What Andar Bahar Is
Andar bahar is an Indian card game played with one 52 card deck. "Andar" means inside and "bahar" means outside: the two sides you can bet on. There is one decision per round and no hand to build, which is why many people start here. You will find it in most Indian card apps and arcade games lobbies.
Andar Bahar Rules Step by Step
- The joker card. The dealer turns one card face up in the middle. This is the joker (also called the game card). Only its rank matters, not its suit.
- Place your bet. Bet on Andar or Bahar before dealing starts.
- Dealing. Cards are dealt one at a time, alternating between Andar and Bahar.
- The match. Dealing stops as soon as a card with the same rank as the joker appears. If the joker is a 7, the first 7 of any suit ends the round.
- Settle. Bets on the side that received the matching card win. Bets on the other side lose.
Which side starts
In the traditional game, the first card goes to the side opposite the joker's colour, or the dealer alternates by a fixed rule. Because the side dealt first has a small head start, many tables pay Andar slightly less than even money when Andar is dealt first, and Bahar at even money. This varies by version, so read the payout table shown inside the game.
Side bets
Some versions add bets on how many cards will be dealt before the match, or on the suit or colour of the joker. These pay more and win less often.
A Worked Andar Bahar Round
The joker card is the 9 of clubs. You bet 10 points on Bahar.
- Andar: K of hearts. Bahar: 3 of spades.
- Andar: 5 of diamonds. Bahar: Q of clubs.
- Andar: 2 of hearts. Bahar: 9 of diamonds.
The 9 of diamonds matches the joker's rank and it landed on Bahar. Bahar wins. At even money your 10 point bet returns 20 points. If the first 9 had landed on Andar, you would have lost the 10 points.
Is Andar Bahar Skill or Chance?
Andar bahar is pure chance. The deck is shuffled and you choose a side before any card is dealt, so nothing you do affects which side gets the match. The odds between the two sides are close to even, and the small difference is usually balanced by the payout. Patterns from earlier rounds do not carry into the next one.
Common Andar Bahar Mistakes
- Following "streaks". A run of Bahar wins says nothing about the next round.
- Ignoring that Andar can pay less than Bahar on some tables.
- Putting big stakes on long shot side bets.
- Playing round after round because each one lasts seconds.
Andar Bahar Glossary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Andar | Inside; the side usually closest to the joker card |
| Bahar | Outside; the other side |
| Joker / game card | The first card shown, whose rank must be matched |
| Match | The first dealt card with the joker's rank |
| Side bet | An extra bet, such as the number of cards dealt |
Andar Bahar in Jaiho Arcade
These rules are general editorial guidance. Our Jaiho Arcade game list includes an Andar Bahar room among the card games. Lobbies change, so check it in the app, and check its payout table on the game screen. Browse all games, read How we review apps to see how we work, and contact Jaiho Arcade support inside the app if a round settled wrongly. If you also like three card games, our teen patti rules page is next.
Andar bahar for money is for adults 18 and over only, and any bet can be lost. See our responsible gaming guide.
