Andar Bahar
An Indian one-deck card game: guess which side gets the card matching the joker first; edge about 2% to 3%.
- House edge 2.15% to 3%
- Luck only
- Any number of players bet against the house; players do not hold or play cards
- Short: a match arrives on average at about the 13th card; live rounds are commonly under a minute
Information only. 18+. The house edge means players lose on average over time.
Overview
Andar Bahar is a traditional Indian card game in which one card, the joker, is turned face up and cards are dealt alternately to two sides, Andar and Bahar, until a card of the same rank appears. The side receiving it wins. In the common live version the main bets carry a house edge of about 2.15% and 3.00%.
Andar Bahar is a simple banking card game played with a single 52-card deck. One card, called the joker or middle card, is turned face up. The dealer then deals cards one at a time, alternating between two piles named Andar (commonly translated as 'inside') and Bahar ('outside'), until a card of the same rank as the joker lands on one of them. Players do not hold cards; they only choose which side the matching card will reach first.
The game is said to have originated in southern India, with Bengaluru (Karnataka) often named as its home, and it is also known by names such as Katti, Mangatha, Ullae Veliyae (Tamil for inside and outside) and Cut Patta. No reliable record exists of who invented it or exactly when; it was long a street and festival game before moving into casinos. Wikipedia has no dedicated article on the card game at the time of writing, so this guide relies on game-rule references and published provider rules.
Today the game is widely offered by live-dealer studios and online casinos, mainly for players in India and neighbouring markets. A live dealer shuffles a single deck, turns the joker, and deals the two piles on camera, usually with a countdown for placing bets. Which side receives the first card, and the exact payouts, differ between providers, so the figures here describe the common version and should be checked against the rules of the specific table.
- Origin
- Said to come from southern India (Bengaluru, Karnataka); inventor and date unknown
- Other names
- Katti, Mangatha, Ullae Veliyae, Cut Patta
- Deck
- One 52-card deck, shuffled before each round
- Main bets
- Andar or Bahar (which side gets the matching card first)
- Common payouts
- 0.9 to 1 on the side dealt first, 1 to 1 on the side dealt second
- House edge
- 2.15% (side dealt first at 0.9 to 1) and 3.00% (side dealt second at 1 to 1)
- First-dealt side wins
- 51.50% of rounds, against 48.50% for the other side
- Average length
- The matching card appears on average at the 13th card dealt
How to play Andar Bahar
- 1The dealer shuffles one 52-card deck and turns one card face up in the middle. This is the joker (middle card). Only its rank matters, not its suit.
- 2A betting window opens, usually with a countdown. Players choose Andar or Bahar. Optional side bets, such as the number of cards dealt before the match, may also be offered.
- 3When betting closes, the dealer deals the next card to the first side. Which side starts depends on the table: some always start with Andar, some always with Bahar, and in the traditional rule the colour of the joker decides (black joker: Andar first; red joker: Bahar first).
- 4The dealer then deals alternately to the two sides, one card each time, so the sides receive the 1st, 3rd, 5th card and so on, and the 2nd, 4th, 6th card and so on.
- 5The round ends as soon as a card with the same rank as the joker is dealt. The side that received it is the winning side.
- 6Winning bets are paid at the table's posted odds, commonly 0.9 to 1 on the side that is dealt first and 1 to 1 on the side dealt second. Losing bets are collected.
- 7If side bets were placed (for example on how many cards are dealt), they are settled at the same moment according to the card count.
- 8The cards are gathered, the deck is shuffled, and a new round begins with a new joker.
Rules
- A single 52-card deck is used, and the joker is an ordinary card from that deck; the game uses no wild cards.
- Only the rank of the joker matters: a match is any card of the same rank, in any suit. Three other cards of that rank remain among the 51 cards left.
- Cards are dealt one at a time, alternating between Andar and Bahar, until the first match appears.
- The side that receives the first matching card wins the round. If the sides are numbered by deal order, the first-dealt side wins when the match comes on an odd card (1st, 3rd, 5th, ...) and the other side wins on an even card.
- Because the first-dealt side gets the first chance, it wins slightly more often (about 51.50% against 48.50%), which is why its payout is commonly reduced to 0.9 to 1.
- Which side is dealt first is set by the provider: always Andar, always Bahar, or decided by the joker's colour. The side dealt first is the one with the lower payout.
- In the common live version payouts do not change with how early the match comes. In a traditional land-casino rulebook, however, a match on the very first card dealt to Bahar pays only 25% of the first bet, while a match on the first card dealt to Andar is paid at even money.
- That traditional rulebook also allows a second bet if no match appears in the first two cards; if the first card of the second stage matches, the second bet is paid 25% and the first bet at even money, and later matches pay even money. Most online tables omit this two-stage structure.
- Side bets, where offered, include the number of cards dealt before the match (in ranges such as 1 to 5, 6 to 10), a match on the very first card, and bets on the joker's rank, suit or colour. Their payouts vary by provider.
- Once the joker is turned, the outcome is fixed by the shuffled order of the deck and cannot be influenced by players.
Bets, payouts & house edge
| Bet | Pays | House edge | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side dealt first (for example Andar) | 0.9 to 1 | 2.15% | Wins 51.50% of rounds; the reduced payout offsets its head start. |
| Side dealt second (for example Bahar) | 1 to 1 | 3.00% | Wins 48.50% of rounds. |
| Traditional rulebook, first bet on the side dealt first with early-match payout | 1 to 1, but 0.25 to 1 if the first card matches | 1.41% | Land-casino rulebook variant; the first card matches 1 time in 17 (5.88%). |
| Match on the first card (Super Bahar style) | 11 to 1 | 29.41% | Pays only if the very first card dealt matches the joker; probability 1 in 17. |
| Number of cards: 1 to 5 | 2.5 to 1 | 5.13% | Probability 27.11%; payouts for this bet differ widely by provider. |
| Number of cards: 6 to 10 | 3.5 to 1 | 2.33% | Probability 21.70%. |
| Number of cards: 11 to 15 | 4.5 to 1 | 7.03% | Probability 16.90%. |
| Number of cards: 16 to 25 | 3.5 to 1 | 1.90% | Probability 21.80%. |
| Number of cards: 26 to 30 | 14.5 to 1 | 5.47% | Probability 6.10%. |
| Number of cards: 31 to 35 | 24.5 to 1 | 5.71% | Probability 3.70%. |
| Number of cards: 36 to 40 | 49 to 1 | 5.16% | Probability 1.90%. |
| Number of cards: 41 or more | 119 to 1 | 4.92% | Probability 0.79%; the match must come by card 49. |
Payouts, commissions and side bets differ between providers and casinos. Always read the rules shown at the table or in the game before anything else.
How these numbers are worked out
Assumptions: one 52-card deck; after the joker is turned, 51 cards remain, 3 of them matching in rank. The first match is equally likely to sit in any position, so the chance it falls on card k is C(51-k,2)/C(51,3), calculated in exact fractions. The first-dealt side wins 429/833 = 51.5006% of rounds and the second-dealt side 404/833 = 48.4994%. Expected result per unit staked: first-dealt side at 0.9 to 1 = 0.9 x 0.515006 - 0.484994 = -2.1489%; second-dealt side at 1 to 1 = 0.484994 - 0.515006 = -3.0012%. The traditional-rulebook row applies only to the first bet on the side dealt first (a match on the first card, probability 3/51 = 1/17, pays 0.25 to 1; later wins pay 1 to 1): -1.4106%. The first-card bet at 11 to 1 returns 12 x 1/17, an edge of 29.41%. Number-of-cards ranges use the payouts most often published for live tables (2.5, 3.5, 4.5, 3.5, 14.5, 24.5, 49 and 119 to 1) and the exact range probabilities from the same formula; the resulting returns (for example 94.87% for 1 to 5) agree with return figures published by one provider. Other tables pay different multiples (for example 2 to 1 on 1 to 5 cards gives an edge of 18.68%), and other published main-bet payouts such as 0.85 to 1 and 0.95 to 1 give edges of 4.72% and 5.43%. All payouts and side bets vary by provider and should be treated as the common version only.
Tips for playing sensibly
The house edge means that, on average, a player loses money over time. The lower-edge side is the one dealt first at 0.9 to 1 (2.15%), but this is still a loss in the long run.
No betting pattern or system changes the odds: the deck is shuffled for every round, so past rounds say nothing about the next joker or match.
Check which side is dealt first at the table you are watching and read its posted payouts before anything else; the same bet can have a different edge on a different table.
Treat number-of-cards side bets with caution: with the usual payouts their edge is higher than the main bets, and the long-range bets are rare events.
Decide in advance how much you are willing to lose and treat it as the cost of entertainment, not as an income source. Never chase losses.
The game is fast, so many rounds can pass in a short time; take regular breaks and use any time or deposit limits the service offers.
Gambling is for adults only (18+, or the legal age where you live). If it stops being fun or you feel you are losing control, stop and seek help from a local support organisation.
Common myths
Myth A side that has not won for several rounds is 'due'.
Truth Each round uses a freshly shuffled deck, so earlier rounds have no influence on the next one.
Myth Andar Bahar is a game of skill because you choose your side.
Truth The choice is only which fixed payout to accept. Nothing a player does can alter the shuffled order of the cards.
Myth Betting on the side dealt second is better because it pays 1 to 1.
Truth The higher payout is balanced by a lower chance of winning. In the common version the second side has the higher house edge (3.00% against 2.15%).
Myth Doubling the bet after a loss recovers losses.
Truth Such systems do not change the house edge; they raise the amount at risk and can lead to large losses quickly.
Variants
Traditional two-stage Andar Bahar
Found in some land-casino rulebooks: a first bet is placed before dealing, and a second bet is allowed if no match appears in the first two cards. Early matches are paid at reduced odds (for example 25% of the bet on the first card dealt to Bahar), and later wins at even money.
Fixed-order live Andar Bahar
Online live tables that always deal to the same side first, so one side always pays 0.9 to 1 and the other 1 to 1, with side bets on the number of cards dealt.
Joker-colour order
The traditional rule in which a black joker sends the first card to Andar and a red joker sends it to Bahar, so the lower-paying side changes from round to round.
Enhanced or multiplier versions
Some studios add random multipliers or extra side bets on the joker's rank, suit or colour; these change the payouts and the edge and vary by provider.
Glossary
- Andar
- One of the two betting sides; commonly translated as 'inside'. The matching card reaching this pile wins an Andar bet.
- Bahar
- The other betting side; commonly translated as 'outside'.
- Joker (middle card)
- The face-up card turned at the start of the round; its rank decides which dealt card counts as a match.
- Match
- A dealt card that has the same rank as the joker, regardless of suit.
- First-dealt side
- The side that receives the first card after the joker. It wins slightly more often and normally pays less.
- House edge
- The average share of each bet that the game keeps over the long run; for example 2.15% means 2.15 units lost on average per 100 units bet.
- RTP (return to player)
- The average share of money returned over the long run; equal to 100% minus the house edge.
- Number-of-cards bet
- A side bet on how many cards will be dealt before the match, grouped in ranges such as 1 to 5 or 6 to 10.
- Super Bahar
- A side bet found in some traditional rulebooks that pays if the very first card dealt to Bahar matches the joker.
- Even money
- A payout of 1 to 1: a winning bet of 10 units returns 10 units of profit plus the original stake.
Andar Bahar FAQ
Which side is dealt first in Andar Bahar?
It depends on the table. Some live tables always deal to Andar first, some always to Bahar first, and the traditional rule uses the joker's colour (black: Andar first; red: Bahar first). The side dealt first has the slightly higher chance of winning, about 51.50%.
Why do the two sides pay differently?
Because the side dealt first wins more often, its winning bets are commonly paid at 0.9 to 1, while the second side is paid at 1 to 1. The difference leaves the house with an edge of about 2.15% on the first side and 3.00% on the second.
Is there any way to beat Andar Bahar?
No. The outcome is decided by a shuffled deck, and the odds are fixed by the payouts. No betting system or strategy changes the odds, and the player loses on average over time.
Do early matches pay differently?
In the common live-dealer version, no: payouts do not depend on how early the match comes. Some traditional land-casino rulebooks do differ; for example, a match on the very first card dealt to Bahar can pay only 25% of the first bet.
How many cards are usually dealt before a match?
On average the first matching card appears at about the 13th card. The first card matches about 5.88% of the time (1 in 17), and a match by the 5th card occurs in about 27.11% of rounds.
Does the suit of the joker matter?
Only its rank matters for the match. The suit (or colour) matters only on tables that use the joker's colour to decide which side is dealt first.
Are the payouts the same everywhere?
No. Payouts for main bets and especially for side bets vary by provider and casino. Always read the rules of the specific table before judging its house edge.
Keep learning
More games explained
Card games
Lucky 7
A one-card live-dealer game: Low, High or exactly 7. House edge in the common version is about 3% to 8%.
Rules & odds
Card games
Dragon Tiger Lion
A three-way take on Dragon Tiger; no standard published rules found, so this guide explains the format and the maths.
Rules & odds
Card games
Dragon Tiger
A two-card comparison game: one card each for Dragon and Tiger, higher card wins; edge about 3.7% on the main bets.
Rules & odds
Card games
Teen Patti 20-20
Teen Patti in the live 20-20 format: two three-card hands, hand rankings, side bets and odds
Rules & odds