Teen Patti (तीन पत्ती), which means ‘three cards’ in Hindi, is one of the most popular card games in India. Many of us grew up playing Teen Patti with our family and friends so it is a game that evokes positive memories and emotions. So, where did it all begin?
Gambling in India has been around for a very long period of time and historians have traced it all the way back to Ramayana and the Mahabharata. These ancient Sanskrit manuscripts dated 7300BC describe a game of dice played by Kings between 2000BC and 1500BC. Apparently, during this period Indian royalty enjoyed playing a game of dice that involved staking precious belongings. It is said that in ancient India, gambling did not harbour any negative connotations. It was in fact considered to be a widely-accepted social norm and enjoyable pass time. Interestingly, this perception of gambling in India is still mostly present to this very day!
With regards to the game of Teen Patti, there are no historical records that show precisely where and when it was invented. Many seem to agree that Teen Patti is inspired by an English card game known as the ‘Three-Card Brag’, which is an 18th-century card game that forms part of the “bluffing” family of gambling games and one of the several ancestors to poker. As a matter of fact, Teen Patti is sometimes referred to as Indian Poker. When the British arrived in India during the 18th century they introduced card games, which spread rapidly since Indian culture was already accustomed to gambling. The card games introduced by the British quickly gained popularity, particularly the ‘Three Card Brag’, which is said to have later evolved into Teen Patti. During the period of the British Raj, the popularity of Teen Patti rose to prominence with its spread facilitated by religious Hindu festivals, which see families come together and socialise with fun activities.
For instance, Diwali, the festival of light, is a feast that sees families from all over India come together. During this period they engage in social activities and play Teen Patti, which is a must! The tradition of playing Teen Patti during Diwali actually originates from the understanding that Parvati, the Mother Goddess, played dice with her husband Lord Shiva. As such, Shiva had declared that anyone who gambled on the night of Diwali would be awarded good fortune the following year. This helps to explain the importance of playing Teen Patti during the Diwali festival!
But as you may already know religious holidays are not the only time when Teen Patti is played. Taash parties, which is a gathering of friends that usually involves playing card games, is an important part of social life in India. During these parties family and friends celebrate together with good food and usually end up playing Teen Patti, wagering either small or big amounts of money depending on the crowd.
Teen Patti is so ingrained in the Indian culture that there are several Bollywood movies involving the game. There is actually a Bollywood film called ‘Teen Patti’ that is completely based on the game, which features Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan and world-renowned actor Ben Kingsley. It is most certainly a ‘must see’ for any genuine Teen Patti fanatic!
Today, there are many ways to enjoy Teen Patti. You may play with your family or challenge your friends. You may also compete with strangers at the many casinos in Goa! It is all possible today! But the greatest catalyst for Teen Patti is the emergence of online casinos, which allow Indian players to participate in Teen Patti tournaments and win large real money prizes!
Just as there are highly-skilled poker players who have become millionaires competing in poker tournaments, there are highly-talented Teen Patti players who are earning a living playing professionally online. Anyone looking for an exciting social experience online will probably head over to an online casino that offers live games. Here players can challenge a live dealer and get the ‘Las-Vegas thrill’ right anywhere and anytime. The excitement of live online casino is helping Teen Patti become one of the most popular games in India!
So, are you interested in learning how to play Teen Patti? We have prepared FREE resources to help you learn how to play Teen Patti step by step and thoroughly explain Teen Patti sequences, rankings and probabilities.