Ready to elevate your poker experience and move away from traditional poker formats? Chinese Poker offers a unique challenge that puts your strategic thinking to the test. Unlike most forms of poker, in Chinese Poker, you are dealt 13 cards at once.
In the following sections, we’ll detail the rules of Chinese Poker, including point distribution and hand arrangements. We’ll also delve into advanced strategies to enhance your gameplay. You’ll learn how to optimize your hands and maximize point scoring.
Let’s delve deeper into the fascinating world of Chinese Poker and discover how strategic hand management and the right strategies can lead you to victory.
What is Chinese Poker?
Chinese Poker, also known as “Pusoy” or “Kapit,” is a variant of traditional poker popular in Asia. Unlike most forms of poker where players hold their cards hidden and engage in betting rounds, Chinese Poker deals players 13 cards at once. Players must divide these cards into three separate hands: two five-card hands and one three-card hand. So, how do you play poker in this format?
The goal is to make each of the three hands as strong as possible to beat the corresponding hands of opponents. Points are awarded based on how many of the three hands a player wins against their opponents.
This variant requires strategic thinking, known for its complex point scoring and the variety of playable hands.
Chinese Poker Compared to Texas Hold’em Poker
Texas Hold’em and Chinese Poker are two very different poker variants, primarily due to the distinct skills and strategies required.
Texas Hold’em is familiar to laypeople through broadcasts of the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas or other locations in the USA. This form of poker focuses heavily on betting rounds, bluffing, and strategic decisions based on shared cards and each player’s two hidden cards. The main objective is to form the best five-card combination from the seven available cards.
In contrast, Chinese Poker, especially in the Open Face Chinese Poker variant, is played without betting rounds. Instead, each player receives 13 cards at once, which they must divide into three separate hands. Then, each of these hands must be made as strong as possible to beat the corresponding hands of opponents. The key difference lies in the absence of shared cards. Similarly, bluffing is less relevant since all cards are ultimately revealed. Thus, the focus is more on optimal poker hands than on psychological plays.
How to Play Chinese Poker?
As you can see, Chinese Poker offers an exciting departure from traditional poker formats, including in the best online casinos. This is primarily due to the need for heightened strategic thinking. Read on to learn how to organize your cards effectively and outsmart your opponents.
Setting Game Units
In Chinese Poker, the value of a game is determined by the set game units, often referred to as “points” or “credits.” These units define how much each point in the game is worth. They are crucial for calculating winnings and losses at the end of each round. Therefore, game units must be agreed upon among all participants before the game begins. The amounts may vary depending on local rules or player preferences.
Now it should be clear why these credits directly influence players’ betting strategies and risk management.
Dealing
Chinese Poker begins with the dealing of cards. Each player receives 13 cards drawn from a standard 52-card deck. These cards must be strategically divided by the players into three hands: two five-card hands and one three-card hand.
The dealing process is crucial as the initial card distribution forms the basis for hand formation and significantly influences game strategies and outcomes. All cards are dealt at once, providing players with complete information about their gameplay options.
Arranging Hands
In Chinese Poker, “arranging hands” is a crucial process that requires strategic thinking and careful planning of card distribution. Here are the key components of this process summarized:
- Division of Cards: Each player receives 13 cards to be divided into three hands.
- Top Hand: Also known as the Front Hand, consists of three cards and should be the weakest of the three hands.
- Middle Hand: The Middle Hand consists of five cards, must be stronger than the Top Hand but weaker than the Bottom Hand.
- Bottom Hand: Also known as the Back Hand, counts five cards and must be the strongest hand.
Furthermore, it is important to emphasize the importance of the order. The correct gradation of hand strength from bottom to top is crucial. A mistake here leads to a “foul,” resulting in an automatic loss of the round. Thus, strategic planning regarding the optimal distribution of cards is essential to form the best possible hands.
Gameplay
In Chinese Poker, the “game” phase occurs between arranging hands and the showdown. During this phase, players reveal their hands in a specific order, usually starting with the bottom (strongest) hand, followed by the middle and finally the top (weakest) hand. This structured revelation allows each player to make tactical decisions based on the hands already shown by other players.
It is a critical phase where players evaluate the strength of their own hands compared to others and strategically plan their final moves. The goal is to optimize the order of reveal to maintain an advantage or minimize losses before reaching the showdown, where all hands are compared.
Showdown
At the showdown in Chinese Poker, all players lay their three carefully arranged hands openly on the table, starting with the top hand (three-card hand), followed by the middle and bottom hands. Each hand is then compared with the corresponding hands of other players.
Points are awarded based on how many of the three hands a player wins in direct comparison with their opponents’ hands. The showdown is the decisive moment that determines who wins the round and how points are distributed among the players.
Surrendering
In Chinese Poker, the term “surrender” refers to a player considering their hand not competitive and deciding to give up the round before reaching the showdown.
This is a strategic decision made to avoid larger losses if a player believes their hand configuration is significantly inferior to the hands already revealed by opponents. By surrendering, the player automatically loses the round, but the losses may be less than the risk of continuing to play and potentially losing all three comparisons.
This option is not available in all variants of Chinese Poker but is typically offered before the showdown.
Chinese Poker Rules
Through the points listed above, you should already have an understanding of some features of the game. Chinese Poker is played with 2 to 4 players, who agree on a point value before the game, such as 5 euros per point. Furthermore, the game builds on the distribution of the 13 cards from the standard 52-card deck. Therefore, it is also known as “13 Card Poker.” These 13 cards are then divided into different hands, set up, and compared, unlike conventional poker types or online poker, there are no bets or raises.
An important, yet unfamiliar, aspect of the game is point scoring. The exact calculation may vary, but typically, there is one point per winning hand. Additional special rules and poker terms enrich the game: a Scoop often means a double points bonus. This occurs when a player wins all three hands of an opponent. Also, other specific hands such as a “Royal Flush” or a “Full House” in the bottom hand can bring additional bonus points.
For rule violations, such as incorrect hand arrangement or an incorrect number of cards, opponents automatically receive a Scoop. Additionally, the middle hand can be played as a 2-7