Chinese Poker is a very famous card game played in Asian communities. It is very easy to learn and anyone who know the poker hand rankings by heart can immediately begin to play this game.

Although Chinese Poker is basically a four-player game, it can be played by 2, 3, 5, or more players. It can be very addictive and played with a combination of skills and luck.

Chinese Poker Game Rules

Here's a step-by-step lesson on how to play Chinese Poker:

• Each player receives 13 cards from a standard 52-card deck
• The player now has to divide his cards into 3 poker hands: the Back (containing 5 cards), Middle (5 cards), and Front (3 cards)
• The rule is the Back card hand must outrank the Middle card hand, which in turn must outrank the Front card hand.
• Straights and flushes do not count in the Front card hand
• First, the player must choose his Back cards and place them face down. After which he chooses his Middle hand and place them face down. Finally, the remaining 3 cards (Front) is again placed faced down on the table.
• When all players have set their hands, the cards are turned face up and the deal is scored.

The Scoring

Even before the cards are dealt, the players must agree on the stakes. Usually, for every point collected by the player is equivalent to a certain money prize.

General Scoring Method

This is the general scoring rule for Chinese Poker:

• The player with the higher Back hand gets one point.
• The player with the higher Middle hand gets one point.
• The player with the higher Front hand gets one point.
• Bonus points, if any, are added to each player’s total.
• The player with the higher total gets an additional point called the overall point.
• The player with the higher total collects the difference between the two scores.

2-4 Scoring Method

The 2-4 scoring is a simple scoring rule used in Chinese Poker tournaments:

• A player who wins 2 out of 3 hands wins 2 points.
• A player who wins all 3 hands wins 4 points (a sweep).

1-6 Scoring Method

In the 1-6 scoring system, winning 2 out of 3 is worth 1 point and winning all 3 gives 6 points. That simple. This scoring scheme is common in the card rooms of Southern California.

Bonuses

In addition to the basic scoring schemes described so far, players may agree to pay bonuses for high ranking hands. Typical bonuses are:

Straight Flush in Back/Middle Hand: 4 points
Four-of-a-kind in Back/Middle Hand: 3 points
Full House in Middle Hand: 1 point
Three-of-a-kind in Front Hand: 2 points

Variations

There are many variations in the scoring rules. In one example, certain hands may be considered automatic winners or naturals. In southern California games, naturals get 3 points and include 3 "straights", 3 "flushes", or 6 pairs. Higher or more rare hands accumulate more points.

Surrender is a scoring option where a player agrees to throw his hand away and pay a set amount to each opponent.

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