherwise equal pair. |
| 6 | High card | A♣ J♦ 5♠ | Compare the highest card, then the next, then the last. |
A trail beats every other category. A pure sequence beats a mixed-suit sequence, which beats a color. Within a category, compare ranks in the order required by the table. Suits usually do not rank above one another. A–K–Q and A–2–3 treatment varies; a wraparound K–A–2 is generally not a sequence.
Blind and seen betting
A blind player has not looked at their cards. A seen player has. Seen players commonly pay twice the equivalent blind stake, but minimum and maximum amounts should always follow the table rules.
| Action | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Blind | Continue without viewing your cards. You may look later, becoming a seen player. |
| Chaal / call | Pay the required stake to remain in the round. |
| Raise | Increase the stake within the agreed limits. |
| Pack / fold | Leave this round and give up any chips already committed. |
For example, if the current blind stake is 2 chips, a seen player may need to contribute at least 4. This illustrates the usual ratio; it does not replace an app’s displayed rules.
Sideshow and show
A sideshow is a private comparison between eligible seen players. In many versions, a seen player can request it from the preceding active seen player when more than two players remain. A request can be declined where the rules permit. If accepted, the weaker hand folds; ties often eliminate the requester.
A show usually ends the round when two players remain. The required payment depends on whether players are blind or seen. Some tables restrict who may request it. Consult the table’s instructions instead of assuming every app follows the same system.
Walk through a round
- Three players each contribute a boot of 1 chip: the pot starts at 3.
- A stays blind and contributes 2. B looks at their cards and contributes 4 under a 2:1 rule.
- C folds. A looks at their cards; both remaining players are now seen.
- A and B continue within the betting limit until a permitted show. A pair loses to a sequence.
- The winner receives the pot, less any fee that the platform clearly discloses.
Variants are separate rulesets
| Version | Difference to check |
|---|---|
| Classic | The standard six-category ranking. |
| Joker / AK47 | Designated cards act as wild cards; confirm how they complete a hand. |
| Muflis | Lower hands may beat higher ones under the variant’s comparison rules. |
| Gold / Master / Octro apps | These are product names, not one universal set of rules. |
| Live casino Teen Patti | May involve betting on an outcome or against a dealer, rather than against other players. |
Before your first hand
- Read the table rules and any fees.
- Use virtual chips while learning.
- Know the value of every betting control before pressing it.
- Set a limit you will keep even if you lose.
- Fold when you no longer want to commit chips. You do not have to recover a previous contribution.
Common rules questions
Does a color beat a sequence? No, not in the classic ranking. Must I look at my cards? Not immediately; blind play is allowed where the table offers it. Can I win without showing? Yes, if every other player folds. Is the largest bet always the best move? No. It increases the amount at risk and does not change your cards.