Kali Teeri

India’s party game of secret partners. Bid for the points, name trump and call partners by naming cards. The three of spades alone is worth 30. 4–8 players.

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How to play Kali Teeri

  1. 1Kali Teeri, the three of spades, is a party game from India for four to eight players. The whole deck is dealt out. With five, seven or eight players a few twos come out first so everyone gets the same number of cards.
  2. 2Aces, kings, queens, jacks and tens are worth 10 points each, fives are worth 5, and the three of spades alone is worth 30: 250 points in all.
  3. 3Starting left of the dealer, players bid how many points their side will take, from 150 up to 250 in steps of 5, or pass for the rest of the deal. Bidding goes round until everyone else has passed. If nobody bids, the dealer must bid 150.
  4. 4The top bidder names trump, then calls a partner by naming a card they don't hold. With six or more players they call two cards. Whoever holds a called card plays on the bidder's side, but keeps quiet: nobody knows who the partners are until the called cards are played. Everyone else plays against them.
  5. 5The bidder leads first. Follow the suit led if you can, or play anything. The highest trump wins the trick, or else the highest card of the suit led. Aces are high. The winner leads next and keeps the points in the trick.
  6. 6If the bidder's side takes at least the bid, the bidder scores the bid and each partner scores half of it. If they fall short, they lose those amounts instead. Nobody else scores.
  7. 7The deal passes left. After eight deals, the highest score wins.

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