Understand the shape of a round
- Agree the rules. Establish ace order, special cards, who acts first and how comparisons finish. Use counters with no monetary value for practice.
- Deal three cards. Keep each hand separate and face down until the chosen rules allow it to be inspected.
- Take turns. Players either continue under the table rules or leave the round. The action normally moves around the table.
- Finish the round. A remaining participant or a permitted hand comparison determines the outcome. Reset before the next deal.
Blind, seen, chaal and pack
| Term | Practical meaning |
|---|---|
| Blind | Playing without inspecting the hand |
| Seen / chaal | Playing after looking at the hand; action limits can differ |
| Pack / fold | Leaving the current round |
| Show | A permitted comparison to resolve a round |
| Sideshow | A request for a private comparison under some rules |
Looking at the cards may change the actions or counter amounts allowed by a table. Do not assume that every app uses the same ratios, minimums or maximums. “Blind” describes information about the hand; it does not make a weak hand stronger.
Use categories before individual cards
A trail beats a pure sequence; a pure sequence beats a sequence; a sequence beats a colour; a colour beats a pair; and a pair beats a high-card hand in the classic category hierarchy. That category test comes before comparing a single ace or king.
For example, a low pair is still in a higher category than an ace-high hand that has no combination. The visual ranking chart gives examples and a practice exercise.
Five rules to check in writing
- Does A-2-3 rank above or below A-K-Q?
- Are jokers, wild cards or special combinations in use?
- Who can request a show or sideshow, and can it be declined?
- How are equal-ranked hands resolved? Are suits relevant?
- What ends the round, and what happens after a disconnected player leaves?
A disagreement is easier to avoid before the cards are dealt. If the table rules are missing or contradictory, do not infer them from a marketing page.
Scope of this guide
This is a description of card-game concepts, not a claim that a particular APK implements these rules. Pagat ↗ documents one traditional rule set, including a specific ace-run order. Our worked examples use category comparisons so they do not depend on that variable. For real app requirements, use a publisher-authenticated rulebook.