A GUIDE TO OPEN-FACE CHINESE POKER (OFC POKER)

A relative of regular Chinese poker, Open Face Chinese Poker is a variant well worth exploring, especially if you’re a fan of playing with many cards at the same time, or if you already enjoy standard Chinese poker. Read on to discover how to play OFC poker and how to master it through strategy.

WHAT IS OPEN-FACE CHINESE POKER?

Let’s start from the very beginning. Open-Face Chinese Poker is a fast-paced and strategic variation of traditional poker that has gained significant popularity in recent years, especially in high-stakes poker circles and online platforms. Unlike traditional poker, where players keep their cards hidden, cards in OFC are played face-up in a specific order over multiple rounds.

This setup creates a unique level of transparency, where players must constantly adapt their strategies based on what they can see of their opponents’ hands. The game emphasises not only traditional poker skills like hand-building but also forward thinking and anticipation. Its rise in popularity is fuelled by its ability to balance luck with skill in a highly competitive environment, which makes it a favourite among professional poker players.

THE BASICS OF OFC POKER

Open-Face Chinese Poker is typically played between two to up to four players, and it revolves around creating three poker hands from a total of thirteen cards. Players receive their cards in stages, placing them face-up into one of three rows, which represent different hands: a front hand (three cards), a middle hand (five cards), and a back/bottom hand (five cards).

The objective is to arrange the cards so that the back/bottom hand is the strongest, followed by the middle hand, and the weakest hand being in the front. The front hand goes in the top row, the middle goes in the middle row and the bottom goes in the bottom row. The game requires a balance of offensive and defensive strategies as players attempt to create the best hands while observing their opponents’ cards. Once all cards are placed, the hands are compared, and points are awarded.

OBJECTIVE OF OFC POKER

The main goal in Open-Face Chinese Poker is to create three hands that beat your opponents’ corresponding hands, while also adhering to the hand strength hierarchy.

Players strive to build the strongest possible back hand, middle hand, and front hand, ensuring that the hands are in the correct order: the back hand must be stronger than the middle hand, and the middle hand stronger than the front hand.

Failure to arrange them in this order results in a “foul,” causing the player to lose points. Players also aim to achieve extra points through special hands or combinations, adding another layer of strategy to the game.

BASIC RULES OF OFC POKER

At the beginning of Open-Face Chinese Poker, each player has five different cards dealt, which they must immediately place face-up into one of the three rows.

After this initial round, players receive one card at a time and must place each card into one of their hands without rearranging previously placed cards. The process continues until each player has filled their front hand with three cards and their middle and back hands with five cards each.

The key rule is that the back hand must be stronger than the middle hand, and the middle hand stronger than the front hand. If a player fouls by not adhering to this order, said player loses the round.

SCORING SYSTEM IN OFC POKER

The scoring system in OFC Poker involves comparing each player’s three hands against the corresponding hands of their opponents. For each hand won (front, middle, or back), the player receives one point.

If a player wins all three hands, they receive additional “scoop” points. Bonus points can be earned by forming special hands, such as straights, flushes, or trips in the front hand, which can lead to significant score boosts.

However, if a player fouls, they lose points to their opponents. The accumulation of points over several rounds determines the overall winner of the game, with strategies constantly evolving based on the cards and scoring opportunities.

HAND RANKINGS IN CHINESE POKER OFC

In Open-Face Chinese Poker, hand rankings are critical to the game’s strategy, as players need to construct three distinct poker hands that align with standard poker rankings. Each hand is compared to those of other players at the end of the round, so understanding and applying hand rankings correctly is essential to winning points.

STANDARD POKER HANDS RANKINGS

OFC uses traditional poker hand rankings, which determine the strength of each hand. From highest to lowest, the rankings are as follows:

• Royal Flush (A-K-Q-J-10, all of the same suit). This hand beats the rest.
• Straight Flush (five consecutive cards of the same suit)
• Four of a Kind, Full House (a three-of-a-kind and a pair)
• Flush (five cards of the same suit, not in sequence)
• Straight (five consecutive cards of different suits)
• Three of a Kind (three cards of the same rank)
• Two Pair (two cards of one rank and two cards of another rank)
• One Pair (two cards of the same rank)
• High Card (where none of the above combinations are made).

THE ROLE OF THE FRONT HAND

The front hand in OFC consists of just three cards and is designed to be the weakest of the three hands. It is difficult to form stronger hands here due to the limited number of cards, so players often focus on building hands like a high card or a weak pair. However, constructing a stronger front hand, such as trips (three of a kind), can yield significant bonus points and tilt the game in your favour. While it’s the lowest priority hand in terms of rank, the front hand plays an important role in scoring, and mismanagement can lead to fouling, costing the player the round.

THE ROLE OF THE MIDDLE HAND

The middle hand, made up of five cards, must be stronger than the front hand but weaker than the back hand. This hand serves as the balance point in OFC, requiring strategic placement of cards to avoid a foul while still aiming to outplay other people’s middle hands. The challenge here lies in creating a moderately strong hand—such as a flush or straight—while keeping better cards reserved for the back hand.

THE ROLE OF THE BACK HAND

The back hand is often considered the most important in OFC, as it must be the strongest of the three hands. This hand is typically where players place their highest-ranking cards, such as a full house, four of a kind, or a straight flush, to maximise their chances of winning points. Since the back hand is compared against other people’s back hands, it plays a pivotal role in determining the outcome of the round.

HOW TO PLAY OPEN-FACE CHINESE POKER GAMES

Rounds of regular OFC games usually take place within the following conditions:

1. The dealer button acts as the starting point. At the start of the game, each player has five cards dealt five face-down. Once dealt, players flip these cards face-up and begin arranging them into one of three rows (top row, middle row and bottom row).
2. After flipping their initial cards face-up, players must immediately place these cards into one of the three rows. Once a card is placed in a row, it cannot be moved or rearranged.
3. After the initial cards are placed, the dealer gives each player one card at a time, which they must place face-up into one of the rows.
4. Players continue receiving cards one by one until they have arranged 13 total cards in their three hands (3 cards in the top row, 5 in the middle row, 5 in the bottom row).
5. If a player fails to keep the required hierarchy (i.e., the back hand is not stronger than the middle hand, or the middle hand is not stronger than the front hand), they “foul” and lose the entire hand.
6. After all hands are complete, players compare their hands with each other.
7. After scoring is calculated, the next round begins, and players start fresh with another set of cards.
8. The game typically continues for a set number of rounds or until a certain score is reached. Whoever gets the most points wins! After that, a new game commences.

ADVANCED OFC POKER STRATEGIES

As you become more familiar with Open-Face Chinese Poker, developing advanced strategies is key to gaining a big advantage over other people. Here’s an OFC strategy or two that can help you net some big wins.

CALCULATING RISKS AND REWARDS

In OFC, every card placement decision involves weighing risks against potential rewards. Since players place their cards face-up, it’s important to analyse the odds of completing strong hands like flushes or straights while considering what cards others may need. The further the game progresses, the clearer it becomes which cards are still in play. Making risky plays can yield high rewards, especially if you’re chasing bonuses, but it can also lead to a foul if the hand doesn’t come together as expected.

STARTING HAND STRATEGY IN OFC POKER

The first five cards in OFC set the tone for your entire strategy. During this initial phase, it’s essential to lay a strong foundation while remaining flexible for future card placements. For example, placing pairs in the middle or back hands early can allow room for improvement, but prematurely committing strong cards to the front hand can restrict your options.

POSITIONING AND OPPONENT OBSERVATION

Seeing as all cards are visible, tracking what others have placed helps you make informed decisions about your own hand. Knowing which cards they may be chasing can guide your choices, allowing you to either block them or choose a different path.

HANDLING FOULS IN OFC POKER

Fouling can be a devastating mistake in OFC, but it’s important to know how to handle potential fouls. If you’re at risk of fouling late in the game, you might need to shift focus from creating optimal hands to simply avoiding a penalty. Sacrificing a few points by making weaker hands can be preferable to losing the round entirely.

VARIATIONS OF OPEN-FACE CHINESE POKER

While standard Open-Face Chinese Poker (OFC) is widely enjoyed, other poker games have emerged to add new twists and excitement to the game.

PINEAPPLE OFC POKER

In OFC Pineapple poker, players receive three different cards per turn instead of one, which speeds up the game and increases the decision-making pressure. Out of the three cards dealt, players must place two in their hands and discard one, which adds an extra layer of strategy in OFC Pineapple Poker compared to standard OFC.

PROGRESSIVE PINEAPPLE OFC

Progressive OFC Pineapple Poker takes the Pineapple variant a step further by offering increasing bonus points as players progress through the game. Players in OFC Pineapple Poker are still dealt three different cards per turn and must discard one, but the main difference lies in how the bonus structure works. As players build stronger hands (like straights or flushes), they can earn cumulative bonuses, which grow as the hands get stronger.

OTHER POPULAR OFC VARIANTS

Several other variations of OFC have emerged, each offering its own twist on the basic rules. Turbo OFC reduces the number of cards dealt per round, making for a faster-paced game. Deuce-to-Seven OFC changes the hand rankings by making lower hands like 7-5-4-3-2 the strongest, reversing the traditional rankings. There’s also Joker OFC, a poker variant where a joker card is introduced as a wild card, adding even more unpredictability to the game.

PLAYING OFC POKER ONLINE VS. LIVE

Here are some considerations worth making that highlight the differences between online and live variants of OFC poker:

• Online: Playing OFC poker online offers convenience and speed, with automated dealing, point system, and quick access to multiple games at any time. Online platforms often provide features like hand history and player statistics, which can aid in improving strategy. However, you lose the social interaction and the ability to physically observe others.
• Live: In live OFC poker, players benefit from face-to-face interaction, allowing them to read body language and reactions, which adds a psychological aspect. However, live games tend to be slower due to manual dealing and scoring, and they require in-person participation, making them less accessible for frequent play compared to the online experience.

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