Rules, combinations, and tactics for “Pineapple” style Chinese poker

Chinese poker is a unique kind of poker. It has little similarities with traditional Texas Hold’em and Omaha. At first glance, it seems to be a bizarre amalgamation of various card games, including Solitaire, Hold’em with combinations and their rating, and even “Fool” with the rule of “discarding” cards. However, mastering Chinese poker (Open face Chinese Poker or OFC) is surprisingly simple.

Especially if you are already a decent Texas version player and have read this article. Ideally slowly, thoughtfully, and several times. So let’s begin…

The Regulations for Chinese Poker (OFC)

What is OFC Chinese poker?

Indeed, Chinese poker has nothing in common with Texan poker. There are no shared cards, blinds, dealing streets, raises, fouls, bluffs, or pot in the conventional sense.

However, there is a baton, which determines who has the right to “turn,” five starting cards, and three so-called boxes (rows) – top, middle, and bottom – in which you must form three combinations. Each subsequent box must be older than its predecessor.

Hence, the combination in the top row must be weaker than the combination in the middle, and the combination in the center must be weaker than the combination in the bottom row. Participants get points for each possible combination.

How difficult is it to learn how to play OFC?

Chinese poker only seems to be complex at first look. To get the idea of the game, all you need to do is read our review and practice a little. If you are familiar with Texas Hold’em or Omaha, comprehending OFC will be much simpler.

What are the possible combinations in Open Face Chinese poker?

Thankfully for those who have chosen to learn “Chinese,” the Chinese poker combinations and their ranks are comparable to those of Texas Hold’em. Specifically, from a high card to a royal flush (a one-handed straight from 10 to an ace).

Guidelines for Playing Chinese Poker

In contrast to Hold’em, which allows nine players per table, OFC is a 2- to 4-player game. Providing that we are discussing the classic edition of this game. Yet, the rules of Pineapple Chinese poker only include three players. The distinction is in the number of cards dealt by the dealer afterwards. However, we will discuss this topic a little later.

The confrontation in Chinese poker may be likened to a match, since there are not one but several deals in a single game. Their number is a multiple of the table’s total number of guests. With three people, the total is 3, while with two, it is 2. The match or round concludes when all deals have been dealt. Until that point, no player may leave the table and no new player may enter.

There is also the possibility of using just one hand. This is a distinct variation of Chinese poker known as One Hand OFC.

Each player has three boxes; the top “back” box has three cards, the center “middlegame” box contains five cards, and the bottom “front” box contains five cards. The dealer distributes five face-down cards to each player during the “close” phase. Following two guidelines, the player may put his cards in the boxes at his choice.

It is important to remember the order of the combinations in the Chinese poker box, from weakest to strongest. It is straightforward to deduce, based on the quantity of cards in each box, that the strongest combination at the top is a set and the weakest is a royal flush.

After the cards have been put in their respective boxes, their order cannot be altered. Therefore, having received only the first five cards, the player must already consider possible future Pineapple Poker combinations.

After laying out your cards, all other players will be able to see them. The dealer then keeps dealing until each player has 13 cards (3+5+5) on the table. Consequently, this game is commonly known as open Chinese poker.

In Pineapple Chinese Poker, the dealer will deal three cards to each player. Two of them should be redeployed to the boxes, while the third should be reset. Hence, the deal process will occur four times.

When all 13 cards have been dealt, the participants compare their hand combinations. The most important aspect is that your boxes adhere to the guideline of weakest to stronger. For instance, you might have a pair on top, a straight in the middle, and a flush on the bottom.

A simplified version would suffice if all three boxes contained pairs, with 6-6 at the top, 7-7 in the middle, and 8-8 at the bottom.

Dead Hand

A hand that violates the seniority rule of combinations is known as a “dead” hand. The player immediately loses and does not take part in the operation of comparing his or her hand with that of the other players. Those that have adhered to the most important rule of Chinese poker Pineapple begin evaluating the strength of their lines – back to back, middlegame to middlegame, and front to front.

Dead End Illustration:

Dead Hand in Chinese Poker.

The midrange hand is more mature than the front straight. Hence, box seniority is invalid.

Fantasy

The transition regulation for the dealer’s chip stays unchanged. With each draw, the chip rotates in a clockwise direction. But, there is one exception: the order cannot be altered for “fantasy” drawings.

So-called fantasy in “Chinaman” serves as a kind of bonus. According to the laws of Chinese poker, anybody who follows one basic rule may win. The combination in the top box must be QQ (pair of queens) or higher.

Hence, the lowest two rows must be ranked even higher. After fulfilling this criterion, the following hand the player gets all 13 cards face down in the “closed” position and may deal them face down at his own discretion. Hence, the fantasy player has a substantial edge over his or her rivals.

It is possible to win the bonus twice in a row, but the requirements are more stringent.

On the rear, a predetermined combination is required.

For the middle game, you must have at least a complete house.

On the front, it must be at least a square.

In accordance with regular poker regulations, the rules of the game are given to the person to your left if you are unable to get that kind of jack.

Time and Temperature

The rules of Chinese poker provide a time restriction for dealing the cards into the three boxes. It’s been two minutes. After the first five cards are dealt, a countdown starts. After two minutes, the player receives a “time bank” consisting of an additional three minutes for all moves. If this time is not sufficient, a “time out” will occur.

The remaining cards will be assigned automatically to the boxes based on the following principle:

Cards are placed in order from front to back; in the case of open Chinese pineapple poker, the first two cards are placed in the boxes beginning on the second street, and the third card is automatically discarded. In other words, the application will not select the optimal combinations for you.

The same holds true for a little Internet connection interruption. The “time bank” will begin first, followed by the “timeout” three minutes later.

The good news is that if the timeout expires, the player’s hand will not become “dead” immediately. In addition, it occurs when a player in “timeout” mode wins the hand.

If the player does not return to the game at the conclusion of the deal, he will be marked as “Out of play” and will no longer be able to participate in the game. The exception is “fantasy,” which the opponent plays. According to the rules of Pineapple, this bonus is not a fresh hand, but rather a continuation of the existing one.

What is the difference between Pineapple and Open Chinese Poker (OFC)?

As previously stated, the distinction rests in the number of cards dealt by the dealer after the first two (5 cards). In the original version, each player receives a single card. So, you have nine rounds.

In Pineapple, players get three cards, two of which are spread out on the boxes and one of which is discarded face down. They cannot see the tossed card. In total, there are five rounds plus the initial round.

In Chinese Pineapple poker, each player sees 17 cards (13 on the boxes and 4 in the reset), as opposed to 13 in the traditional game. The popularity of Pineapple is increasing due to the increasing dynamics of the game. The scoring is same in both instances.

In the event of fantasy, the player in Chinese poker Pineapple gets not 13, but 14 cards, of which one is discarded.

Numbering Cuts (Points)

Before beginning a game of Chinese poker, each participant determines the monetary worth of one kusha or point. A certain table’s regulations establish the minimum quantity of kushas that must be placed in order to participate.

If the minimum number of points is 50 and each point is worth $1, then each participant must contribute a minimum of $50.

The inability to influence the amount of victory or loss is another key distinction between “Kitayka” and Hold’em, since points are tallied after each hand. In this situation, you can only win or lose as much kush as you or your opponents possess. This is a better illustration.

Considering a two-for-two exchange.

If you have 10 tiles and your opponent has 50, even if you win by 20 points, you will only receive 10 tiles. Even if you lose by 40 points, you will only get the 10 points that you already have.

Counting with a hand of three people.

Consider the winner to have the least stack. For instance, $2. Then, after comparing his hand with that of his first opponent, he may only win $2. But, while comparing hands with the third player, he already has $4 and may win the same amount – $4. Hence, if the player has $2 on the stack before to the hand and wins, he might get “+6.”

The method for awarding points and bonuses

Following each hand, the points are calculated. Accrual is determined by comparing each player’s hand to itself – back to back, middle to middle, and front to front. If at one level the strength of two players’ gathered combinations is equal, neither player earns any points.

According to the rules of Chinese pineapple poker, there are two methods for awarding points.

For every line conquered, the player receives one kush. Obtaining an extra kush requires winning two out of three hands or all three.

1-6. Each winning line yields one kush. If you win all three, you get an extra three kush.

Moreover, hands are compared using the regulated concept. The order is determined in relation to the batton. Secondly, the player to the left of the dealer compares his hand with that of the person seated to his immediate left. After that, the baton is passed to the third player who is currently on it. The second player then checks his combinations with those of the third player.

To violate the comparison method might result in the loss of one participant. For instance, if the player to the left of the batten loses all of his chips to the second player, his comparison with the third player is disregarded.

A player is not given points for a dead hand. In fact, he transfers six points to each of his opponents.

Royalty

In Chinese poker, winnings in comparing combos are not the only method to gain points. Furthermore, regardless of the result of the hand, each participant receives bonuses for their amassed combinations.

American and Russian bonus structures exist. The difference between them is the number of gathered hands in the top and center boxes.

The distinction is seen in our table:

Several types of Chinese Poker

In addition to the traditional “Chinaman” poker game, there are other variations of this game.

Turbo .

In general, there are two approaches to speed up OFC: lowering the time required to arrange cards in boxes and increasing the number of cards dealt during each hand. The Turbo chose the second option. After dealing the initial five cards, the dealer deals the remaining eight cards in two rounds of four. The remaining rules of Pineapple remain unaltered.

Pineapple

In fact, we have previously discussed the Chinese Pineapple. In the Classic, beginning with the second hand, each player receives one card. In Pineapple, players get three cards, but one is “discarded.” In Fantasy, the fortunate player receives 14 cards rather of 13, so he discards the remainder. And only three players are permitted at the table.

2-7 Pineapple.

Similar principles as Pineapple, except the smallest possible combination must be built on the center box. And when lines are compared, the winner is the player with the lowest hand in the center box.

That is, there cannot be any poker combinations in the center box, and all cards must be less than 10. If not, the hand is lifeless. The rear of the remaining two boxes must be younger than the front.

Turbo Anas .

Four cards are dealt in four streets every hand. Indeed, although the first four cards must be boxed, one card from each of the following three streets must be discarded.

Huge Pineapple.

This is the most “improved” it can be. Similar but significantly modified regulations apply.

This is a game for two players.

Performed on four boxes, the top box containing three cards, the second, third, and bottom boxes containing five cards each. Hence, the player receives 18 cards.

On the first street, each player receives six cards, followed by three cards on the next six streets, two of which lie on the lines and one in the discard.

The value of a dead hand is 12 points.

One Hand OFC is also considered a sort of poker. The game is played with one hand, and the round is prolonged only if a “fantasy” is struck.

Advice on game strategy for novices

Chinese poker is complex at first look. In addition, it conveys the idea that the game is entirely dependent on chance and that the participants have no control over the result. Yet, Open Chinese Poker is most likely the greatest approach to practice the game’s mathematics.

The whole “trick” is that all players can see their opponents’ cards. This is both a weakness and a strength for you. By monitoring your opponents’ hands, you can adjust your layouts – counting outs and calculating box gain opportunities. You cannot focus on your cards while speaking “Chinese.” Here, you should focus most of your attention on your opponents’ boxes. You cannot take your eyes off of them, therefore nothing will be missed.

Regarding your own board, the key to a successful approach is to first construct solid bottom boxes and then go on to the top box. And of course, don’t forget the fantasy rule – combining it is also a smart decision.

Regardless of the strategy you select, it is crucial not to violate the seniority rule of boxes, which is from top to bottom.

OFC Probability and Mathematics

Similar to other varieties of poker, the key to success in Chinese poker is learning how to calculate probability. You may forecast the result of the deal if you comprehend the probabilities of each card.

In “Chinaman,” depending on the location of the baton, players deal their cards one at a time. Hence, position also plays a significant part in this game. Button is the last player to lay down the combinations, giving him an edge over his opponents. Furthermore, the number of participants will depend on the likelihood of obtaining a certain combination.

Where Can Chinese Poker be Played?

Open Chinese poker is an excellent substitute for Hold’em. Yet, it has not acquired much traction in contemporary poker rooms. Email us for further information about recreational areas and traffic. And in this article, we will highlight the two leading Chinese poker rooms.

Pokerdom only permits play in Pineapple with a maximum piece size of 750 rubles. The majority of the evening’s 25 to 30 active tables have three betting limits ranging from 1 cent to 10 cents. There are several Chinese poker tournaments open to players:

Spins with buy-ins of up to $2,500 in 2 and 3-max variants and a prize pool of over $2,000,000. Buy-ins for the most popular events range from 25 to 250 rubles.

MTT. There are approximately a dozen events on the daily grid with 25-500 buy-ins and up to 50,000 in guarantees.

PPPoker. In the biggest mobile poker facility, many unions of these tables are constructed. Their overall number seldom reaches a dozen, and their kush is little larger than $1. The action with $3-$100 stakes is periodically arranged in the evening for a certain player.

“Chinese Poker” is a fun game for both novice and experienced hold’em players. It is dynamic, unpredictable, and requires knowledge of the game’s mathematics, which is why poker enthusiasts enjoy it. We have provided you with all the information necessary to learn a new type of poker. Maintain your own tables of combinations and points for your gathered hands to help learning the game simpler on your first attempt.