Open Face Chinese Poker (OFC) is a variant of traditional Chinese Poker that gained popularity in the poker community. It is a card game that is typically played with 2-4 players and uses a standard 52-card deck. The objective of the game is to arrange your cards into three separate hands, known as the top, middle, and bottom hands, and score points based on the strength of each hand.
Here are the rules for Open Face Chinese Poker:
- Hand Formation: At the beginning of the game, each player is dealt five cards face down. These cards are used to form the bottom, middle, and top hands in that order. The bottom hand consists of five cards, the middle hand has five cards, and the top hand has three cards.
- Card Placement: Once the cards are dealt, the players take turns placing the cards face up on the table, starting with the player to the left of the dealer. The cards cannot be moved after they are placed, so careful consideration is needed for optimal hand formation.
- Hand Strength: The bottom hand must be the strongest hand of the three, followed by the middle hand, and then the top hand. If the hands are not arranged in this order, it is considered a foul, and the hand is forfeited, resulting in a loss of points.
- Scoring: After all the players have arranged their hands, the hands are compared to each other. Points are awarded based on the strength of each hand compared to the corresponding hands of the opponents. The scoring is usually done based on a point system agreed upon before the game starts.
- Standard Poker Hand Rankings: The standard poker hand rankings are used to determine the strength of each hand. The bottom hand follows the traditional five-card poker hand rankings. The middle hand must be of equal or lesser value than the bottom hand, and the top hand must be of equal or lesser value than the middle hand.
- Special Hands: In addition to the standard poker hand rankings, there are special hands that can earn bonus points or penalties. For example, making a straight or higher in the bottom hand can earn extra points, while not making a legal hand in any of the three positions can result in a penalty.
- Royalties: Royalties are bonus points awarded for achieving specific combinations of cards. These combinations typically include pairs, three-of-a-kind, four-of-a-kind, and straight flushes in certain positions. Royalties are awarded regardless of the strength of the opponent’s hand.
- Fantasyland: If a player makes a pair of queens or better in the top hand without fouling, they enter the “Fantasyland” phase on the next hand. In Fantasyland, the player receives all 13 cards dealt face down, and they can set their hands all at once while their opponents play their regular hands.
The game continues with each player taking turns dealing and playing hands. The objective is to accumulate the highest number of points over a predetermined number of hands or rounds.
It’s important to note that these rules provide a basic understanding of Open Face Chinese Poker, but there may be variations in specific scoring systems and house rules depending on where the game is played.
QUICK GUIDE TO JOINING OUR CLUB:
- Download the Poker APP (available on Apple & Android devices).
- Join our club; CLUB ID: 24877 , Referrer ID: 416078
- Contact @BSBPoker_Admin on Telegram for cashier assistance for Deposit/Withdrawals, let them know your club ID & Referrer ID. They will credit your balance on Poker Bros.
Congratulations……you are ready to play OFC Poker!