Andar Bahar Game Rules

Author:

Angelina Saul

Last Updated:

25/09/2022

Andar Bahar is one of the simplest and most loved card games played at home, online- in live& digital casinos and via mobile applications. It is very straightforward.

Introduction

The Andar Bahar game originated in South India. The Joker gets placed in the middle of a table divided into two sides. Each side has a name. One side is Andar, while the other is known as Bahar. Andhar means ‘Inside’ in Hindi, while Bahar means ‘Outside’. The players must guess the correct side where the dealer would place the matching joker card. The right guess makes them the winner. A wrong guess means losing your total stake amount. 

Another game that is similar to it is Katti. Many assume Katti to be a different name given to the same game. But there is a difference. We will explain the difference between the two below later.

Winning here is based on luck and not skill. This game has been gaining popularity recently, and you will find it on many offshore online sites. Since it is a gambling game based on luck, as per the gambling laws of India, such games are not legal. However, Indians play these online on offshore sites. There is no explicit mention in the Public Gambling Act of 1867 stating that online gambling games are prohibited. Casinos in Goa do offer Andar Bahar games to their visitors.

Table of Contents

How to Play Andar Bahar?

  • This game involves a deck of 52 playing cards.
  • The dealer shuffles the cards and cuts the deck in half to start the game. He then picks a card and keeps it face-up for all to see in the middle of the table. It is known as the Joker card. 
  • Players are not needed to make any hands here. The value of the cards is at their face value, with 2s being the lowest and Aces being the highest. Players must place their bets on either side of the table. If you are facing the dealer, the left side of the table is Andar, while the right side is Bahar.
  • Depending on the Joker card colour, the first card is dealt either on the left or the right side. If the joker card belongs to any black suit, then the first card will be dealt on the left side, which is the Andar side. If the joker card belongs to a red suit, then the first card will be dealt on the right side, the Bahar side. (Some casinos follow this rule while others always get the first card dealt on the Andar side).
  • The first card gets dealt after the players place their bets, followed by another card on the other side. The game requires one card to match the Joker for its value, irrespective of the suit. This card could match when placed on the Andar or Bahar side. No two cards are dealt on one side continuously. 
  • The players who guess the correct side for the matching joker card win the game. 

Payouts

The payout in this game depends on the game rules set by the casino you are playing at. Some casinos may pay based on which side the first card is placed on and on the side better for the matching joker card by the player. We know that the joker card colour decides the first card placement in some caAt the same time,. While other casinos pay only for guessing the correct matching joker side and pay no attention to the first card placement. Now, if a player guessed the correct side for the matching joker card, he wins the bet.

In online casinos that only focus on the matching joker card side, the winning amount depends on which side the matching joker card gets dealt. For example, a player placed a bet for the Andar side for the matching Joker to show up, and the matching joker card lands on the Andar side. Since the player’s guess is correct, he will win 1.9 times (0.9:1) his stake amount.

However, if the player placed their bet on the Bahar side and the matching joker card lands on the Bahar side, the winner would get two times his stake amount (1:1). 

The table below will help you understand the payout ratios.

Side Betted OnMatching Joker SideBet AmountRatioPayout
AndarAndar1000.9:1100+90 =190
BaharBahar1001:1100×2=200
Payout Ratio

Apart from the starting bet, some Andar Bahar games allow side bets. We will talk about 5 types of side bets here.

Side Bets

Joker Prediction

For this kind of side bet, players have to predict what the joker card will be. The players bet on the value of the card, suit, or whether it would be a high-ranking or low-ranking card. They may also select a number and choose to bet on numbers closer to it.

Bet on Range

Here, the players will have to guess after how many cards the joker card will show up. The main joker card and the matching joker card don’t get counted here. The players could guess ranges between 1 to 5, 6 to 10, 11 to 15, 16 to 25, 26 to 30, 31 to 35, 36 to 40, and 41 to 49.

Mid Game Wager

Some games allow a second bet after the first two cards get dealt on each side. It is called the final bet on some online casinos. The player could place the second bet on the opposite side of the previous bet.

First Three Cards Rank

Another type of side betting that happens is betting on the hand of the first three cards. Players will try to place their bet by guessing if the first three cards would be Straight, Flush, or Straight Flush. 

First Card Winning Side

In this type of bet, players bet which side the matching Joker will land, assuming the first card will be the matching joker card. 

Difference Between Andar Bahar and Katti Game

There is not much of a vast difference between these two. Katti is a variation of Andar Bahar. 

The main differences are the joker card’s selection and the indicator card.

In Katti, the Joker gets drawn from 13 face-up cards. A player will select it, and then all will bet on either of the two sides. 

An ‘indicator’ card will decide which side the first card will get placed on. It depends on the colour of the Joker card and the side you bet on. If you bet on the Andar side, and the joker card colour is black, then the first card will be dealt on the Andar side. 

The rest of the rules are the same. The game will continue with cards placed on either side in alternating order until the matching Joker gets found.  

Summary

Andar Bahar is a fun and simple game. You can play it for free or for real money. The game is luck-based and hence can be illegal. Its legality is unclear when played on offshore casinos and in Goa. You could reduce your losses by playing free games till you understand it. You can select games that limit your bet amount when you gamble to win money. This way, you will not go overboard, reducing your losses.

Andar Bahar Guide FAQs

How many decks of cards are needed to play the Andar Bahar game?

You only need one deck of 52 cards to play this game.

Is it legal to play Andar Bahar in India?

Andar Bahar is a gambling game purely based on luck. As per the Public Gaming Act of 1860, such games are illegal unless based on skill. However, the internet didn’t exist when this law came into force. Hence, it is unclear if this game is illegal. Many offshore online casinos offer this game to Indian players.

How many bets can a player place in Andar Bahar?

The site on which the player plays the game decides the number of bets a player can place. Some let players bet only once. Few allow a second bet called the final bet. And some also let players play side bets.u003cbru003e

What is the formula to win an Andar Bahar game?

Andar Bahar is a game requiring the players to guess which side on the matching joker card would appear. There is no skill involved here. Hence, there is no such formula to win this game.

How are bets placed in Andar Bahar?

The dealer shuffles the cards, and a card is picked as the Joker and kept face up in the middle of the table. The players have to guess the correct side the matching joker card would appear on. The left side of the table is called ‘Andar’, and the right is called ‘Bahar’.

Where did Andar Bahar originate?

This game is said to have originated in south India.