Explanation of Chinese Poker
Chinese poker accommodates between 2 to 4 players, but the heads-up format known as 'open-face pineapple' has surged in popularity recently.
Unlike most other poker variants, Chinese poker is played without chips. Instead, the game revolves around points, with each point translating to a predefined monetary value.
Players are required to organize their 13 cards into three distinct rows.
Top Row: 3 cards
Middle Row: 5 cards
Bottom Row: 5 cards
To ensure a valid hand, the lowest row must have a hand strength greater than that of the middle row, which should, in turn, surpass the strength of the top row. If this hierarchy is violated, the hand is deemed invalid, allowing the opponent to 'scoop' all points.
The rows are individually compared to the opponent's rows to determine the winner of each. Each row earns one point, while a 'scoop' bonus of three points is given to any player who wins all three rows or if their opponent's hand is ruled invalid.
In the 'open face' variant of Chinese poker , five cards are dealt at the beginning, and players organize them into their rows. Subsequently, cards are dealt one at a time until each player has a total of 13 cards. The 'pineapple' variant differs as players receive three cards simultaneously, placing two into rows and discarding one.
Chinese poker -> This poker variant has many less competitive tables, presenting an excellent opportunity for players to learn and improve.
Incorporating Chinese Poker into Your Poker Strategies
Much like Stud poker, there are various forms of open-face Chinese poker . Before playing at an open-face table, it's essential to be thoroughly familiar with the specific rules of that version.
Generally, it's more strategic to secure victory in a single row rather than overextending oneself and risking a foul. While losing two rows is undesirable, if you end up with a high-valued hand in the bottom row but lose all three rows, your opponent will benefit from a three-point scoop bonus.
Similar to Stud games, the open-faced variants present a wealth of information on the table at any given time. Skilled open-face Chinese players leverage this information when making decisions by employing at least two strategies -
1) Smart players consider blocker effects and assess how likely it is for certain draws to complete. For instance, if we're hoping to complete a flush with hearts, our chances significantly diminish if our opponent already shows four hearts in play.
2) Smart players recognize that a point holds value regardless of the hand's strength. In open-face, the primary goal is just to beat the opponent's rows. If the opponent has a King-high row, you only need an Ace-high hand to win. It's often better to secure small wins across all three rows rather than overwhelming your opponent on one row while losing the others.
See Also
Stud , Hold’em , Draw , Outs , Hand Rankings