Andar Bahar is a traditional Indian card game. You might think that this would mean that the game is somewhat tricky to come across and slightly exclusive to Indian online casinos, but you would be wrong. There is an ever-increasing interest in online Andar Bahar amongst Westerners. As a result, it is now starting to spring up at online casinos across the world.
The history behind the Andar Bahar game
Andar Bahar is sometimes known as Katti and is a traditional Indian gambling game, which reported first sprang up in Bangalore, several hundred years ago. The exact origins of the game (as is often the case with so many gambling games) remain a touch mysterious, though.
For much of the Twentieth Century, the game was relatively unknown in most Western circles. However, the advent of internet casino gaming – in particular, the opening of the Indian online gambling market – has brought this game to the attention players across the globe. As a result, this quintessentially Indian gambling game is now getting a lot of traction at online casinos far outside its birthplace.
How to play online Andar Bahar for real cash
Some players in India consider Andar Bahar a game of skill. However, most players who try their hand at the game do not share this view. The notion of this card game being a game of skill stems back to several cases where defendants have attempted to have their case of illegal betting on games of chance dismissed by claiming that Andar Bahar is a game of skill, which would be permitted between friends in their own home. Make no mistake about it, though, Andar Bahar is a game of chance and we will explain why…
Aim of the Game
In a nutshell, Andar Bahar is a 50/50 game of chance. Just a single deck of cards is used to play the game. One of the reasons behind the sudden rise in popularity of this card game is that the game is incredibly simple for rookies to learn to play. Here is how it works:
To begin with, the dealer places a single card down in the middle of the table. This card is placed face up so everybody can see it. The rest of the cards are then dealt to both the left and right of that central card. The game ends when one of the cards, which are dealt, matches the card, which was placed face down, to begin with.
To begin the game, players must place a bet on whether that matching card will fall on the left-hand side (Andar) or the right-hand side (Bahar) of the chosen face-up card. As you can imagine, it will either be Andar or Bahar so there is a 50/50 chance of success of getting this correct.
How a Game of Andar Bahar would Play Out
Here is an example of how the game works:
- The dealer takes the first card from a recently shuffled single deck, and it is the Five of Hearts
- This card is placed face-up in the centre of the table
- Players bet whether the next five-point card (Five of Spades, Clubs or Diamonds) lands on the left (Andar) or right (Bahar) of the Five of Hearts
- Once the next five-point value card appears, players who have successfully bet on which side of the Five of Hearts it will land will pocket a prize
As you can see, it does not take much effort to play the game, and you have got a fifty-fifty chance of success. Andar Bahar can quite clearly be defined as a game of chance and not skill. This is partly the reason why the game is so appealing to new players, as they do not need to learn anything in advance before sitting down to play the game.
Winning, Prizes and Payouts
Players will only win a hand if they have successfully predicted and bet on whether the matching card will appear on the left (Andar) or right (Bahar) side. If players bet on Andar, they will receive a payout which is equivalent to 90% of their stake. However, if the player bets on Bahar, they will pocket a payout which is worth even money. For instance:
- If a player wagers $100 on Andar, and the matching card lands on Andar, they will win $190, consisting of their $100 bet back, and $90 profit.
- If the player wagers $100 on Bahar, and the matching card lands on Bahar, they will win $200, consisting of their $100 bet back, and $100 profit.
The main reason for the discrepancies between payouts if that the side which receives the first card will receive one extra card if the game goes all the way. It is also worth noting that in some games, the Bahar hand may receive the first card instead, in which case the payouts are reversed. This is worth noting before you decide to bet on Andar Bahar.
Andar Bahar Online Variants
Most online casino games have several variants which you can play. These often contain subtle twists on the rules. However, because Andar Bahar is such a simple game to play, there are not really many variants you can choose from. There are both RNG (random number generator) and live dealer games, though. Here is how they work…
- Live Dealer Andar Bahar: Played with a human dealer and over an internet video stream.
- RNG Andar Bahar: Played using random number generators, and an AI dealer. This game features no other players and has no time restraints.
Live Andar Bahar
The live casino versions of casino games are usually the most popular, especially amongst Indian players. Playing Andar Bahar with a live dealer brings with it a feel of authenticity that replicates a real life casino. Firstly, you need to choose a website that houses live casino games, then you need to make sure that Andar Bahar is amongst the casino’s portfolio. Register as a new customer, collect your welcome bonus and then you will be playing Andar Bahar in seconds with the help of a live dealer.
RNG Andar Bahar
Another real money form of Andar Bahar but this time you are on your own. That’s to say there is no dealer, or at least there is no real-life dealer. RNG means random number generator, so the cards are dealt via AI like most other casino games. The Andar Bahar table will just be a computerized image and will display the hands you are dealt.
Speed Andar Bahar
A form of the game just like any other, the only difference being that it is played at speed. Many of the casinos in India have made this version available to customers.
It is worth mentioning that in some variants, you can place side-bets, such as wagering on how many cards will be drawn before the winning card appears. These can result in added payouts, which range from 3.5:1 for 1-5 cards and 120:1 for predicting 41 or more cards will be drawn. Not all games offer side-bets.
Strategies for Success
Andar Bahar is a game of chance, so there are not many different strategies you can deploy to play the game. As with any casino game, there is no such thing as a guaranteed winning strategy. If there was, online casinos would have changed the rules of the game.
Andar Bahar players can always implement betting systems such as the Martingale to help them conserve funds. This will keep them in the game for a longer period, by helping them to try to win back what they have lost. It is not effective for long-term gameplay and seldom results in massive wins, though, as Andar Bahar pays out even money at best.
In terms of tips, it may be worth opting to place bets on whichever hand is the first to receive a card. This is because that hand could receive an additional card if you make it to the end of the deck. The downside to this strategy is that the payout is less, as mentioned.
Who Should Play Online Andar Bahar?
Andar Bahar is naturally popular amongst Indian players, as they likely grew up with the game. However, the game is also gaining traction with Westerners. It is particularly popular with players who are just starting to gamble online for the very first time, as it takes practically no experience to get to grips with the game. It can be likened, in some ways, to the Western game of Casino War, or the Asian game, Dragon Tiger.
If playing table poker, roulette, baccarat, craps, and other table games are a touch too complicated for you to begin with, Andar Bahar makes for the ideal introduction to online casino table games. It is also suitable for any player who fancies throwing down on simple fifty-fifty games of chance. Players who like long, drawn-out games of strategy are less likely to be impressed with what this card game has to offer.
Where to Play Andar Bahar Online for real cash
Andar Bahar can commonly be found in virtually all Indian online casino sites, and those foreign domains that cater to Indian players. It can also be found in a sizeable array of international online casinos that want to expand their selection of games. A few different developers produce the game, so any of the sites offering their software are great places to start.
Live dealer games are provided by Ezugi, One Touch, Sugar Spade, X-Pro, and a few other software developers. Random number generator versions come from many other providers. If you cannot find either a live dealer or RNG version of Andar Bahar at your chosen casino, you can always try your hand at Casino War or Dragon Tiger, as these games work similarly to Andar Bahar. Having said that, you can play Andar Bahar at nearly all the good online casinos now.
The Best Andar Bahar Websites
If you want to play real money Andar Bahar then you need to find the very best Indian casino site to offer the game. It’s always a hard job to pick the perfect site, but in this case we narrowed down the search by using the following criteria. We need a casino in India, a top welcome bonus, a great live casino product and the dealer needs to speak Hindi as well as English.
This leaves only a few options, but if you want our opinion, we suggest that you play Andar Bahar for money at 10Cric. This real money casino have a welcome bonus of up to 70,000 INR in India, feature the live versions of the game and even provide a ‘How to play Andar Bahar Guide’ just in case you need to remind yourself of the rules. 10Cric is one of the most trustworthy online casino sites in India and
Can you play Andar Bahar in Hindi?
Andar Bahar is of course an Indian game, so it would make sense that you can play the game in the Hindi language. This is exactly what a number of the larger game providers have done. Evolution Gaming and Ezugi both offer live casino versions of the game where the dealer speaks fluent Hindi. You are able to send written messages to them, and they will respond in Hindi.
If you are playing Andar Bahar for real money, it of course makes sense to play the game in your preferred language to ensure you completely understand what is going on.
Currently, we aren’t aware of the Andar Bahar game being available in any languages outside of Hindi and English, but we will of course keep you updated if that changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. As long as you play on a site that has a gambling license and is regulated then it is legal. All of the sites featured on Lucky Dice are legal so take your pick.
Andar Bahar can be played at only a few select online gambling sites, but the list is definitely growing. Currently, you can play at all of the brands featured at the top of this page, our favourite being 10Cric.
Yes. There are a number of game sites where you can play for fun and not risk any money. But you can also play for real money on international casino sites like those listed on this page. These sites make it easy to deposit and withdraw money with a variety of payment methods.
