Andar Bahar Rules: How to Play the Classic Indian Card Game

Andar Bahar (also called Katti or Mangatha in South India) is a centuries-old Indian card game that needs no skill to learn. It’s pure prediction: will the matching card appear on the Andar (inside) side or the Bahar (outside) side? Here’s how it works.

What you need to know

• One standard 52-card deck.
• Two betting areas: Andar (left / inside) and Bahar (right / outside).
• One face-up card in the middle called the joker or game card.

How a round is played

1. The dealer turns one card face up in the middle — this is the joker.
2. Players bet on whether a card of the same rank as the joker will be dealt to Andar or Bahar first.
3. The dealer deals cards one at a time, alternating between Andar and Bahar.
4. As soon as a card matching the joker’s rank appears, the round ends and that side wins.

Example: the joker is the 7♥. Cards are dealt — Andar: K♣, Bahar: 3♦, Andar: 9♠, Bahar: 7♣. A 7 has landed on Bahar, so Bahar wins.

Which side gets the first card?

In many versions the first card goes to the side opposite the joker’s colour (for example, Andar first if the joker is black). Because the first side has a slight advantage, a winning Andar bet often pays a little less than a winning Bahar bet when Andar is dealt first — for example 0.9:1 versus 1:1. Always check the payout shown at your table.

Side bets

Many apps add optional side bets, such as predicting how many cards will be dealt before the match (1–5, 6–10, 11–15 and so on) or the colour and suit of the joker. These pay more, but they win less often and carry a higher house edge.

Odds in plain words

Andar and Bahar each win close to 50% of the time, with the side dealt first having a small edge, which the payout adjusts for. No pattern of previous results changes the next round — every shuffle is independent.

Tips

• Stick to the main Andar and Bahar bets if you want the simplest game.
• Treat side bets as occasional fun, not a strategy.
• Set time and money limits and take regular breaks.

Want to try it? Andar Bahar is one of the games inside the Teen Patti Pro app. New to card games? Start with our Teen Patti rules.

Andar Bahar FAQ

Is Andar Bahar a game of skill or luck?

Andar Bahar is a game of chance. The outcome depends entirely on the order of the shuffled cards.

What does Andar and Bahar mean?

Andar means inside and Bahar means outside in Hindi. They are the two sides cards are dealt to.

What is the joker card in Andar Bahar?

It is the face-up card dealt at the start of the round. The first card of the same rank to appear on either side decides the winner.