How to play Open-Face Chinese Poker - game rules
Introduction
Open-face Chinese poker is a fresh variant of poker which has gained huge popularity in recent years.
OFCP is a game for 2-4 players. Each player receives a total of 13 cards during the game and has to place them in 3 separate rows (hands).
General rules
There's a 3-card front hand as well as 5-card middle and back hands. The back hand has to be stronger than or equal to the middle one and the middle hand must be stronger than or equal to the front one.
The first player after the dealer button starts the game. In the first round each player receives 5 cards and has to place them in 1 or more rows.
Once placed, the cards can't be moved!
From the second round on, each player gets 1 card at a time until all 3 hands are completed.
Summary
At the end of each game, the hands of all players are compared to determine the winner(s). A player receives one point (unit) for each row that beats another player's hand. Winning with all 3 hands gives player an extra 3-point bonus called a "scoop".
The point difference between each pair of players creates the final result. Each point value is equal to the table stakes.
Fouls
Placing cards in the wrong sequence (e.g., front hand stronger than the middle one), leaving the table or reaching the 90 second time limit all result in a FOUL. Fouled hands automatically lose.
Royalties
The other way of scoring points is collecting royalty hands.
You can have a quick look at the royalty table during the game by clicking the royalty button.
Royalties don't count if you foul your hand!
Royalty paytable for front, middle and back hands
The winner of the game on the screenshot gets 4 royalty points for a back hand flush and 8 royalty points for a flush in the middle hand.
Set up hands with multiple royalties to win big!