How to Play Chinese Poker: Rules, Strategies, and Variations
Chinese Poker is a game you should try if you’re an avid poker player. Played extensively in South-east Asia, including Hong Kong, it provides an intriguing variation on traditional poker games such as Hold’em, Stud, and Omaha. This variation is a great option for both inexperienced and seasoned players because it is comparatively easy to understand.
Game Rules and Payouts
A Chinese Poker table can hold up to four people, but it’s best with just two to three. Each person is given 13 cards, which they must then divide into three hands: two hands of five cards each and one hand of three cards. The objective is to make the best hands possible.
Players have the option to surrender if they feel their cards are unlikely to win. In such cases, they forfeit the round, and the remaining players continue, starting from the left.
It is important to arrange your hands correctly:
1. Three cards make up the front hand.
2. There are five cards in the middle hand.
3. Three more cards make up the backhand.
Players must adhere to this arrangement to avoid a foul, which incurs a penalty. The penalty, decided by the other players, can be monetary or involve forfeiting the round.
Players then place their hands face down on the table. Those continuing will reveal their royalties before showing their hands in the following order:
- Front hand
- Middle hand
- Backhand
Scoring follows the reveal of all hands, and the winner is determined. A new round begins with fresh cards dealt by the dealer, whose position rotates to the left after each game.
Surrendering and Forfeits
In Chinese Poker, “surrendering” means giving up because your cards aren’t good enough. If you give up, you usually lose more money than you won in the round. The amount you lose depends on how many hands you lost. There is a bigger punishment for losing all three hands than for losing just two.
Scoop and Royalties
In the Taiwanese version of Chinese Poker, losing all three hands results in being “scooped,” while a player who scoops all opponents achieves a notable win. Royalties are bonuses given for exceptionally strong hands and must be declared before cards are revealed.
Top royalties are awarded for:
- Royal Flush (A, K, Q, J, 10 of the same suit)
- Straight Flush (Five consecutive cards of the same suit)
- Four of a Kind
- Full House (Three of a Kind plus a Pair) in the middle hand
- Flush (Five cards of the same suit)
- Straight (Five consecutive cards of any suit)
- Three of a Kind
Additionally, players can earn bonuses for particularly rare hands known as Naturals. Examples include:
- Three straights
- Three flushes
- Six pairs across all hands
- Four sets of three of a kind
- Three straight flushes
- All 13 cards being unique
- All cards of one color
- No face cards or all face cards in any hand
Winning with strong royalties can provide substantial bonuses.
Hand Rankings
Hand rankings follow standard Poker rules, with royalties being highest for a Royal Flush and decreasing through other hand combinations down to a single high card.
Game Variations
Chinese Poker features several popular variants, including:
- In open face Chinese poker, each player is given five cards at first, and then the other eight cards are dealt one by one. The cards have to be put down face up and can’t be changed after that.
- In Middle Chinese Poker, a low hand is called “low.” The middle hand is tied with the other seven low cards.
Tips for Improving Your Chinese Poker Skills
1. Follow the rules carefully when setting your hands to avoid cheating. Losses can be very big when fouling happens.
2. Watch what your opponents do and the cards that are on the table very carefully. This helps you guess possible draws and figure out the odds based on the cards that have been thrown away.
3. The front hand represents 33% of your total points, so managing it effectively can turn the tide in your favor.
4. Because the game is so unpredictable, you should try it out for free or with low amounts before playing for real money.
5. When playing Open Face or Pineapple variations, watch how your opponents play to change your strategy and come up with a way to win.
You can play Chinese poker at 9S App Online Casino Philippines or other online casinos now that you understand the guidelines and tactics. Numerous platforms provide real-money gaming in addition to special incentives and promos to improve your online gaming experience.
