How to Play Teen Patti Go – Complete 3 Patti Go Rules Guide
Teen Patti Go is easy to learn if you understand the structure of the game before sitting at a table. This guide walks you through everything: what the game is, how a hand starts, the difference between blind and seen play, every betting option, how to win, and a full glossary of terms you will see in the app. By the end, you will be ready to play your first hand with confidence.
Download Teen Patti Go – Play NowWhat is Teen Patti Go?
Teen Patti Go is a mobile card game based on Teen Patti – the classic three-card game from South Asia. "Teen Patti" means "three cards" in Hindi, which describes the game perfectly: each player receives three cards and bets on whether their hand is better than the other players at the table.
The mobile version (also called 3 Patti Go) keeps all the rules of the traditional game but lets you play online against real opponents on your phone, any time of day. The app is free to download and provides chips to get you started. See our download guide for installation steps.
Objective of the Game
The goal is to win the pot – the pile of chips in the centre of the table. There are two ways to win:
- Have the best hand at showdown. When two players compare cards at the end of a hand, the stronger three-card combination takes the pot.
- Be the last player remaining. If all other players fold during the betting rounds, you win the pot automatically without needing to show your cards.
Understanding both paths to winning is important. Sometimes you will win with a strong hand at showdown; other times you will win because your betting convinced others to fold even when you had a mediocre hand.
The Ante (Boot) – How Every Hand Starts
Before any cards are dealt, every player at the table must pay the ante (also called the boot). The ante is a fixed, mandatory bet that creates the starting pot. The amount depends on the table – a low-stake table might have an ante of 100 chips, while a high-stake table could have an ante of 10,000 chips or more.
Once all players have paid the ante, the dealer button moves to one player and the cards are dealt. Each player receives exactly three cards, face down. Only you can see your own cards – no one else can see them unless a showdown occurs.
Blind vs Seen – The Core Decision
After the cards are dealt, the first betting option you face is whether to play blind or become seen.
Playing Blind means you bet without looking at your cards. While playing blind, your minimum bet is half the current table minimum. Blind play is cheaper per round but you are making decisions without knowing your hand strength.
Becoming Seen (Chaal) means you look at your cards. Once you look, you can never go back to playing blind in that hand. As a seen player, your minimum bet doubles compared to what a blind player would pay at that moment. You have full information about your hand from this point forward.
The strategic question is: when should you look at your cards? Common approach: play blind for a round or two to save chips and observe how others bet, then look at your cards and decide whether to continue. If the pot is already large and you have been blind, looking at your cards lets you make a proper decision about whether to keep investing chips.
All Betting Options – What Each Button Does
Blind / Chaal (Bet)
Place a bet to stay in the hand. If you are blind, the bet amount is half the current minimum. If you are seen (Chaal), the bet amount is the full current minimum. After you bet, the next player acts.
Call
Match the current bet to stay in the hand. If the player before you raised, calling means you match their raise. You do not add extra on top – you simply match the amount required to stay in.
Raise
Increase the current bet. When you raise, every remaining player must either match your raise or fold. Raising is a tool to build the pot when you have a strong hand, or to put pressure on others and make them fold when you are bluffing.
Pack (Fold)
Give up your cards and leave the hand. You lose any chips you have already bet in this hand, but you stop losing more. Packing is not a bad move – folding weak hands early is a core skill that keeps your chip balance healthy.
Show
When only two players remain in the hand, either player can request a Show. Both players' cards are revealed and compared. The player with the stronger hand wins the pot. If both hands are equal in rank, the player who called the Show (requested it) loses. A Show usually costs a minimum fee to request.
Side Show (optional, table-dependent)
Some tables allow a Side Show. A seen player can ask the player who bet just before them to compare hands privately. If the other player agrees, both show their cards to each other only. The weaker hand must fold. If declined, play continues normally. Check the table rules before joining to know if Side Show is available.
How a Full Hand Plays Out – Step by Step
- All players pay the ante. The pot now contains (ante × number of players) chips.
- Cards are dealt – three cards face down to each player.
- Starting with the player left of the dealer, each player chooses: play blind, look at cards (become seen), or immediately pack.
- Betting continues around the table. Players can raise, call, or pack on each turn.
- If a player raises, the minimum bet increases for everyone remaining in the hand.
- The hand continues until either one player remains (wins without showing) or two players are left and one requests a Show.
- At Show, both players reveal cards. The stronger hand takes the full pot.
- A new hand begins: ante is collected again and fresh cards are dealt.
Hand Rankings – Which Three Cards Beat Which
Knowing which hands are strong and which are weak is the most important rule to learn. Here is the complete ranking from strongest to weakest:
- Trail (Three of a Kind): Three cards of the same rank. Example: A-A-A. Best possible hand.
- Pure Sequence (Straight Flush): Three consecutive cards of the same suit. Example: 7♠-8♠-9♠.
- Sequence (Straight): Three consecutive cards of mixed suits. Example: 5♥-6♦-7♣.
- Color (Flush): Three cards of the same suit, not in sequence. Example: 2♦-7♦-K♦.
- Pair: Two cards of the same rank plus one different card. Example: Q-Q-4.
- High Card: None of the above. Highest single card decides. Example: A-9-3 mixed suits and non-consecutive.
One common mistake: many new players think Color (Flush) beats Sequence (Straight). In Teen Patti Go, it is the opposite – Sequence ranks higher than Color. Study the full order carefully. Our dedicated Hand Rankings page has detailed examples and tie-breaker rules for every hand type.
Number of Players at a Table
Classic Teen Patti supports 3 to 7 players per table. In the Teen Patti Go app, you will typically find tables with 2 to 6 players. The game starts automatically once the minimum number of players have joined and paid the ante. If a player leaves mid-session, the table may continue with remaining players or fill the empty seat with a new player joining.
Table Stakes and Minimum Bets
Every table in the app has a minimum bet (the ante) and often a maximum raise per round. The maximum raise prevents anyone from betting an unlimited amount in a single turn, which keeps the game fair and ensures hands last longer. When you join a table, check the stake level: a "100" table has an ante of 100 chips, a "1K" table has an ante of 1,000 chips, and so on. Never sit at a table where the ante is more than roughly 5% of your chip balance – this gives you enough chips to play through variance.
Common Mistakes Beginners Make
- Playing every hand. Most hands you are dealt will be weak (High Card or low Pair). Folding these early saves chips for rounds where you are genuinely strong.
- Not knowing the hand rankings. Overvaluing a Pair or not recognising a Sequence is a very expensive mistake. Memorise the ranking order before playing.
- Staying blind too long. Playing blind is cheap early, but if the pot has grown significantly and you are still blind, you are making large decisions blindly. Look at your cards when it matters.
- Chasing losses. If you lose a few hands in a row, do not raise the stakes to win it back quickly. Stick to your table and chip management plan.
- Ignoring opponent betting patterns. Big raises from opponents often mean strong hands. Small bets or flat calls often mean weaker hands or draws. Pay attention.
Glossary of Teen Patti Go Terms
Here are the key terms you will see in the app:
- Ante / Boot: The mandatory starting bet paid by every player before cards are dealt.
- Blind: Betting without looking at your cards. Costs half the regular bet.
- Seen / Chaal: Having looked at your cards. Full bet amount required.
- Pack: Fold – give up your cards and leave the hand.
- Show: Comparing cards with one remaining opponent to determine the winner.
- Side Show: A private card comparison between two seen players (optional, table-dependent).
- Pot: The total chips in the centre of the table that the hand's winner takes.
- Trail / Set: Three of a Kind – three cards of the same rank. Best hand.
- Pure Sequence: Straight Flush – three consecutive cards of the same suit.
- Sequence / Run: Straight – three consecutive cards of mixed suits.
- Color / Flush: Three cards of the same suit, not in sequence.
- Pair: Two cards of the same rank plus a kicker.
- High Card: No combination – decided by the highest card value.
- Kicker: The third card in a Pair hand, used to break ties between equal pairs.
- Raise: Increasing the current bet, forcing others to call the higher amount or fold.
Example Hand – Walking Through a Real Situation
Imagine you are at a 100-chip ante table with three players including yourself. The pot starts at 300 chips (100 × 3). You receive K♠-K♦-7♣ – a Pair of Kings.
Player 1 plays blind and bets 100. Player 2 looks at their cards (becomes seen) and calls 200 (double the blind amount, as required). You look at your cards and see your Pair of Kings. You decide to raise: you bet 400 chips. Player 1 folds (blind). Player 2 calls your 400.
The pot is now 300 + 100 + 200 + 400 + 400 = 1,400 chips. Only you and Player 2 remain. Player 2 requests a Show. You both reveal: Player 2 has 9♣-9♥-J♦ – a Pair of Nines. Your Pair of Kings beats their Pair of Nines. You win 1,400 chips.
This example shows how blind play, raises, and the Show work in a real hand.
Frequently Asked Questions – How to Play Teen Patti Go
What is the objective of Teen Patti Go?
To win the pot – the chips in the centre of the table. You win either by having the best hand at showdown or by being the last player after everyone else folds.
What is the ante in Teen Patti Go?
The ante (boot) is the mandatory starting bet every player pays before cards are dealt. It creates the initial pot. The amount is fixed for each table and shown in the lobby before you join.
What does "blind" mean?
Playing blind means betting without looking at your cards. Blind bets cost half the regular minimum. Once you look at your cards, you are "seen" (Chaal) and must pay the full minimum from then on.
What is a Show?
When only two players remain, one can pay a Show fee to compare both hands. The better hand wins the pot. If hands are equal in rank, the player who called the Show loses.
How many players can sit at one table?
In the app, tables typically seat 2 to 6 players. Classic Teen Patti supports up to 7. The game starts automatically once the minimum players have joined.
What is the best strategy for beginners?
Learn the hand rankings first, start at the lowest stake table, fold weak hands early, and watch how others bet before copying strategies. Our Tips & Tricks guide covers 15 strategies in full detail.