Top 5 Indian Card Games for Family Gatherings

Spice up your family dinners with these 5 entertaining Indian card games, bridging generations and offering a break from digital distractions.

Dinners or gatherings with friends and family can be incredibly entertaining when spiced up with these five Indian card games. Indian culture has a strong focus on family, both immediate and extended, making these card games an ideal choice to bring generations together. In today’s digital age, where video games and apps dominate our leisure time, these card games offer a refreshing break from the virtual world.

Here, we’ll introduce you to five popular Indian card games that are not only simple but also loads of fun for everyone.

1. Satte Pe Satta (7 on 7)

Rules:

  • Satte Pe Satta can be played with any number of players, and in case of a large group, two decks of cards can be used.
  • The game begins with the person holding the 7 of hearts (Laal Paan).
  • The player adjacent to them can only play either a 6 or 8 of hearts.
  • If a player lacks both a 6 and 8 of hearts, they must pass their turn.
  • However, if a player possesses a 7 of any other suit (diamonds, spades, or clubs), they must play it; passing is not an option in this case.
  • As the game progresses, all the suits will eventually be completed from ace to king.
  • This game is strategy-driven, and blocking opponents’ cards is the key to winning.
  • The first player to empty their hand of cards wins.

Also Read: Board Games Go Digital: Classic Titles Take Over Mobile Devices!

2. Teen Do Paanch (3-2-5)

Rules:

  • Three players participate in this game.
  • One player aims to make 5 hands, the second player needs to make 3 hands, and the dealer is tasked with creating 2 hands.
  • Out of the 52 cards, 22 are removed, leaving a playing deck of 30 cards, comprising ace to seven of spades and hearts, and ace to eight of clubs and diamonds.
  • Three cards (2, 3, and 5) are removed, shuffled, and distributed. The player drawing the 2 becomes the dealer and creates 2 hands, while the player on their right aims for 5 hands. The third player seeks to make 3 hands. In total, 10 hands must be formed.
  • Each player receives 10 cards distributed in two rounds. The player aiming for 5 hands declares the trump suit from these 5 cards. Alternatively, if they are unsure, they can reveal a random card from their next set of 5 cards, making that suit the trump for that game.
  • The player pursuing 5 hands initiates the game, with the goal of accumulating as many hands as possible.
  • At the end of the game, if a player accumulates more hands than required, they can claim cards from the other two players.

3. Bluff/Challenge

Rules:

  • This game can be played by any number of participants.
  • All the cards are distributed evenly among the players.
  • The game begins with a player playing up to 4 cards, claiming them to be a set (e.g., 4 aces, 3 jacks, 2 tens, etc.).
  • If another player suspects the legitimacy of the cards played, they can challenge the claim.
  • If the cards are indeed a legitimate set, the challenger or bluffer must pick up all the accumulated cards.
  • In case the cards were not a genuine set, the player who bluffed must collect the accumulated cards.
  • The player who runs out of cards first emerges as the winner.

Also Read: How to Play Teen Patti: Rules and Basics

4. Rummy

Rules:

  • Ideally played by four participants.
  • Each player receives 10 cards, and the remaining deck is placed in the center.
  • The objective is to create three sets of cards. For example, the first set may comprise 3 jacks, the second set may contain 3 aces, and the third set may consist of 4 consecutive cards of the same suit, such as 3, 4, 5, and 6 of diamonds.
  • On their turn, each player can draw one card from the middle deck to help complete their sets.
  • If the drawn card is useful, it can replace an unwanted card in the player’s hand.
  • The next player can either pick the previous player’s discard or draw a fresh card from the deck.
  • The first player to successfully complete the three sets wins the game.

5. Donkey

Rules:

  • This game accommodates any number of players.
  • One card is concealed, and the remaining cards are evenly distributed among the players.
  • The game begins with one player selecting a card from their neighbor’s set.
  • If they manage to collect a pair of cards (e.g., two kings), they reveal and discard them.
  • The adjacent player then selects from their neighbor, and this process continues.
  • The player who is left with the concealed card is humorously declared the “Donkey.”

These five Indian card games are sure to add a whole new level of enjoyment to your family gatherings and get-togethers.

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