Open-Face Chinese Poker Rules

What is OFC?

Open-Face Chinese Poker (OFC) is a turn-based poker variant where players set 13 cards across three hands — Top (3 cards), Middle (5 cards), and Bottom (5 cards) — aiming to beat their opponents row by row.

OFC is played with a standard 52-card deck, typically between 2–3 players. Unlike traditional poker, there is no betting — scoring is based on points. Each point has an agreed-upon monetary value.

Dealing

• Each player receives 5 cards face-up to start and must place them on their board.
• After the initial placement, players draw 1 card at a time and place it on any open row.
• This continues until all 13 slots are filled.
• Cards cannot be moved once placed.

Setting Your Hands

Hands must be ranked in ascending order from top to bottom:

• Bottom must be the strongest hand (or equal to Middle).
• Middle must be stronger than (or equal to) Top.
• Top is the weakest hand (only 3 cards — pairs and high cards matter most).

If your hands are not in valid order, you foul (also called "mis-set") and lose 6 points to each opponent.

Game Variants

Regular OFC

The standard game described above. Players receive 5 cards initially, then draw one at a time. Standard scoring with royalties and Fantasy Land.

Pineapple OFC

The most popular variant. After the initial 5-card placement, players draw 3 cards at a time, place 2, and discard 1. This creates more action and bigger hands.

• Fantasy Land in Pineapple: you receive 14 cards (place 13, discard 1).
• Entry requirement is the same: pair of Queens or better on top.

Progressive Pineapple

A variant where the first draw after the initial 5 cards is 2 cards (place 1, discard 1), followed by 3-card draws (place 2, discard 1) for the remaining rounds.

Scoring

Players compare each row head-to-head. For each row you win, you earn +1 point; for each loss, −1 point.

Scoop bonus: If you win all three rows against an opponent, you earn a +3 bonus (6 total instead of 3).

Royalties

Bonus points are awarded for premium hands in each row. Royalties are collected regardless of whether you win the row.

Bottom Royalties

Middle Royalties

Top Royalties — Pairs

Top Royalties — Trips

Fantasy Land

If you place a pair of Queens or better on top (without fouling), you enter Fantasy Land on the next hand.

• In Fantasy Land, you receive all 13 cards at once and set them face-down.
• Other players continue drawing one card at a time as normal.
• You stay in Fantasy Land if you make: Three of a Kind on Top, Full House or better on Middle, or Quads or better on Bottom.

Pineapple Fantasy Land

In Pineapple OFC, Fantasy Land gives you 14 cards — set 13 and discard 1. The stay requirements are the same as regular OFC.

Optional Rules

Progressive Fantasy Land

Some games award 15 cards in Fantasy Land for stronger qualifying hands (e.g., KK+ on top), and 16 cards for AA+ on top. Players discard extra cards down to 13.

Joker Variant

A Joker is added to the deck and acts as a wild card. The Joker can complete any hand but scores as an Ace-high for non-made hands.

2–3 Player Adjustments

• 2 players: Standard rules, each player uses 13 of 52 cards.
• 3 players: Standard rules, but card counting becomes more important as 39 of 52 cards are in play.

Glossary