Chinese poker requires each player to receive 13 cards. From this hand they must assemble two five-card hands and three three-card hands in accordance with poker hand rankings (front, middle and back).
Players earn units by winning against their opponents’ corresponding hands, collecting one for every hand they succeed in winning and an overall unit if all three hands are won.
Rules
Chinese poker is an exciting variant that differs significantly from classic Hold-em, Omaha or Stud games, yet remains enjoyable and has gained immense popularity recently. You only require basic knowledge of poker hand rankings as well as some luck to succeed at Chinese poker!
Each player receives 13 cards and must arrange them into three hands: two 5-card hands and one 3-card hand. In order to win, these hands must beat or tie one another by beating or tying their opponent(s), straights or flushes counting against middle or back hands but not front hand(s).
Players earn units (a predetermined monetary amount) for every hand they win, or can forfeit without playing it if its odds of victory fall below 40%.
Variations
Chinese poker’s rules can differ depending on the game and players involved; however, most variations adhere to its general principles. Up to four players receive 13 cards and organize them into three poker hands of five cards and three cards; respectively. Each hand strives to form the highest-ranked holding possible within its hand(s).
Some variations of Chinese poker include special rules that enable players to surrender their hands before the showdown, at a predetermined cost to your opponents. Surrendering is less costly than losing two out of the three hands or being scooped.
This game employs different scoring mechanisms than regular poker games. Some variants employ a 1-6 system for awarding units while others provide royalties which surpass regular hand rankings.
Betting intervals
Chinese Poker requires setting three hands and comparing them against those of your opponents, in order to earn points. Achieve points by creating a strong Front Hand that can outwit their Back and Middle Hand opponents is key, though this strategy can be challenging as it depends on knowing your opponent and their tendencies as well as believing your Front Hand will always be weakest; which may or may not always be accurate.
Chinese Poker differs from other forms of poker by not involving betting; rather, the game is played for points determined by an agreed upon scoring system that gives each point an associated monetary value and which can be tracked with pen and paper or apps that track wins and losses.
Royalties
Royalties in Chinese poker are bonuses awarded for creating strong hands. Typically these are predetermined monetary amounts which players must agree on before beginning a game; their exact value varies between games depending on hand rankings or hand positioning (front, middle or back).
Royalties can be an effective strategy for winning hands of Chinese poker. For example, if you make two pairs of queens in either hand that beats their middle hand in Fantasy Land you could advance further and avoid any lanes being lost; this strategy is especially popular in OFCP and Pineapple OFCP which are two popular variations.
Fouls
Chinese Poker may not be as widely played, but it still draws a loyal community of players. Played between 2-4 players using standard hand rankings, this form of the game provides additional bonus points called Royalties which can be added to backhand, middle hand or fronthand hands for even more scoring potential.
OPEN-FACE CHINESE POKER involves four players receiving 13 starting cards that they split among three hands: two consisting of five cards each and one comprising only three cards – with five-card hands being dealt first, before moving onto three-card hands and then four. They aim to create the highest ranked holdings possible within each hand by scoring using units agreed upon before playing; scoring units are awarded once for every successful hand won, or three units if two wins occur simultaneously.
