Two or Three players can enjoy OFC poker in a table. Each player must use 13 cards into 3 hands ‘Top’, ‘Middle’, Bottom’. There are no betting rounds during the play. Instead, the game is scored in points. In the cash format, which is the more popular of the two, there is no system of rounds and after a player chooses a table of their preference, the game is played much like a 2 or 3-way game of Hold’em. The scoring format explained below holds good for both these formats. Unlike poker, this game is played without chips. Open Face Chinese Poker can be played by two, three or four players, depending on the variation. Using a standard 52 cards deck, the goal is to place 13 visible cards as follows: Top Hand (3 cards) - Player’s least strong hand Middle Hand (5 cards) - Stronger than the top hand Bottom Hand (5 cards) - The strongest hand of all.

The Basics

OFC is played between either 2 players or 3. It can be played in a sit n go format or cash. In a sit n go, a player buys-in with a fixed amount (which is the minimum and maximum that the player would need to invest). A fixed number of hands are played in each round, after which the scores are reset and players can choose either to play again or quit. In the cash format, which is the more popular of the two, there is no system of rounds and after a player chooses a table of their preference, the game is played much like a 2 or 3-way game of Hold’em. The scoring format explained below holds good for both these formats. Unlike poker, this game is played without chips. A point system is followed to determine the score, with each point holding a certain value.

Game Play

The aim of this game is to set your best hand, and compare it against your opponent(s) to determine the scores. This is divided into 3 rows – bottom, middle and top. The bottom and middle row comprise of 5 cards each, while the top row comprises of just 3. So, an OFC hand comprises of a total of 13 cards (5+5+3). Based on poker hand rankings, players need to set their cards into these rows following one primary rule – the bottom hand must be stronger than the middle hand, and the middle hand must be stronger than the top hand. If this structure is not followed, you end up with a “Dead Hand”, which means that you earn 0 points in addition to the amount you lose to your opponent(s).
Each player is first dealt 5 cards face-up. A player then beings to construct his/her hand using these 5 cards. Once this round concludes, players are dealt 3 cards each (face-down), of which they must use 2 cards and discard one. This continues until each player has completed constructing his/her hand (5 rounds of play in total). Once each player sets his/her hand, points are calculated and compared against each other to gather the final tally. Players are dealt in a similar style to Texas Hold 'em, with there being a Small Blind, Big Blind and Dealer in three-handed games.

Points

The game of OFC follows a point system, where players earn a set number of points for making certain hands. Each row is compared with your opponent’s respective row, and scores are calculated based on the points secured by each player. Each row comprises of one point, which means that if you were to beat your opponent in 2 rows, you would win 1 point from him/her (your two points minus opponent’s 1 point). If however you beat your opponent in all 3 rows – you would win a total of 6 points (known as sweep or scoop). Player scores are calculated clockwise, starting from the left of the button. This means that in a three-handed game, points are tallied first between the Big Blind and Small Blind, then the Small Blind and Dealer, and finally the Big Blind and Dealer.

Royalties

Apart from the basic points system, players can earn Royalties for hands like a Flush, Straight, Full House, Trips etc. Hands have different points based on the row they are set in. The below table indicates how Royalties work for each row:
HandsBottom handMiddle Hand
Trips0 Points2 Points
Straight2 Points4 Points
Flush4 Points8 Points
Full House6 Points12 Points
Four of a Kind10 Points20 Points
Straight Flush15 Points30 Points
Royal Flush25 Points50 Points

Ofc Poker Scoring Test

Top Hand

HandsPairTrips
2s0 Points10 Points
3s0 Points11 Points
4s0 Points12 Points
5s0 Points13 Points
6s1 Points14 Points
7s2 Points15 Points
8s3 Points16 Points
9s4 Points17 Points
10s5 Points18 Points
Js6 Points19 Points
Qs7 Points20 Points
Ks8 Points21 Points
As9 Points22 Points
Royalty points are counted and compared with the total tally while calculating the score, and the player with the most points wins. He/she will win an amount equivalent to the points scored times the value of each point. These Royalty amounts are earned by a player regardless of whether they win that particular row or not. Additionally, bonuses negate each other (for example if two players have a flush at the bottom row – while the player with the higher flush earns one point for the row – the royalty points will be 0 instead of 4).

Fantasy

Fantasyland is where you want to be! This part of the game is probably the most exciting, and rewards players with additional points. If a player manages to set Queens or better in their top row, they qualify for a “Fantasy Hand”. This means that once that round completes, an additional round is dealt – only this time, the player who had a fantasy hand gets dealt either 14-17 cards (depending on the variant) face-up at one shot and sets his/her best 13 card hand. Opponents are dealt their hands in the regular fashion (5+3+3+3+3). Additionally, a player can get a “recurring fantasy” hand if he/she manages to set either quads in the bottom row or by placing trips in their top row (in a fantasy hand). In this case, a player is dealt another fantasy in the subsequent hand. There is no limit to the number of recurring fantasy hands that a player can get.

Variants

Regular

Players in Fantasy are dealt 14 cards get to play any 13 of them, discarding any one. When a player qualifies for a recurring fantasy, he/she will be dealt only 14 cards in the next hand. Players can qualify for a recurring fantasy by placing in a Full House in the bottom row if they have a Full House in the middle row, as long as they don’t foul.
Ofc

Progressive

Players can be dealt up to 17 cards in fantasy depending on the strength of the hand in the top row 14 (QQ), 15 (KK), 16 (AA), 17 (three-of-a-kind). Players need to manage quads or better in the bottom row or three-of-a-kind in the top row to qualify for a recurring fantasy. Players will only be dealt 14 cards in recurring fantasy.

Ultimate

Players can be dealt up to 17 cards in fantasy depending on the strength of the hand in the top row 14 (QQ), 15 (KK), 16 (AA), 17 (three-of-a-kind). Players need to manage quads or better in the bottom row or three-of-a-kind in the top row to qualify for a recurring fantasy. Players can be dealt up to 17 cards in recurring fantasy, depending on the hand they originally entered fantasy with.
Ofc Poker Scoring

Gameplay

Poker Variations

Poker Rules

Poker Tournaments

Poker Strategy

Poker Accessories

Tired of playing the same old games of poker? Desiring for a fresh change? Few interesting rules and strategies to fiddle with? We have a new, exciting variant for you to tweak your brains and win some decent money with your skills while you are at it. Enter Open Face Chinese poker, the new kid in the block!

Open Face Chinese poker, commonly known as OFC is a variant of poker, however, it has features that are quite unique and outstanding and differ a lot from the popular variants that you are used to such as Hold’em and Omaha poker. So, without wasting a moment further, let’s get right on it, we have lots to discover.

Open Face Chinese Poker Gameplay

Open Face Chinese poker is an extremely fun variant of poker that calls for non-stop action. Unlike the regular variants where a maximum of 8-9 players can play the game, OFC poker rules do not allow more than 3 players in one game. Also, you might be surprised to know, OFC poker doesn’t involve chips too! It is a strictly points-based game just like hearts or rummy.

When you play Open Face Chinese Poker, all players are required to form three poker hands in three different rows- top, middle and bottom. However, there are specific OFC poker rules that you must follow while arranging your hands.

The bottom pair and the middle pair contain 5 cards each while the top pair includes only 3 cards. All in all, an OFC hand includes 13 cards. However, players receive 14 cards out of which they discard one and keep the remaining cards to complete their 13 card hand.

OFC Poker Hand Rules

  • The bottom hand must be the strongest of all
  • The middle hand must be better than the top hand

This order of hand formation has to be followed when you play Open Face Chinese poker or else your hand is declared a dead hand. To add to that, you earn zero points besides the money you lose of course! Indeed, like all other skill games, you can play poker for real money too and for various stakes!

Now, let’s dig a little deeper. Remember, not all cards are dealt at once! All players are dealt 5 cards face up at first. Each player uses their cards to form their hands. According to OFC poker rules, once a player sets their hands, the positions can’t be changed. Next, 3 cards are dealt face down out of which players must keep 2 and discard one. This goes on until five rounds in totality and all rows are filled by the players. Next, all points are calculated by comparing hands of all players, Like all other games of poker, there will be a small blind, big blind and a dealer.

Open Face Chinese Poker Pineapple Scoring

Points System in OFC poker rules

When you play Open Face Chinese poker, all players get scored one point for every row. However, you get a Scoop bonus worth 6 points if one player beats the other in all three rows. In another scenario, if one player beats another in 2 out of 3 rows, he/she will get 1 point.

In the 3rd scenario, if you lose 2 out of 3 rows, you get minus 1 point. On the contrary, when you happen to lose in all 3 rows, you end up getting minus 6 points. An interesting feature in OFC poker that tweaks your adrenaline is that you receive a royalty bonus for scoring big hands in different rows.

Join the big league- Fantasy Land!

Ofc Poker Scoring Games

This is where things get really exciting. When you play OFC poker, you get to enter Fantasy Land if you make a pair of Qs or better in the top row without committing foul. The perks of being in fantasy land is that in the next round, you receive all 14 cards at once and you have the free hand to choose your best 13 card hand. So, your opponent loses the edge because he/she has to stick to the regular rules. Players can stay in Fantasy land if they hit quads or better in the bottom row hand or trips in the top row.

So, how about trying this thrilling variant of poker today? Even though there aren’t too many poker apps hosting this variant in India, we managed to find one for you.

PokerBaazi is Hosting OFC Poker Games for Money

PokerBaazi, an Indian poker site is hosting online poker games of OFC poker for real money. In fact, you can explore and enjoy three exclusive formats of Open Face Chinese poker on the poker site- regular ultimate and progressive. Players can switch between variants and enjoy them for micro, low, mid and high stakes according to their expertise in the card game.

So, what’s keeping you away? Hit the tables and get going already!

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