There are hardly any indoor games in India that are as popular as card games. Playing them has now become a family affair. Cards help bridge the gap between generations in many family gatherings. Even in the age of online gaming, cards haven’t lost their former glory and remain quite popular among people across the world.
Cards arrived in India during the Mughal period. The emperors were the ones that first brought in the concept of “ganjifa.” Though that game has gradually lost its early fervor, several other card games have gained popularity. With the introduction of smartphones, cards are no longer played just offline with friends. For instance, you now have the option of enjoying Indian rummy games even when you do not have your friends around. You can download a rummy app and play with real players from across the country.
It’s not just rummy, though. There are plenty of other card games that continue to entertain us. Here you will get to learn about the 5 most popular card games in India right now.
Hearts is a classic card game played with a standard deck of 52 cards, where the objective is to score as few points as possible. The game is typically played by four players, and the entire deck is distributed, giving each player 13 cards. Points are scored by taking tricks that contain hearts or the queen of spades, with each heart scoring one point and the queen of spades scoring 13 points. The player with the lowest score at the end of the game wins. Strategic play includes "shooting the moon" — taking all the hearts and the queen of spades in a single round to deduct points from other players' scores or add to their own. Hearts Co offers the game online where players can compete against each other or AI opponents.
Spades is another popular trick-taking game using a standard 52-card deck, played by four players in partnerships. In Spades, players bid the number of tricks they expect to win in each round, and the goal is to meet or exceed this bid to score points. The unique aspect of Spades is that, in this game, spades are always the trump suit, meaning they outrank all other suits. Strategic bidding and gameplay are crucial, as failing to meet your bid results in penalties, while successful bids and tricks lead to high scores. For those interested in playing Spades online, Spades.co provides a platform to play against either computer-controlled opponents or real players from around the globe, making it easy to enjoy this strategic game anytime, anywhere.
3. Rummy
Rummy is a card game that has gained rapid popularity over the years. It is not just a simple game. It requires both analytical as well as mathematical skills to win. A game of rummy is usually played by two to six players using one or two card decks, depending on the number of players. Jokers are an essential part of this card game. The objective is to create required sequences or sequences and sets and make a valid declaration. To make a valid declaration, you need at least two sequences, one of which must be a pure sequence.
Rummy is fast-paced in nature and keeps the players at the edge of their seats. The game has several different variants too. Some of the most popular variants of Indian rummy include points rummy, pool rummy and deals rummy. These variants can now be played online with real players. Aside from India, rummy is equally popular in countries like the USA and France.
4. Solitaire
Solitaire is one of the most popular card games of all time. It first came in the spotlight when Microsoft introduced a digital version of the game by integrating it in their PCs. The main objective of solitaire is to move all the cards from the tableau columns to the foundation piles and arrange them sequentially according to suit in ascending order from ace to king. Once that is done, the game of solitaire is won.
There are four different piles used in a game of solitaire.
- Tableau columns: Tableau columns are the seven piles that make up the main table or tableau.
- Foundations: Foundation piles are four columns, one for each suit, that are placed at the top of the tableau. The aim is to move all the cards from the tableau columns onto the foundation piles sequentially from ace to king.
- Stockpile: If the entire pack is not laid out at the beginning of the game, the remaining cards are used to form a stockpile, which can be used by the player to pick additional cards when they run out of moves.
- Waste pile: When cards are turned over from the stockpile, they go into the waste pile. You are only allowed to move the top card from the waste pile.
Although traditionally meant to be a single-player game, solitaire can now be played online in a multiplayer mode with real players from all over the country.
5. Teen patti
Teen patti is yet another card game that involves a standard card deck of 52 cards. In this game, each player is required to put in a minimum stake in a pot before the cards are distributed. The stakes are known as boot. The dealer distributes cards until each player has three cards in their hand. Each player is allowed to bid more than the boot depending on the cards they have in their hand. Players are given the chance to surrender at any time during the game, ending the hand immediately and forfeiting part of the money they have bid. The game also allows players the option to surrender their boot and remove themselves from any of the hands.
6. Satte pe satta
Satte pe satta is a card game that is popular in India and can be played by any number of people. Depending on the number of players, one or two card decks are usually used. The player in possession of the 7 of hearts (7♥) has the opportunity to start the game. He/She places the card down at the center of a table. The next player can put down either the 6 of hearts (6♥) or the 8 of hearts (8♥). The game continues until all the suits from ace to king are laid. The aim is to put all your cards down but prevent your opponents from doing so. All you need to do is to get rid of all your cards as soon as possible.
7. Poker
Poker is yet another popular game that is the favorite of many card game lovers in India. It is a betting game where players put in their bet depending on the projected value of their hand and guess the hand of their opponent. However, it is not just a luck-based game. Poker requires skills since the player has to guess their opponent’s hand and take calculated risks. Players are handed out a certain number of cards less than the complete five-card poker hand. A number of face-up community cards are further handed out to the players with the objective that they make the best possible five-card hand with a certain combination of their own cards.
Card games are only gaining in popularity in India as people ponder over more engaging ways to spend their time. Classic games like 13-card rummy are not just a one-off game. They will continue to be a part of Indian culture and keep entertaining people from all walks of life.