Open-face Chinese poker (OFC) evolved from closed-face (“regular”) Chinese poker, but it is not necessary to know the rules or strategies of regular Chinese poker in order to enjoy OFC.
The players in the game are dealt with thirteen hole cards, they have to fill three cards in the front hand, five cards each in the middle hand and back hand. The game begins with the left of the dealer, in clockwise direction. The players must also keep in mind that the back hand must be stronger or equal to the middle hand and the middle hand must be stronger or equal to the front hand. The front hand should be the weakest among the other two hands.
Firstly, the dealer distributes five cardsface up to each player. The players then have to fill the five cards in the empty boxes according to the proper order, so as to gain more points. After which, the players are then dealt three cards each face down where they get to make use of only two cards laid face up on the table and discard the other one card face down. The game continues until thirteen hands are made.
The main goal of the game is to achieve more units/points than your opponent by winning more hands/rows by collecting royalties on premium hands without fouling. Also, if you get to win more than 222+ points in your top hand, you get 17 cards in the Fantasy land, which gives you more chances of winning.
The minimum possible hand to get into fantasy land is QQ where the players get 14 cards. Subsequently, the combination of KK will give you 15 cards and the combination of AA will give you 16 cards.
Fantasy land is more of a ‘bonus’ to the game. If you get to hit the Fantasy Land, you are dealt all thirteen cards at once, and you set your cards face down. This is a big disadvantage for the other players as they are dealt in normal hand without being able to see your cards.
In order to stay in the Fantasy Land one must score 10-point royalty or higher in any sub-hand. the following conditions must be met:
Remain in Fantasyland | |
---|---|
Row/Hand | Strength of hand |
Front (and/or) | Any three of a kind |
Middle (and/or) | Full house or higher |
Back (and/or) | Four of a kind or higher |
When a player makes an illegal hand, the hand is forfeited and as a result, it is termed as dead hand/fouling. In this case, the player losses 6 points in total i.e, 1 point per row and 3 points for scoop bonus. Players who fouled can also lose additional units if the players with legal hands achieve royalties. Also, the players who fouled, loses all the royalties in his hand and no units are counted.
It is very much important for the players to keep in mind the basic rules of the game: to keep the back hand the strongest, the middle hand slightly weaker than the back hand and the front hand the weakest. Points are added to the winner and subtracted from the loser. therefore,avoid fouling plays
Legal hand structure | |
---|---|
Row/Hand | Strength of hand |
Front (3 cards) | 3rd / Weakest hand |
Middle (5 cards) | 2nd / Stronger |
Back (5 cards) | 1st / Strongest |
The scores are calculated by comparing the hands of the players as in, back hand with back hand, middle hand with middle hand and front hand with front hand. In certain cases where both the players have the same hands, none of the players get any units. The players get 1 unit/point for every hand they win. And if the players win 2 hands out of 3 hands or all three hands, they get additional 1 point.
Apart from the regular scoring, the players can also get royalties, which are given to the players for making certain combinations. The points are given as a result of the combination of the hands.
Bottom Row Royalties | |
---|---|
Bottom | Units/Points |
Straight | 2 |
Flush | 4 |
Full House | 6 |
Quads (four of a kind) | 10 |
Straight flush | 15 |
Royal flush | 25 |
Middle Row Royalties | |
---|---|
Middle | Units/Points |
Three of a kind | 2 |
Straight | 4 |
Flush | 8 |
Full house | 12 |
Quads (four of a kind) | 20 |
Straight Flush | 30 |
Royal flush | 50 |
Front Row Royalties | |
---|---|
Front (Pairs) | Units/Points |
66 | 1 |
77 | 2 |
88 | 3 |
99 | 4 |
10 10 | 5 |
JJ | 6 |
7 | |
KK | 8 |
AA | 9 |
Front (Trial) | Units/Points |
---|---|
222 | 10 |
333 | 11 |
555 | 13 |
666 | 14 |
777 | 15 |
888 | 16 |
999 | 17 |
10 10 10 | 18 |
JJJ | 19 |
QQQ | 20 |
KKK | 21 |
AAA | 22 |