The top five must-play online poker games are Teen Patti, Andar Bahar, Texas Hold’em, Rummy, and Hearts—all highly popular card games.
Which card games are the most popular in casinos? Which ones can be played alone? And which ones are best for drinking games? This article will answer all your questions in no time!
The 12 Most Popular Real Money Poker Games
A deck of 54 playing cards can create countless exciting variations! Let’s take a look at the most popular card games among Indians—how many have you played?
Each game has its own unique charm. Personally, I love Hearts the most because it doesn’t rely on strong hands, so I don’t have to memorize too many card rankings! Plus, its unique scoring system makes it stand out from other card games. Here are some card games you might be interested in.
Teen Patti－ The Most Popular Traditional Game in India
In Teen Patti, each player is dealt three cards, and the one with the strongest hand wins (players can’t change their cards). The hand rankings are: High Card (No Pair), One Pair, Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, and Straight Flush.
Andar Bahar－Best for Beginners
This game is played with a standard deck of cards. One card is drawn from the deck as the “Joker”. Cards are then dealt alternately to Andar and Bahar. The side that receives a card matching the ‘Joker’ first wins the round.
Texas Hold’em－A Bluffing Player’s Favorite
In Texas Hold’em, each player receives two private cards (known as “hole cards”) and combines them with five community cards on the table to form the best possible hand to win the pot.
First Round (Pre-Flop): Each player is dealt two private cards (only visible to them), followed by the first round of betting.
Second Round (Flop): Three community cards are revealed on the table, leading to the second betting round.
Third Round (Turn): A fourth community card (the “Turn”) is dealt, followed by the third betting round.
Fourth Round (River): The fifth and final community card (the “River”) is revealed, leading to the final betting round.
Each betting phase is a perfect opportunity to bluff your opponents. By strategically placing bets across all four rounds, you can create the illusion of having a strong hand and pressure your opponents into folding.
Blackjack－Great Odds & Easy to Learn!
The goal of Blackjack is to get as close to 21 points as possible without exceeding it. The player with the hand closest to 21 wins. (Special Winning Condition: “Five-Card Charlie” – If a player draws five cards without exceeding 21, player will win automatically.)
At the beginning of the game, both the dealer and the player receive two cards each. Players can choose to ‘Hit’ (draw a card), ‘Double Down’ (double the bet and receive one additional card), or ‘Split’ (separate two identical cards into individual hands).
Players can keep drawing cards to get as close to 21 as possible. Once they are satisfied with their total, they can ‘Stand’ and wait for the final showdown.
Baccarat－The Most Popular Casino Game
In Baccarat, both the Banker and the Player receive 2-3 cards each. The goal is to predict which side will win or if the game will end in a tie. Players can place bets on the “Player,” “Banker,” or “Tie.” The side with a total closest to 9 points wins.
Dragon & Tiger－A Hot Pick in Online Casinos
Dragon & Tiger features three betting options: Dragon, Tiger, or Tie. One card is dealt to both Dragon and Tiger, and the side with the higher card value wins. Aces are the lowest, while Kings are the highest.
If you bet on Dragon or Tiger and the result is a Tie, you will lose half of your bet, as there is no full refund in this scenario.
7 card Stud poker－A Variation of Stud Poker
7 Card Stud Poker is similar to Texas Hold’em but with a key difference—there are no community cards. Each player has their own set of seven cards, with one face-up card and two face-down cards at the start. Throughout the game, four more face-up cards are dealt to each player, forming their final hand (e.g., Full House, Four of a Kind, Straight Flush).
Each time a new card is dealt, it marks a betting round, making a total of five betting opportunities in the game. Players can choose to Call (match a bet), Raise (increase the bet), or Fold (give up the hand).
Common Hand Rankings (Weakest to Strongest):
High Card、Pair、Two Pair、Three of a Kind、Straight、Flush、Full House、Four of a Kind、Straight Flush、Royal Flush。
Rummy－A Classic Family Game
In Rummy, players must arrange their 13 cards into valid combinations. The first player to complete their sets wins.
There are two main types of combinations:
Sequences – Three or more consecutive cards of the same suit ; Sets – Three or more cards of the same rank.
Indian Poker－Must-Play Drinking Game
One of the most common party games, also known as Blind Man’s Bluff. Each player places their card on their forehead facing outward—meaning they can’t see their own card but can see everyone else’s. The challenge is to guess whether their own card is higher or lower than their opponent’s!
Solitaire－Perfect for Solo Play
One of the best single-player card games! Played with a standard deck (without Jokers), the game begins with seven columns of cards, all face-down except for the top card in each column.
The first column has 1 card, the second column has 2 cards, and so on, up to the seventh column with 7 cards.
The goal is to move all cards into Four card piles, arranging them in order from Ace to King (A-2-3-4…K).
If you successfully organize all four card piles from Ace to King, you win! Solitaire is a fun and strategic game that tests your logic skills.
Hearts－Up to Four Players
Hearts is a card game where the lower your score, the higher your chances of winning. Players want to avoid collecting Hearts cards and the Queen of Spades (♠️Q), as these will add points to their total.
♥️ Each Heart card = 1 point♠️ Queen of Spades = 13 points
Each player is dealt 13 cards. The player holding the 2 of Clubs (♣️2) must play it first. The other three players must follow suit by playing a Club card if they have one. The player who plays the highest card of the leading suit collects all four cards from that round.
The player who collects the cards from the previous round decides which suit to play next. If they play a Heart, all players must play a Heart as well.If a player has no Hearts left, they can play Spades, Clubs, or Diamonds instead. The game continues for 13 rounds until all players have used up their cards. The player with the lowest total score wins!
Ace of Spades – A Two-Player Team Card Game
This game is played with a standard 52-card deck, with each player receiving 13 cards. The first player can play any card of their choice. The other three players must follow by playing a card of the same suit if they have one. The player who plays the highest card of the leading suit wins the round and collects all four cards from the table.
The game lasts for 13 rounds, with each player playing one card per round.
The player/team that collects the most card piles OR the player/team with the lowest score win. (depending on player preference)
Poker Game Variations: 2-Player, 3-Player, and Multiplayer
Aside from the classic single-player card game, Solitaire, most poker games require at least two or more players to start a round.
Two-Player Card Games
Rummy
In Rummy, players take turns drawing and discarding cards. The first player to arrange all 13 cards into valid combinations of Sequences or Sets wins the game.
Types of Card Combinations:
- Pure Sequence – A sequence of three or more consecutive cards of the same suit, e.g., ♥️5-♥️6-♥️7.
- Impure Sequence – A sequence of three or more consecutive cards of the same suit, but with a Joker acting as a wild card, e.g., ♠️3-♠️4-🃏-♠️6.
- Set – Three or four cards of the same rank but different suits, e.g., ♣️8-♦️8-♥️8.
Popular Articles：How to Play Rummy: Rules Made Easy for Beginners
Indian Poker
Each player draws one card and places it on their forehead facing outward—meaning they can’t see their own card, but their opponents can. Players must observe their opponents’ reactions or betting patterns to guess the value of their own card before deciding whether to call, raise, or fold.
At the end of the round, both players reveal their cards, and the one with the higher number wins. Unlike traditional poker, this game does not use hand rankings.
Since players can’t see their own cards, they must rely on their opponents’ expressions, speech, and behavior to make decisions, making Indian Poker an exciting and unpredictable game full of fun and bluffing!
Popular Articles：How to Play Indian Poker Online? The Best Drinking Game!
Baccarat
Each player is dealt two cards, and the sum of their values is calculated based on the last digit of the total. The player whose total is closest to 9 wins. (A third card may be drawn if necessary.)
- A = 1 point
- 2 to 9 = Face value
- 10, J, Q, K = 0 points
Baccarat is a relatively simple game where the goal is to have a total as close to 9 points as possible. The winner can be the Player, Banker, or a Tie based on the final hand totals.
Learn More：How to Play Baccarat and Win? 3 Strategies to Win ₹3000/hr!
Three-Player Card Games
Teen Patti
Teen Patti is an extremely popular Indian card game, typically played by 3 to 6 players. Each player receives 3 cards, and the winner is determined by the strongest hand. Players can choose to call, raise, or fold during the game.
- Trail (Three of a Kind) / Set – The strongest hand, consisting of three identical cards (e.g., ♠️7 ♣️7 ♦️7).
- Straight Flush – Three consecutive cards of the same suit (e.g., ♠️3 ♠️4 ♠️5).
- Flush – Three cards of the same suit but not in sequence (e.g., ♠️2 ♠️5 ♠️9).
- Straight – Three consecutive cards of any suit, ranking lower than a Straight Flush (e.g., ♠️3 ♦️4 ♥️5).
- Pair – A hand with two cards of the same rank, a common combination (e.g., ♠️6 ♥️6 ♦️9).
- High Card – If no other hands are formed, the highest card determines the winner (e.g., ♠️K ♣️8 ♦️4 → K is the highest card).
Latest Article: How to Play Teen Patti? Learn the Rules & sequence in 1 Min
Andar Bahar
Andar Bahar is a simple and popular Indian card game. The objective is to predict which side (Andar or Bahar) will be the first to match the value of the “Joker” card dealt at the start of the game.
- Cards are dealt alternately to Andar and Bahar until a card appears that matches the Joker’s rank.
- Unlike traditional poker games, Andar Bahar does not involve complex hand rankings such as straights or flushes. The game is purely about matching the Joker’s value first.
Popular Articles：How to Play Andar Bahar Online? Rules and Payout Guide
Dragon & Tiger
In Dragon & Tiger, two cards are dealt—one to the Dragon side and one to the Tiger side. The side with the higher card value wins. It is a simple and straightforward game based purely on card values. The possible outcomes are: Dragon Wins, Tiger Wins, Tie (Draw)
- 2 to 10 – Follow their face value.
J, Q, K, A – Are valued at 11, 12, 13, and 14, respectively. - There are no complex hand combinations—just a direct comparison of two cards to determine the winner or if it’s a tie.
More Dragon Tiger Strategy Guides: Win ₹5000/Day! Dragon Tiger Real Cash Game Rules & Tips
Multiplayer Games
Texas Hold’em – Players: 2 to 9
In Texas Hold’em, each player receives two private cards (hole cards) and uses them along with five community cards on the dealer’s table to form the strongest five-card hand. Players can choose to bet, raise, or fold based on their hand strength.
Basic Hand Rankings (Strongest to Weakest):
- Royal Flush – A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit.
- Straight Flush – Five consecutive cards of the same suit.
- Four of a Kind – Four cards of the same rank.
- Full House – Three of a kind + One pair.
- Flush – Five cards of the same suit (not in sequence).
- Straight – Five consecutive cards (any suit).
- Three of a Kind – Three cards of the same rank.
- Two Pair – Two pairs of the same rank.
- One Pair – Two cards of the same rank.
- High Card – The highest single card when no other hands are made.
Blackjack – Players: 2 to 7
The goal in Blackjack is to get as close to 21 points as possible without exceeding it. Suits do not matter in Blackjack. Players decide whether to Hit (draw a card), Stand (keep their hand), or Double Down (double their bet for one final card).
Numbered cards (2-10) = Face value
J, Q, K = 10 points
Ace (A) = 1 or 11, depending on what benefits the player
Special Rule:
If a player draws five cards without exceeding 21, they automatically win the round.
Hearts – Players: 3 to 4
Hearts is a game where players aim to avoid collecting Hearts and the Queen of Spades (♠️Q) because they increase the player’s score. The objective is to end the game with the lowest score possible. (The player with the lowest final score wins the game.)
Each ♥️ Heart = 1 point; ♠️ Queen of Spades = 13 points; Winning Condition
- Each player is dealt 13 cards. Hearts is played with a 52-card deck and supports up to four players, with each receiving 13 cards. Before the Game Starts, each player selects 3 of their weakest cards and exchanges them with another player.
- The player holding the 2 of Clubs (♣️2) starts the game. They must play the ♣️2, and the other three players must play a card of the same suit if they have one. If a player does not have a matching suit, they can play any other suit (Hearts, Spades, or Diamonds), and there are no restrictions on card values.
- Each round, four players each play one card, meaning there will be four cards on the table per round. (playing cards in a clockwise direction)
- The player who plays the highest card of the leading suit wins the round and collects all four cards.
- The game continues for 13 rounds, with players playing all their cards until none are left.
- If a player doesn’t collect any Hearts (♥️) or the Queen of Spades (♠️Q), they score 0 points. Each Heart card adds 1 point, and the Queen of Spades adds 12 points. The goal is to get the lowest score possible.
- The player with the lowest total score wins. The goal is to stay as close to 0 points as possible. The player with the highest score loses the game.
Ace of Spades
Played with a 52-Card Deck, Up to 4 Players The game offers two winning conditions to choose from:
1. The player who collects the most card piles wins. 2. The player with the lowest total score wins.
Each player is dealt 13 cards. In each round, the first player plays a card, and the other three must play a card of the same suit if they have one. The player who plays the highest card of that suit wins the round and collects the pile of four cards.
Each round consists of four cards being played, and the game continues for 13 rounds. If a player does not have a card of the same suit as the first player, they can play any other suit instead.
Important Note: In Spades, Spade cards can act as the highest-ranking cards in a round.
For example: If the first player plays a Heart and the other two players also play Hearts, but you don’t have any Hearts, you can play a Spade instead. Since Spades are the highest in this game, you win the round and collect all the cards.
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Best Drinking Card Games
- Flip Cup Poker: After drawing a card, players follow specific rules to determine who drinks first or flips a cup—a fast-paced and exciting game.
- Kings (Kings Cup): Players sit in a circle, take turns drawing cards, and follow the assigned actions—such as making someone drink or drinking themselves—leading to unexpected and fun moments.
- Shot Glass Roulette: A roulette-like game where players spin and drink based on the number they land on.
- Circle of Death: Players sit in a circle and draw cards according to set rules. Each card has a different task, usually involving drinking or performing an action.
- Spoons: Players take turns drawing cards, aiming to collect four cards of the same number. The first player to succeed grabs a spoon from the table. Other players must follow, and the one left without a spoon must drink.
- High/Low: Players draw a card and guess whether the next card will be higher or lower. If they guess wrong, they must drink.
- Flip, Sip or Strip：Each player draws a card and follows the rules:
Number cards = Drink
Face cards (J, Q, K) = Choose a player to drink or remove an item of clothing
These drinking card games require little skill but guarantee a fun and interactive experience with friends! Perfect for breaking the ice, creating laughter, and making your gatherings unforgettable.
