10 Nov 2024 Beginner This material is for beginner players combinatorics Open Face Chinese (OFC) Poker is an interesting and unique type of poker that’s gaining popularity. Learning the basics of this game is quick, so beginners often find it hard to step away after a few rounds. The nuances of OFC Poker are far from fully explored, which adds to its charm. Basic Rules of Chinese Poker In OFC, each player starts with five cards. According to the rules, 2 to 4 players can participate in the game, depending on the variation. The main goal of this type of poker is to score the highest number of points. Points are awarded for strong poker hands, using the same hand rankings as in Texas Hold'em. Game Flow The goal is to arrange 13 face-up cards like this: Top Hand (3 cards) — The least strong hand Middle Hand (5 cards) — Stronger than the top hand Bottom Hand (5 cards) — The strongest hand Cards can be arranged in any order across the rows. However, once a card is placed in a row, it cannot be moved to another row. The player on the button deals each player 5 face-down cards (the "starter"). After arranging the first 5 cards, players continue to receive 8 more cards one at a time, placing each card as they go. Once all cards are dealt, the button moves clockwise. The next step is to reveal all hands and compare poker combinations in each row. Players need to create a strong combination in at least two rows while keeping row hierarchy (from weakest to strongest) top to bottom. The top hand must be weaker than the middle, and the middle must be weaker than the bottom hand. Equal combinations between rows are allowed. Scoring One key difference in Chinese Poker compared to Hold'em or Omaha is the lack of betting rounds. Instead, points, known as "units", determine the winner. The value of a point and the "Royalties" (a bonus system for strong hands) are agreed upon by players beforehand (e.g., $5 per point). The most common scoring system is the "Western" system. A player who wins two out of three hands receives 1 point. If they win all three hands, known as a "Scoop", they earn 6 points. If a player fails to meet the row hierarchy requirements, their hand is considered “fouled” and earns no points. A player with a fouled hand must pay 6 points to each opponent and cover any of their bonuses if applicable (bonuses for fouled hands do not count). If all players foul, their points remain unchanged. In cases where both players have bonuses, the winner receives the difference in bonuses. As we metioned above, OFC Poker has a bonus system, known as "Royalties", where points are awarded for high-ranking hands (like a Straight Flush, Royal Flush, or Four of a Kind) in specific rows. For instance, if a player makes Four Threes in the bottom hand while another makes Four Eights, the player with the higher Four of a Kind wins the Royalty. Royalty Points in Chinese Poker: 1. Bottom Hand: Straight: +2 Flush: +4 Full House: +6 Four of a Kind: +8 Straight Flush: +10 Royal Flush: +15 2. Middle Hand: Set: +2 Straight: +4 Flush: +8 Full House: +12 Four of a Kind: +16 Straight Flush: +20 Royal Flush: +30 3. Front Row (Top) Points are awarded for pairs 66 (+1) and increase by 1 point up to a pair of Aces (+9) For a Three of a Kind: 222 (+10) up to AAA (+22) There is also the "American" scoring system in which bottom hand bonuses are given as follows: Four of a Kind: +10 Straight Flush: +15 Royal Flush: +25 The same rules apply to the middle hand, but points are doubled. Fantasyland in Chinese Poker Fantasyland occurs when a player has at least a pair of Queens in the top row without fouling. In this case, they receive all 13 cards at once in the next hand, while their opponents continue with the standard rules. The button does not move when Fantasyland is in play. To qualify for Fantasyland again, players must meet the following criteria: Bottom hand: Four of a Kind or higher Middle hand: Full House or higher Top hand: Three of a Kind or higher Only one consecutive Fantasyland is allowed. Variants of Chinese Poker «Pineapple» Only up to 3 players can participate. From the second turn onward, each player receives three cards hidden from their opponents. Players use two cards to build their hand and discard one, which speeds up the game. Opponents know only two cards and must guess the discarded one. The game consists of five rounds: 5+2+2+2+2. In Fantasyland, players receive 14 cards but must discard one, keeping only 13. A second Fantasyland for the middle hand is only allowed if the player has a hand stronger than a Full House. One key rule in Pineapple is the "Timeout" principle. If a player’s time runs out, the current hand is automatically arranged from the bottom row up. In this case, the hand does not foul automatically, meaning the player can still win. If one player’s timeout occurs while others enter Fantasyland, the game continues until all Fantasyland hands are complete. Otherwise, the game ends when a player times out. «Turbo» The second and third turns each involve 4 cards, creating a faster game with just three rounds: 5+4+4.
