Oldest Indian Card Games That Are Still Popular -

If there is one thing that Indians love the most, it is to play cards in their leisure time. Playing cards have been a traditional pastime in many parts of the country for many centuries. The various festive occasions, such as Diwali, bear testimony to the popularity of playing cards in India. For example, playing rummy on the eve of Diwali is a family tradition in many regions of India. One of the most popular variants of Indian Rummy Card Games is the 13 Card Rummy. However, India has had and continues to have a long-term association with playing cards. So, let us take a look at some of the oldest Indian card games which enjoy considerable popularity, even today.

Ganjifa

India’s first encounter with cards occurred during the 16th century with the arrival of the Mughals. The Mughals introduced ‘Ganjifa,’ a game of Persian origin, as a royal court game. The cards in Ganjifa are shaped in the form of circles rather than in rectangular shape. The game can involve 4 players at the most. Many accounts point out that Ganjifa is probably the mother of all Indian Rummy Card Games.

Teen Patti

Another notable mention among the oldest Indian games for playing cards is Teen Patti. Teen Patti enjoys considerable popularity in India at par with that of Indian Rummy Card Games. Understanding Teen Patti is very easy, especially when you consider the fact that it is almost similar to poker.

Readers should also note that Teen Patti is also known as ‘Flush’ in certain regions in India. Most important of all, Teen Patti is one of the most popular online games for playing cards in India. As a matter of fact, Teen Patti is a vital contributor of revenue to the online gaming industry in India.

Bluff

Bluff is another old and popular Indian card game that you can find on major online portals for playing cards.

Players have to bluff and finish their cards to win the game. The rules of the game allow four or more players.
Players have to put down one or more cards with similar value without showing.
Players will also tell about the cards they have put on the table — for example, two fives of spades or one king.
Other players have to guess the card(s) and then check.
If the player tells the truth about the card, then the one who called the check has to pick up players’ cards.
However, if the player was bluffing about the card, then he has to pick up all the cards lying down in the stack.

Satte Pe Satta

Satte Pe Satta is also one of the oldest games that enjoy exceptional levels of popularity like Indian Rummy Card Games.

As the name suggests, the player with the 7 of hearts would start the game.
The next player can make a move only if they have 6 or 8 of hearts.
The next phase of the game starts when another player places 7 of a different suite.
A game of Satte Pe Satta can involve 3 to 8 players.

Conclusion

Apart from the entries in this discussion, many other oldest Indian card games are still popular. We came to know that Teen Patti, Rummy, Bluff, and Satte Pe Satta are the popular Indian card games with their roots in India’s history. Choose your favorite online card game portal, and enjoy your leisure with the best games!