Chinese Poker

Overview

Chinese Poker, also known as 13 Card Poker, is a casino table game and home game variant that originated in Asia and gained popularity in Western casinos in the 1990s. Unlike traditional poker, Chinese Poker is not a betting game in the usual sense; instead, players compete to have the strongest three hands compared to each opponent's three hands. The game is typically played with 2 to 4 players, using a standard 52-card deck.

Rules and Gameplay

Each player receives 13 cards face down. The objective is to arrange these 13 cards into three separate poker hands: a back hand (5 cards, must be the strongest), a middle hand (5 cards, must be weaker than the back hand), and a front hand (3 cards, must be the weakest of the three). This arrangement is called the "setting." The hands are ranked according to standard poker hand rankings (royal flush, straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, high card). However, in the front hand (3 cards), only three of a kind, pair, or high card are possible; straights and flushes do not apply to three-card hands unless using a variant rule.

Players set their hands without seeing opponents' cards. Once all players have set, they reveal their three hands. Points are awarded by comparing each corresponding hand (front vs front, middle vs middle, back vs back) against every other player. A typical scoring system awards 1 point for each hand won, and sometimes bonus points for special hands (e.g., a straight flush or four of a kind in the back hand). The total points determine the winner of the round. In some versions, the player who wins all three hands against another player earns an additional "scoop" bonus (often 3 extra points).

Variants and Strategy

Common variants include "Open Face Chinese Poker" (OFCP), where players build their hands incrementally with cards placed face up on the table, and "Pineapple" variants where players discard cards. In casino settings, Chinese Poker is often played as a push-pull game with a predetermined paytable. Strategy involves careful hand arrangement to maximize winning potential while avoiding penalties for illegal settings (e.g., a front hand stronger than the middle hand). Players must balance the strength of all three hands, as a very strong back hand may leave the front hand vulnerable.

Popularity and Context

Chinese Poker is particularly popular in Asian casinos and among recreational players in home games. It is often played for small stakes relative to other poker games. The game requires less bluffing and more combinatorial skill than Texas Hold'em. While not as widely televised as other poker variants, it has a dedicated following and is offered in many online poker rooms.