Chinese Poker
Open Face Chinese Poker Points There are two ways to win points in OFCP. Basic points are awarded just for beating your opponent's corresponding hand. For example, you win 1 point for beating your. This means I probably give my opponent a free point every couple of hands. And the only Open Face Chinese ranking system on the web. Derric 'SixPeppers' Haynie is the author of.
Introduction to Chinese Poker
Chinese Poker is a poker variation that is played on a standard 52 card deck in which every player receives 13 cards. That means that the maximum number of players that can play this game at a time is four.
Some historians believe that Chinese poker has been existant for thousands of years and that it was developed at the same time Pai Gow had been introduced. There is also another theory about the origins of this game according to which this version of poker is actually a more recent development and that it came to be around the time when western poker had been incorporated into the ancient game of Pai Gow.
This variation of poker has been quite popular among the gambling community ever since it was introduced to the global gambling scene back in 1995 when the prestigious World Series of Poker Bracelet event took place.
Chinese poker is a straightforward game and you'll only need basic knowledge of poker hand rankings to get right on it. Also, unexpected outcomes are frequent, and luck plays a huge in this in this version of poker. Therefore, even if you're a beginner, you'll have a good shot of winning in the short term, even against more adept opponents.
If you're interested to know more about why this version of poker is so prevalent in the western world to date, do go through our article as we discuss the main features of the game.
Chinese Poker Rules
In Chinese poker, each player will be dealt with 13 cards at once. When a player receives the cards, he/she needs to line up their cards up in two rows of 5 (the middle and the back rows) and one row of three cards (the front row).
Players must arrange the cards in rows so that the back row consists of high cards (highest hand possible), while the front row consists of low cards (lowest hand). Straights and flushes don't count in the three card hand.
When players receive their cards, they need to arrange them in three lines (rows), each placed face down on the table. When all the players have placed all of their cards on the table, they will announce whether or not they want to play. The round starts with the player that sits left to the dealer and continues clockwise.
Once all the cards are set, players compare each of their three hands with their opponents' corresponding hands. In the most common scoring system, the player wins two points when two of his hands are stronger than his opponent's, and if the player's all three hands are better than his opponent's, he/she will win a bonus point. That means that if a player sweeps all three hands, he will win four points.
Some players that have certain hands (royalties) are awarded additional points. Depending on which Chinese poker variation you play, the points per royalty can differ. These bonus points make the game incredibly exciting, especially when one player fails to create three hands according to the rules − ascending in value from bottom to top.
There are a few variations that derived from the original game. These include:
- Open-Face Chinese Poker
- Low In the Middle
- Criss Cross
- The Will
- 11-Point Game
How To Play Chinese Poker
Chinese poker is a game played by two to four players. The luck element plays a much greater role in this version of poker than in regular poker and only requires a basic knowledge of poker hands, making it much more appealing to beginners. Each game (round) lasts approximately 20 minutes, depending on how many players are participating. To start the game, each player receives 13 cards.
Each player must create three groups or rows using those 13 cards − two rows that contains five cards each, and one row that contains three cards. The two rows that consist of five cards are known as the back and the middle, while the row that consists of three cards is called the front (row).
The sets must be arranged according to the following rules:
- The front (three) card row must be the lowest hand
- The back (five) card row must be the highest hand
- The middle (five) card row must be the middle hand
- Straight and flushes don't count in the back row.
Once each player arranges their cards in three rows, they need to place them face down in front of them − first comes the front, then the middle, and then comes the back.
Showdown
Once all players have arranged their cards in three rows, they need to place them face down in front of him − first the front, then the middle, then the back.
Players must place their back hands so that they are closest to the center of the table. Back hands are then followed by the middle hand and the front hand.
The showdown begins by players flipping the cards over and comparing them group by group:
- Back hands are compared to back hands
- Middle hands are compared to middle hands
- Front hands are compared to front hands
Points are distributed according to a pre-defined scoring system. There are several scoring systems in this poker version, but we'll talk about the standard Chinese poker scoring system.
In the standard Chinese poker scoring system, you win one point for each winning hand.
For example, you win the Back and Front hand but lose the Middle hand. You win one point for Back, and one point for Front but lose one point for the middle hand. So your total score is +1 point.
Players who opt for the standard playing style cannot fold their cards. However, if the Surrender rule is included, it is possible for a player to withdraw from the round. In some variations, surrendering will cost you a certain amount of points.
If you're playing Chinese poker with the 6-1 rule, a scoop (victory in three hands) will earn you +6 points. If at least one of your three hands is strong, the risk of getting scooped is very low. On the other hand, if you can set at least a flush in the back hand, or a pair of eights or better in the front hand, then you should give up the hand and avoid losing all six points.
Variations of Chinese Poker
As we have mentioned earlier in the article, there are a couple of variations of Chinese poker. The most popular one is Open-face Chinese Poker (OFCP).
Like other poker variations, OFCP players receive cards from the dealer and try to make the best possible hands, while their opponents try to do the same. The difference between OFCP and most poker games is that no bets are placed during the rounds of play. Instead, players play on ‘per point' system where the game is scored in points, similar to card games like gin rummy or hearts.
If you're familiar with standard Chinese Poker, you'll quickly get acquainted with OFCP. There are some notable differences between the two variants. In standard Chinese poker, players receive all 13 cards at once, while the dealing procedure in OFCP is different.
Dealing the Cards in OFCP
OFCP is also played on a 52-card deck, and the maximum number of players that can play at once is four.
The players receive cards one at a time, starting from the player sitting left to the dealer. Players in Open-face Chinese poker receive five cards at the beginning of the round, unlike in the standard version where they receive all 13 at once.
Once all players receive their cards, they must arrange them (according to the rules) face up on the table and create their Back, Middle, and Front rows. Once these cards are placed, they cannot be rearranged later on.
After the initial five cards are placed face up on the table, players will receive one card face down at a time, until all remaining cards have been dealt out. Players will then take turns to complete their rows with the remaining cards.
After all the cards are in place, the showdown begins. As in standard Chinese poker, OFCP players will compare their corresponding hands, and players who beat their opponent's corresponding hand will win one point. A sweep (win all three hands) provides three points.
OFCP also features royalty bonus points. For example, you can win 25 points for a Royal Flash, 10 for quads, and 2 for straights.
Conclusion
In the standard Chinese poker scoring system, you win one point for each winning hand.
For example, you win the Back and Front hand but lose the Middle hand. You win one point for Back, and one point for Front but lose one point for the middle hand. So your total score is +1 point.
Players who opt for the standard playing style cannot fold their cards. However, if the Surrender rule is included, it is possible for a player to withdraw from the round. In some variations, surrendering will cost you a certain amount of points.
If you're playing Chinese poker with the 6-1 rule, a scoop (victory in three hands) will earn you +6 points. If at least one of your three hands is strong, the risk of getting scooped is very low. On the other hand, if you can set at least a flush in the back hand, or a pair of eights or better in the front hand, then you should give up the hand and avoid losing all six points.
Variations of Chinese Poker
As we have mentioned earlier in the article, there are a couple of variations of Chinese poker. The most popular one is Open-face Chinese Poker (OFCP).
Like other poker variations, OFCP players receive cards from the dealer and try to make the best possible hands, while their opponents try to do the same. The difference between OFCP and most poker games is that no bets are placed during the rounds of play. Instead, players play on ‘per point' system where the game is scored in points, similar to card games like gin rummy or hearts.
If you're familiar with standard Chinese Poker, you'll quickly get acquainted with OFCP. There are some notable differences between the two variants. In standard Chinese poker, players receive all 13 cards at once, while the dealing procedure in OFCP is different.
Dealing the Cards in OFCP
OFCP is also played on a 52-card deck, and the maximum number of players that can play at once is four.
The players receive cards one at a time, starting from the player sitting left to the dealer. Players in Open-face Chinese poker receive five cards at the beginning of the round, unlike in the standard version where they receive all 13 at once.
Once all players receive their cards, they must arrange them (according to the rules) face up on the table and create their Back, Middle, and Front rows. Once these cards are placed, they cannot be rearranged later on.
After the initial five cards are placed face up on the table, players will receive one card face down at a time, until all remaining cards have been dealt out. Players will then take turns to complete their rows with the remaining cards.
After all the cards are in place, the showdown begins. As in standard Chinese poker, OFCP players will compare their corresponding hands, and players who beat their opponent's corresponding hand will win one point. A sweep (win all three hands) provides three points.
OFCP also features royalty bonus points. For example, you can win 25 points for a Royal Flash, 10 for quads, and 2 for straights.
Conclusion
Although Chinese poker is more of a game of chance than a game of skill, you'll need to develop some strategy to be successful. You can't just jump in and rely completely on luck, because you'll get beaten more times than not. Form a working strategy, and build the three strongest hands that you can.
Don't forget to arrange your hands or rows in the correct order and in line with the rules. Remember that the back hand has to be ‘stronger' than the middle hand which in turn has to beat the front hand. Don't risk getting swept, and if you don't have at least one strong hand, surrender whenever possible.
Finally, use a pen and paper to keep up with what units you have won or lost and to whom.
10 Feb 2020 | Adam Shaw | 0 Comments
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Play NowRead ReviewTired of playing the same old poker games? With their new browser-based client, FlopTurnRiver.com (FTR) is offering up an exciting and totally different way to play poker. The game is Open Face Chinese Poker, and it can be played here for free.
The vast majority of you reading this probably just thought out loud, 'What the hell is Open Face Chinese Poker?' The game originated in the mid-2000s in Europe and soon spread to Russia; by the turn of the decade Open Face Chinese had caught on in the United States. Since then it has become one of the more popular games among the professional poker crowd. Daniel Negreanu tweeted that 'It's been a while since I've been addicted to a card game but I am completely addicted to Open Faced Chinese Poker.'
The game can be played with 2-4 players, and is based on a point system—instead of placing bets on every street, each winning hand is worth a set number of points, the value of which is chosen before the game begins. Some people may play for $1 a point, while higher stakes players may end up playing for $100 a point.
Each player is given 13 cards, which are then organized into three rows: the top hand (3 cards), the middle hand (5 cards), and the bottom hand (5 cards). Similar to regular Chinese poker, the bottom hand must be strongest, the middle hand the second strongest, and the top hand the weakest. Points are then awarded based on the amount of hands won, as well as by collecting royalties on premium hands and avoiding fouls. For a more detailed analysis, you can read this article on the Open Face Chinese Poker rules.
Chinese Poker Free
FTR has created a web browser-based client that is available on both PCs and Macs, and, because it's run through a browser, it is also mobile friendly, meaning you can play it on your iPhone, iPad, Android, or any other mobile device or smartphone. This also means that the game suffers no slowdown when played on a mobile device, which is a definite improvement over other mobile poker clients.
Two different types of Open Face Chinese poker are available to play: regular OFC and POFC (Pineapple Open Face Chinese). The difference between the two is that with POFC, after the first five cards are placed, each player is dealt three cards instead of just one. Players must then choose where to place two of the cards and discard the third.
There are also two types of tables available: Open FTR Tables, which are open to anyone, and Private Tables. Players have the option of choosing from either regular or turbo tables, the difference being the amount of time a player is allowed to have per round (5 minutes on beginner tables and only 2 minutes on turbo tables).
Open tables are set up like cash games, where a player can leave any time they want. At the moment, play on the Open FTR Tables is limited to heads up play only, but 3-4 handed tables are expected to become available in the upcoming weeks. If you are interested in playing with multiple people, you can create and customize your own Private Table, adding a personalized password and choosing the amount of time allowed and number of rounds to be played. There are two different card modes, click-card mode, and drag-card mode, which are both pretty self-explanatory.
On the Open FTR Tables, you can play for free or you can gamble with FTR Points. Only FTR members can play and earn points, but registering a free account is easy and will instantly earn you 1000 points. Click here for a detailed description on how to earn FTR Points. Similar to other poker programs, players will be able to trade in their FTR Points and purchase FTR clothing and items. In the future, FTRP will also be used as buy-ins for freerolls and real-money tournaments.
Chinese Poker Online
On the beginner's tables, players can also compete against computer opponents (bots). The bots, consisting of Glass Joe and Bald Bill, are relatively easy to beat once you have a decent grasp of the game, and they earn you FTR Points. They are also a wonderful way to learn the ins and outs of OFC, and a great way to win over new players who may feel slightly intimidated by the game's rules and scoring system.
Speaking of the scoring system, at the end of every hand two buttons appear at the bottom of the screen: 'Did I set it right?' and 'Did I play it right?' This allows a player to share their hand history on the FTR forums with the rest of the FTR community. It's yet another great way for players to learn the intricacies of the game.
South Point Poker
At the moment, no major online poker company supports OFC, so this is the best opportunity to learn how to play and compete against real players. Because of the novelty of the game, there aren't a lot of players currently on the tables, and it can often take several minutes to get a heads-up game going. That being said, the client itself is clean and user-friendly, and I didn't notice any slowdown or glitches. Hopefully, as the number of players increase, tournaments, high stakes tables, and real-money games will be made available. All in all, Open Face Chinese poker is an exciting game, and FTR's browser-based client is a blast to play.
