Kali Teeri FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the game and the site.

Short answers to the questions new players ask most. For the full rules, see the Kali Teeri rules.

What is Kali Teeri?

Kali Teeri is a point-based trick-taking card game from South India, named after the 3 of Spades (kali teeri). Players bid for the points their side will capture, the winning bidder names trump and calls partner cards, and the hidden partnerships are revealed only as those cards are played.

How many players and decks does Kali Teeri use?

The standard game is six players with one deck. The 2s are removed, leaving 48 cards, so everyone gets eight cards and the hand is eight tricks, and with two hidden partners the table usually splits three against three.

Why is the 3 of Spades so important?

It is worth 30 points on its own, the most of any card, out of 250 in the deck. Every 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace is worth 10 and every 5 is worth 5. Yet in ordinary play the 3 of Spades is the lowest spade, so protecting it is much of the game's strategy.

How does bidding work?

Players bid the number of points their side will capture. On a single-deck table the bidding opens at 130 and goes up in steps of 10, to a maximum of 250. Players can pass (except the player who must open the first round), and the last player left in the auction becomes the bidder.

How are partners chosen?

The bidder names a trump suit and calls partner cards, two of them in the six-player game. Whoever holds a called card is secretly on the bidder's side, and nobody knows for certain until that card is played. On a single-deck table the bidder cannot call a card from their own hand.

What are No Trump and Duggi?

They replace an ordinary trump suit. With No Trump, the highest card of the led suit wins each trick. Duggi is also no trump, but the rank order is reversed, so the 3 is the highest card and the Ace the lowest, while the point values stay the same.

How is a hand scored?

After all eight tricks, the bidding side adds up the points it captured. If it reached the bid, the bidder and partners score the bid, or all 250 points if they took every point in the deck. If they fall short, the bid is lost and the defenders win the hand.

Can I play Kali Teeri with my friends?

Yes. Create a private room and share its code or invite link, and your friends join you at the same table. Any empty seats can be filled by bots, so a game can start even if you are short of players.

What is Game Day?

Game Day is a Kali Teeri tournament event held on kaliteeri.com. Registered players compete at tables of six over several games, with prizes for the top finishers. Entry is free.

Is Kali Teeri free to play?

Yes. Kali Teeri is free to play in your browser and in the Android and iOS apps, and you do not need an account to start. There is no real-money gambling.