Teen Patti Hand Rankings: Examples and Tie-Breaks

Scope: worked examples of general Teen Patti rules, not rules tested in a specific Star app. Check your table’s rules. Sources & limitations

The six standard categories

This guide concerns the standard three-card game, not a confirmed Star app rulebook. Joker and Muflis variations require their own rules. Hand strength does not depend on whether the holder is blind or seen.

The category comes before the highest card

A low trail defeats a high-card hand containing an ace. Likewise, 5♥ 4♥ 3♥ defeats a mixed-suit A-K-Q: pure sequence is above sequence. Do not add card values together or borrow the five-card poker ranking order.

A♥ K♥ J♥ is colour, not pure sequence: Q is missing. Q♠ 10♦ J♣ becomes a valid sequence when sorted. Moving cards on the screen does not alter their ranks.

Compare pairs in two steps

First compare the paired rank. Q♠ Q♥ 3♣ beats J♦ J♣ A♥ because queens outrank jacks; the ace kicker cannot rescue the lower pair.

Only when the paired ranks match does the unmatched card decide. In 9♠ 9♥ K♣ versus 9♦ 9♣ 7♥, the king kicker wins. These examples use distinct cards, so each comparison is possible with one standard deck.

Colour and high card: compare left to right

Sort each hand from high to low. Compare the top rank; if equal, compare the second and then the third.

The first two rows are colour comparisons; the third is high card. Suits make categories such as colour, but do not normally provide an extra tie-break rank.

A-2-3 versus A-K-Q: two published conventions

Do not settle this by whichever article calls itself universal. Pagat places A-2-3 above A-K-Q. The other ranking guide linked in Sources describes A-K-Q above A-2-3. Both put K-Q-J below those two. This is a rule-convention difference, not a calculation error.

Before a session, record which order the table uses. K-A-2 is not a valid wraparound sequence under the conventions discussed here. If an app uses a different rule, label that example with its actual table rule.

An exact tie needs a procedure, not a stronger suit

9♠ 9♥ K♣ and 9♦ 9♣ K♥ have the same pair and kicker under suit-neutral rules. Some tables split; Pagat's described show convention makes the requester lose. Check the procedure before requesting a comparison rather than inventing a spades-beats-hearts rule afterward.

Try these before revealing the answer

Which wins: 4♠ 4♥ A♦ or A♣ Q♣ 10♣? The colour wins despite the pair's ace kicker. Which wins: 8♠ 7♥ 6♦ or A♠ A♥ 3♣? The sequence wins over the pair.

Record your decision and the deciding category or rank in your own notes. Learn with a deck or non-withdrawable practice chips. Correct comparison prevents mistakes; it cannot guarantee a winning deal.