Dehla Pakad: all about the game

Dehla Pakad: Introduction

Dehla Pakad is a card game with origins in Iran, India, and Pakistan. It’s similar to the popular game, Whist. The game goes by many names, including Court Piece, Pees, and Hokm, showing its wide appeal. Played with four players in teams of two, it’s a strategic and competitive game.

The Deal

Choosing the Dealer: The game begins by choosing a dealer. This can be done randomly or through any method the players see fit. Subsequent hands have their dealer determined by the results of the previous hand, adding a unique strategic layer to the game.
Dealing the Cards: The dealer commences by dealing five cards to every player, including themselves. Once the first five cards are dealt, there’s a brief pause for trump determination, after which the remaining cards are dealt in batches of four. Thus, each player ultimately receives 13 cards. Throughout the dealing process, cards are kept face-down, maintaining the suspense of what hand each player holds.

The Play

Starting the Game: The player next to the dealer begins by playing any card. Other players should play the same suit if they can. If they can’t, they can play any card, even a trump.
Winning the Trick: A trick is won by the highest-ranking trump card played. If no trumps are played, the highest card of the initiated suit claims the trick. An intriguing twist in Dehla Pakad is that the winner doesn’t collect the cards from the trick, but they do gain the privilege of leading the next trick.

Choosing the Trump Suit

Players decide on one of two methods:

Method one: After dealing 5 cards, play begins normally. When a player can’t follow suit, that suit becomes the trump. Once done, the dealer finishes dealing.

Method two: After 5 cards are dealt, the player next to the dealer picks the trump based on their cards. They then start the game.

Playing Tricks: Players don’t collect cards from tricks they win. Instead, they flip them face down in the center. If a player wins two tricks back-to-back, those cards go to their team’s pile. Otherwise, cards stay in the center.

If a player wins the last trick, they take the center pile, even if they didn’t win the trick before.

Scoring in the Game:

Game Objective: Win Kots.

What is Kot ?

In the card game Dehla Pakad, “Kot” refers to a significant scoring point or unit. Achieving a Kot is a primary goal in the game and often denotes a significant accomplishment or advantage. For instance, in some rules of the game, capturing all four 10s in a hand will award the team a Kot. The precise rules and conditions for earning a Kot can vary based on regional or local variations of the game

A team earns 1 Kot by collecting all four 10s in a hand.
- If the dealer’s team wins, the next dealer is the player to the right.
- If the other team wins, the dealer’s partner deals next.
If the team not dealing gets two or three 10s, they win the hand, but the same person deals again.
If the dealer’s team gets three 10s, they win the hand, and the next dealer is the player to the right.
Winning 7 consecutive hands earns a team 1 Kot. However, if they earn a Kot by collecting four 10s, the hand count resets to zero.

Endgame options:

Play for a set time.
Play a set number of hands.
Play until reaching a certain number of Kots.

Dehla Pakad: game examples

Players: A, B, C, and D. A and C are partners, while B and D are partners.

Dealing: B deals the cards. Everyone gets 5 cards initially.

Initial Cards:
- A: K of hearts, 9 of spades, 7 of diamonds, 3 of clubs, 2 of hearts.
- B: A of spades, 10 of hearts, 8 of diamonds, 4 of clubs, 3 of diamonds.
- C: Q of hearts, J of spades, 6 of diamonds, 5 of clubs, 4 of diamonds.
- D: J of hearts, 10 of spades, 9 of diamonds, 6 of clubs, 5 of spades.
Play Starts:
- A starts and plays the 9 of spades.
- B follows with the A of spades.
- C plays the J of spades.
- D plays the 10 of spades.
- B wins the trick with the A of spades and will lead the next trick.
Trumps Setting: As the game progresses, suppose C cannot follow suit on a later trick and plays the Q of hearts. The heart suit then becomes the trump for the rest of the game.

Remember, this is a simplified situation, and actual gameplay can involve more strategy and intricacies.

Dehla Pakad: strategy examples

Example 1: Communication Through Leading Cards

Players: A, B, C, and D. A and C are partners, and B and D are partners.

Cards In Play:

A leads with a 9 of spades.
B plays the 4 of spades.
C plays the 10 of spades.
D plays the 2 of spades.

In this case, C, by playing the 10 of spades (a higher card than A’s but not the highest he might have), is potentially signaling to A that he holds even higher spades. This could be a strategic move to communicate card strength to a partner without verbalizing it.

Example 2: Deciding Trumps Based on Strength

Players: A, B, C, and D. A and C are partners, B and D are partners.

Initial 5 Cards:

A has no high-ranking cards but has 4 diamonds.
B has 2 Aces but only one diamond.
C has mixed cards with no particular strength in any suit.
D has strong spades but weak diamonds.

When A realizes he doesn’t have strength in high-ranking cards, he might strategically decide to make diamonds the trump (once he gets the chance), banking on the probability of his partner, C, having the high-ranking diamonds they need.

Example 3: Saving Trumps

Players: A, B, C, and D. A and C are partners, and B and D are partners.

Trumps: Hearts

Cards In Play:

A leads with the King of clubs.
B, not having any clubs, plays a 2 of hearts (a low trump).
C plays the 6 of clubs.
D, aiming to win the trick but not wanting to expend a high trump, plays the 4 of hearts.

D’s play is strategic because by using a low trump card, he’s saving his higher trumps for future tricks, ensuring more wins for his team.

These examples give a glimpse into the strategic depth of Dehla Pakad. With practice, players develop more nuanced strategies and better understand partner signals.

India and Asian games

Teen Patti: Often dubbed the ‘Indian Poker’, Teen Patti is a card game played with three cards. It’s a betting game where the highest hand, or the last player left after others fold, clinches the pot.
Pool Rummy: A variant of the classic Indian Rummy, Pool Rummy sees players pay a fixed entry fee to form the prize pool. A player reaching 101 or 201 points gets eliminated, with the last person standing claiming the pool.
Bhabhi Card Game: A delightful family card game where the aim is to avoid being left with the last card. While the objective sounds simple, there’s ample strategy in choosing when to play your high-value cards.
Satte Pe Satta: Meaning “Seven on Seven”, this game is about playing cards in a sequence, starting from the seven of hearts. Players aim to sequence their cards, but strategy reigns supreme in this engaging game.
Knock Rummy: A twist on traditional rummy, Knock Rummy involves forming sets and runs. The unique ‘knock’ element allows players to end the game when they believe their hand is unbeatable.
Andar Bahar: An age-old Indian game of chance, Andar Bahar is about betting on the location of the next matching card. With simple rules, it provides quick and thrilling rounds of play.
Jhandi Munda: A popular dice betting game in India, Jhandi Munda uses dice with symbols instead of numbers. Players place bets on which symbol will land face up the most, combining chance and prediction in equal measure.
Dragon Tiger: Originating from Cambodia, Dragon Tiger is a two-card version of Baccarat. Players bet on which hand, Dragon or Tiger, will get the higher card. Simple yet captivating, it has gained popularity in casinos across Asia.

How to download Dehla Pakad game

For Android Devices:

Google Play Store: Open the Google Play Store app on your device.
Search for “Dehla Pakad” in the search bar.
Find the game from the search results and tap on it.
Tap the “Install” button to begin downloading and installing the game.
Once installed, open the game and start playing!

For iOS Devices:

Apple App Store: Open the App Store on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap on the search icon at the bottom and type “Dehla Pakad”.
Locate the game in the search results and tap on it.
Tap the cloud icon or “Get” to download and install the game.
Once installed, open the game from your home screen and enjoy!

For Windows PC:

Microsoft Store: If you’re using Windows 10 or later, open the Microsoft Store.
Use the search bar to type “Dehla Pakad” and press enter.
Click on the game from the search results.
Click on the “Get” button to download and install.
Once done, you can launch the game from the Start Menu or Applications list.

Directly from a Website:

Sometimes, games can be downloaded directly from official websites or developers’ pages. Ensure the site is trustworthy before downloading to avoid potential malware.

Visit the official website or a trusted source for the game.
Look for a “Download” or “Get Started” button.
Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the game.

FAQ

What is Dehla Pakad?

Dehla Pakad is a traditional card game, often compared to Whist. It’s a team-based game played with four players in two partnerships.

How many players are needed to play Dehla Pakad?

The game is designed for four players, playing in two fixed partnerships.

How is the trump suit determined in Dehla Pakad?

There are common methods to determine the trump suit. Players can either decide after the first few cards are dealt or the player to the right of the dealer can declare it based on their hand.

How do you win in Dehla Pakad?

The goal is to win Kots. This can be achieved in various ways, such as by taking all four 10s during a hand.

What is the significance of the number ‘7’ in Dehla Pakad?

If a team takes seven hands consecutively, they win 1 Kot. However, this count resets if a Kot is won by other means, like taking four 10s.

Can I play Dehla Pakad online?

Yes, there are several platforms and apps where you can play Dehla Pakad online with friends or AI players.

How long does a typical game of Dehla Pakad last?

The duration of a game can vary based on the agreed rules – it can be a fixed length of time, a set number of hands, or up to a target number of Kots.

Are there any variations of Dehla Pakad?

Yes, like many traditional games, regional variations might exist. Some of these might have slight rule changes or different methods of scoring.

Is Dehla Pakad similar to any other card games?

Dehla Pakad bears similarities to the game of Whist. It also has resemblances to some other regional games from Iran, India, and Pakistan.

Can beginners easily learn Dehla Pakad?

Absolutely! While the game has its complexities, with practice and a few rounds, beginners can grasp the rules and enjoy the game.