Gambling in India boasts a long and colorful history. The first mention of gambling was in the Ramayana, although some believed that its history dates back longer. In this epic book, gambling boards and dice were described as some of the first forms of games played. So it isn’t surprising that there are several games too that have originated in the region.
One such popular game with a local flavor is Andar Bahar. It’s a popular card game that’s believed to have originated in Bangalore, in the southern state of Karnataka. Compared to other card games, Andar Bahar is purely a game of chance where the dealer initially places a card face-up. Your job is to put a wager on one of two piles: Andar (inside) or Bahar (outside). After the submission of bets, the dealer then deals cards alternately to the two sides until the card matches the original card. Now, the pile where the matching card is taken is the winner.
Today, this traditional Indian card game is playable in many online casinos. Before you play, check out our complete guide on this traditional Indian card game below.
Betting on Andar Bahar
In this casino game, the dealer uses a standard 52-card pack. When you open the game, you’ll find a circular Andar Bahar table with players facing the casino dealer. At the bottom of the screen, you’ll find the buttons for Andar (on the left) and Bahar (on the right). To set your bet, you can click the ‘-’ and ‘+’ buttons.
It’s a pretty straightforward game and doesn’t require a complicated set of Andar Bahar strategy. Simply place your wager, watch the deal, and collect your payout if you’re correct.
How to Play
In real money Andar Bahar, the game starts with the dealer shuffling the cards and dealing a card face-up. This acts as the game’s ‘joker’ or the house card which serves as your guide. In most Indian casinos, it’s called the middle card since it’s placed between two piles of cards. Now, you need to place your bet on either of the two piles, the Andar and Bahar. The betting range on the Andar Bahar table is determined by the casino operator in advance or this depends on the game vendor.
Andar and Bahar (Or Baahar) are both Hindi words that mean for inside and outside. And in the Tamil language, the equivalent is ‘Ullae’ or inside and ‘Veliyae’ or outside. One explanation for this is that in the traditional Indian card game, the inside pile is close to the dealer. In Indian online casinos today, the table layout is simplified, with Andar and Bahar are placed to the left and right of the middle card.
With the middle card ready, the dealer then deals cards face up alternately to the Andar and Bahar piles on the betting table. If the middle card is black, the first card is placed to the Andar; and if it’s red, it’s assigned to the Bahar side. This action continues until such time that a card appears that matches the middle card. Now, if you bet on the pile where the matching card appears, you collect a payout. With the Andar Bahar table game, you can enjoy a rush of excitement without complex rules or strategies in play. It’s one of the most popular casino games in India.
Payout
Although the results are random, there’s a slightly better chance that the matching card will come from the side where the first card is dealt. In most casinos, a successful wager on the side where the initial card is dealt comes with odds of 0.9 to 1, while the side pays 1 to 1 for a successful wager. This translates to a house edge of 2.15% for your wager on the side where the first card is dealt, and it’s 3% for the side where the second card is dealt.
How to Start Playing Andar Bahar Online
If you’re looking for an easy table game to play, you can’t go wrong with Andar Bahar. In this popular card game for real money, you’ll just bet on one of two options, watch the deal, and wait if you find a match. There are no complex rules and bet types, and many Indian casinos today carry the game.
Before you play, make sure to check our complete game guide and tips. We also review the best Indian online casinos where you can play Andar Bahar in free and real money mode. With complete coverage of the Indian online gambling scene, you can always play safely and conveniently.
