Chinese Open Faced Poker

Overview

Chinese Open Faced Poker (OFC) is a variant of poker where players receive 13 cards and must arrange them into three poker hands without drawing. The game emphasizes strategy, hand reading, and risk management. Unlike traditional poker, there's no betting - scoring is based on hand strength and bonuses.

Hand Structure

Players must arrange their 13 cards into three hands:

• Bottom (Back): 5 cards - must be the strongest hand
• Middle: 5 cards - must be weaker than bottom, stronger than top
• Top (Front): 3 cards - must be the weakest hand

How to Play

1. Each player is dealt 5 cards face-down to start
2. Players set these 5 cards face-up in their three hands (cannot be moved later)
3. Remaining cards are dealt one at a time, placed immediately into one of the three hands
4. In 2-3 player games, all 13 cards are dealt
5. In 4 player games, each player receives 13 cards (one card is not used)
6. Once all cards are placed, hands are scored against each opponent

Basic Scoring

Each player compares their three hands against each opponent's corresponding hands:

• Win a hand: +1 point
• Win 2 out of 3 hands: +1 bonus point (total +3)
• Win all 3 hands (scoop): +3 bonus points (total +6)
• Going Bust: Lose 6 points to each opponent

Royalties (Bonus Points)

Strong hands earn bonus points, regardless of whether you win:

Top Hand (3 cards)

Middle Hand (5 cards)

Bottom Hand (5 cards)

Fantasyland

A special bonus round earned by making a strong top hand without going bust:

• Qualify: Pair of Queens or better in top hand (without going bust)
• Reward: Next round, you receive all 13 cards at once and set them face-down
• Stay in Fantasyland: Make Trips in top, Full House or better in middle, or Quads in bottom
• Advantage: Seeing all cards before setting gives massive strategic edge

Common Variants

Progressive Fantasyland

Stricter requirements to stay in Fantasyland, but rewards include extra cards:

• Trips in top: Stay in FL, receive 14 cards
• Quads in bottom: Stay in FL, receive 15 cards
• Straight Flush in bottom: Stay in FL, receive 16 cards
• Royal Flush in bottom: Stay in FL, receive 17 cards

Pineapple OFC

A faster variant with more action:

• Deal 5 cards to start, set them face-up
• Deal 3 cards at a time (instead of 1)
• Place 2 cards, discard 1 face-down
• Repeat until all 13 cards are set
• More opportunities to make strong hands
• Fantasyland requires QQ in top (standard) or three of a kind in top (aggressive variant)

Deuce-to-Seven OFC

Uses deuce-to-seven lowball hand rankings for the bottom hand only (straights and flushes count against you, ace is high).

2-7 OFC

All three hands use deuce-to-seven lowball rankings.

Strategy Tips

• Prioritize avoiding going bust - a going bust costs 6 points per opponent
• Balance pursuing royalties with hand safety
• Top hand is critical - a strong top can earn Fantasyland
• Watch opponents' boards to estimate remaining cards
• In Fantasyland, maximize staying power and royalty points
• Early placement is crucial - don't commit strong cards to bottom too early
• Consider "playing safe" when ahead vs. taking risks when behind
• Middle hand royalties are often most achievable

Poker Hand Rankings (5-card hands)

1. Royal Flush: A-K-Q-J-10 of same suit
2. Straight Flush: Five sequential cards of same suit
3. Four of a Kind: Four cards of same rank
4. Full House: Three of a kind + a pair
5. Flush: Five cards of same suit
6. Straight: Five sequential cards (mixed suits)
7. Three of a Kind: Three cards of same rank
8. Two Pair: Two different pairs
9. One Pair: Two cards of same rank
10. High Card: No matching cards