29 Tash Game: One Game, Many Names
In Hindi and Urdu-speaking homes the 29 card game often goes by "29 tash", "29 patti" or simply "29 ka game". In Bengali homes and in Nepal people say "twenty-nine". In Kerala the very similar game is called 28. They're all the same family of game.
What the names mean
- Tash (ताश) is the Hindi word for playing cards. "29 tash" just means "the 29 card game".
- Patti / patta (पत्ती / पत्ता) means a card, literally a "leaf". "29 patti" is the same game.
- 29 ka khel / 29 ka game means "the game of 29".
Don't confuse it with teen patti (3 cards), which is a betting game and nothing like 29.
The rules in short
- 4 players, 2 teams, partners opposite.
- 32 cards: 7 to Ace in each suit.
- Ranking in each suit: J, 9, A, 10, K, Q, 8, 7.
- Points: Jack 3, Nine 2, Ace 1, Ten 1 (28 in total).
- Bid on your first 4 cards; the winner hides a trump card face down.
- Play 8 rounds; the bidding team needs its bid in points.
Prefer reading in Hindi? See 29 कार्ड गेम के नियम.
Local differences you may meet
Every region has its own touches. Some tables start bidding at 15, others at 16. Lucknow players have special hands like the four-card tenny. In parts of West Bengal a Single hand scores double. When you sit at a new table, ask "what are your rules?" before the first deal.
Play 29 tash online, free
Cheettukali's 29 uses the most common rules: bidding from 16, hidden trump, the Pair, double and redouble, Single hand and the race to +6. No real money and no betting of any kind.
Hindi names for the cards
| Card | Common Hindi name | Points in 29 |
|---|---|---|
| Jack | गुलाम (Ghulam) | 3 |
| Nine | नहला (Nahla) | 2 |
| Ace | इक्का (Ikka) | 1 |
| Ten | दहला (Dehla) | 1 |
| King | बादशाह (Badshah) | 0 |
| Queen | बेगम (Begum) | 0 |
Suits too have local names: hukum (spades), paan (hearts), chidi (clubs) and eent (diamonds) are widely used, though spellings vary.
A quick 29 tash checklist before you start
- Minimum bid: 15 or 16?
- Do you play the Pair? After a won round, or any time?
- Single hand allowed? Worth 3?
- Does asking for the trump force you to cut?
🃏 Try it now: play the 29 card game free in your browser, no download, no money.
FAQ
Is 29 tash the same as 29 card game?
Yes. Tash is the Hindi word for playing cards, so 29 tash is simply the 29 card game.
Is 29 patti a gambling game?
No. 29 is a team trick-taking game of skill. It has nothing to do with teen patti, which is a betting game.