Pure sequence in Teen Patti, and whether Q-K-A counts

A pure sequence in Teen Patti is three cards in a row, all of the same suit. 7♥ 8♥ 9♥ is one. 7♥ 8♠ 9♥ is a plain sequence (also called a run), because the suits are mixed.

Most arguments at the table are about the edges of the list. Does Q-K-A count? Is A-2-3 high or low? Can a run wrap round from king to two? The short answers are yes, high in most Indian rules, and no. The rest of this post shows why, with the full list and the odds.

Where a pure sequence sits in the rankings

Teen Patti has six hand ranks. From best to worst:

A pure sequence beats everything except a trail. It even beats a trail on rarity, as the odds further down show, but tradition puts the trail on top and every app we know of follows that.

Is Q-K-A a sequence?

Yes. Q-K-A (usually written A-K-Q) is the highest sequence in the game. If all three cards share a suit, A♠ K♠ Q♠ is the best pure sequence there is, and only a trail beats it.

People search for "QKA sequence or not" because in some card games the ace can only be low. In Teen Patti the ace is high by default, so A-K-Q is a normal, valid run.

Where A-2-3 ranks

This is the rule that changes most between tables. In most Indian rules, and in most apps, A-2-3 is the second-highest sequence, just below A-K-Q and above K-Q-J. Some home games treat the ace as low in this hand and put A-2-3 at the very bottom, below 4-3-2.

If you play at home, settle this before the first deal. In an app, the game rules screen usually lists the order.

Why K-A-2 does not count

A run cannot wrap round the ace. K-A-2, or any other run that goes past the ace into the low cards, is not a sequence in standard Teen Patti. K♥ A♥ 2♥ is a colour, not a pure sequence, and it would lose to any real sequence.

The full sequence list

There are 12 possible sequences. Here they are in order from strongest to weakest, using the most common Indian rule for A-2-3:

Each of these can be pure (one suit) or plain (mixed suits). A pure 4-3-2 still beats a plain A-K-Q, because the hand type is compared first and the cards second.

Two pure sequences at the same table

When two players both show a pure sequence, the higher one in the list above wins. Suits never break a tie in Teen Patti, so if both players hold the same sequence (say 8♣ 9♣ 10♣ against 8♦ 9♦ 10♦), the hands are equal. Most apps split the pot. In many home games the player who asked for the show loses a tie, so check your table's rule.

How often you get a pure sequence

A 52-card deck gives 22,100 possible three-card hands. Counting them:

So a pure sequence turns up about once in 460 deals. If you play 40 hands in an evening, the chance of seeing even one is under 10%. Most pots are won with much less. About three hands in four are plain high-card hands, so a pair is often enough.

Wild-card variations change this completely. In Joker or AK47 games, sequences and trails appear far more often, so a pure sequence is a much weaker claim there. Our post on Muflis, AK47 and 999 covers how those tables work.

Pure sequence in Rummy is a different thing

If you also play Rummy, the same words mean something else. In 13-card Rummy, a pure sequence is three or more consecutive cards of one suit made without a joker, and you need at least one to declare. It is a requirement for finishing, not a ranked hand. The Teen Patti vs Rummy post goes through the other differences.

For the rest of the rules, including boot, blind and seen play, start with Teen Patti rules for beginners or the full Teen Patti game guide.