How To Play Andar Bahar

Pushed by the rapid expansion of online gambling in India, Andar Bahar is becoming common at most live dealer casinos. The way things are going, this casino game might just become as common as blackjack or baccarat.

While this is still far off, adding more games to your repertoire can’t hurt. More and more top casino software providers are adding Andar Bahar online games to their roster, some of which are amazing. If you’re not sure about the rules, payouts, or advantages of Andar Bahar – you’ve come to the right place.

What is Andar Bahar?

Andar Bahar is an old card game that originates in Bangalore, in the south of India. Before we dive into the rules of Andar Bahar, let’s not a few things. First of all, this is a game of pure chance. Like with a lot of casino games the player has very little influence over the outcome. How much you bet is essentially the full extent of your control.

To play Andar Bahar online or otherwise, all that’s needed is a standard deck of 52 cards. Because of how Andar Bahar works, an unlimited number of players may participate. That’s why there’s usually no need for a lot of tables, even in the best casinos.

Andar Bahar Rules and Procedure

The best way to explain the game is through an example. First of all, the dealer will thoroughly shuffle the deck, cut it, and deal one card face-up. This card is often referred to as the “Joker” or “trump card” – though it’s technically not either of those. However, it is crucial, so we’ll call it the house card from now on.

On a standard Andar Bahar live table, you will see two separate fields or piles called Andar and Bahar. At this stage, players can place wagers on either side. The goal of Andar Bahar is to predict which of the two piles will be the first to draw a card of the same value as the house card.

The dealer will start placing cards on Andar and Bahar in alternating order. Now, which pile gets the first draw depends on the house rules. If the house card is black, the Andar pile will receive the first card. If the house card is red, the dealer will first go for the Bahar pile. However, some versions of the game always go for one or the other first. Be sure to check the game rules before placing bets, because the first draw can be a significant advantage.

IF you wagered on the pile which first hits the same card as the house card, you win. Conversely, you lose if you predicted wrong. Andar Bahar payouts depend on which pile gets the first draw. If you wager on the side that receives the first card, the payout is 0.9:1. On the other hand, betting on the side that receives the second card pays out at even odds – 1:1.

For the main Andar Bahar casino game, the RTP rate is generally around 94.85%. Assuming, of course, the payouts work as described above.

Andar Bahar Side Bets

Like most casino betgames, Andar Bahar boasts a healthy amount of side bets to spice things up. Depending on the provider and version of the game, you may not find all (or any) of these. Still, here’s a quick rundown of the most common options and how they work.

Second Bet

Sometimes, players are allowed to bet on either side after seeing the first two cards. Generally, this just affects the odds. The deeper into the deck the game goes, the less relevant the advantage of having the first draw becomes. As such, these bets are much closer to Even Odds.

Number of Cards Dealt

Arguably the most common side bet allows you to predict how many cards will be needed to conclude the round. The bigger the number of cards, the smaller the chance of winning – which also means a bigger payout. Generally speaking, the house edge is also much smaller, though.

Cards Dealt	Payout Odds	House Edge
1 to 5 cards	2 to 1	18.68%
6 to 10 cards	3 to 1	13.18%
11 to 15 cards	4 to 1	15.49%
16 to 25 cards	3 to 1	12.80%
26 to 30 cards	14 to 1	8.52%
31 to 35 cards	24 to 1	7.56%
36 to 40 cards	49 to 1	5.17%
41 or more cards	119 to 1	4.92%

 

Again, the odds here assume that the odds are as displayed. Some of the best Andar Bahar games online have different payouts, such as 2.5:1 for 1 to 5 cards. This would mean the house edge is considerably smaller.

Bet on House Card

Lastly, some casinos allow you to bet on which card will be the house card.

House card	Payout odds	House edge
2 to 7	1 to 1	7.69%
8 exactly	11 to 1	7.69%
9 to Ace (Ace high)	1 to 1	7.69%
colour (red or black)	0.9 to 1	5.00%
suit	2.8 to 1	5.00%

 

That pretty much covers all you need to know about Andar Bahar. Good luck!