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The Rules of Chinese Poker: Gameplay and Variants

Sep 6, 2024

Poker is a much sought-after game at our Slots Paradise Casino, and we’re sure any poker lover will appreciate any other variations, especially Chinese poker, although the rules of Chinese poker may come across to some as disconcerting.

Chinese poker is a unique variation of the world-renowned classic table game, with some slight (or not that slight, but you make the call) differences in how you play the game.

For example, instead of the regular two-hole (private, for those of you with basic savvy) cards, each player gets 13 and has to whip up their best three hands instead of just one. These hands need to be two five-card hands and one three-card hand.

You may think it sounds complicated, but don’t let that faze you! Today’s casino guide will lead the way clearly and carefully on the rules of Chinese poker: how to play, variations, and whatnot.

The Rules of Chinese Poker: How Is It Different?

Chinese poker is a table game that uses a regular deck of 52 cards. It differs from regular poker, but we’ll see to that further below. It’s also sometimes called the Pepito card game. The objective is to set up your best three hands to score points and win each round.

This means that the tips that apply to it will differ from, let’s say, those of the pai gow poker strategy, for example.

Two to four players can play the game. Each one is given 13 Chinese poker cards, from which they must make two five-card hands that follow the regular poker hand rankings and one three-card hand that should do likewise. There are points for all winning hands. There are also bonuses called royalties that give players extra points for creating specific hands.

But let’s flesh this out more, shall we?

How to Play Chinese Poker

As we said, Chinese poker rules mandate that each player get 13 cards. In situations where there are 4 players, all 52 cards are exhausted. With three players, the last 13 unused cards are discarded. With two players, the dealer could decide to deal an extra 13 cards in two places for the next round.

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Ok, now on with the show: After getting their cards, the players have to split their Chinese poker hands into three: two five-card hands and one three-card hand. This is called “setting”. The hands are arranged in a front, middle, and back setup and must be arranged from the strongest to the weakest. The strongest five-card hand is at the back, the weaker five-card hand is at the middle, and the three-card hand is at the front.

The back hand is placed face down on the table in front of the player, followed by the middle hand positioned face down in front of the backhand, and lastly, the front hand is placed face down in front of the middle hand. Once all players have arranged their hands, each player, starting from the left of the dealer and moving clockwise, declares whether they will play their hand. Afterward, all players announce their royalties before revealing their hands. Then comes reveal time. If a player forms three flushes or three straights, they automatically win, regardless of the other players’ hands.

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Rules of Chinese Poker and Scoring

There are some vital Chinese rules and how-tos you must know and follow. Make sure you enforce these to enjoy your playtime!

Avoid a Mis-Set

First, make sure you strictly adhere to the rule of arranging the cards from the strongest to the weakest. The back hand should always be stronger than the middle one, which must also be stronger than the front. If not done properly, it’s called a mis-set. If a player mis-sets their hand, such as putting a three-of-a-kind in the front and only two pairs in the middle, they must pay each of their remaining opponents (those who haven’t surrendered) the equivalent of a scoop. In some versions, players must continue to play even if they mis-set their hand.

Chinese Poker Scoring

Chinese poker scoring is a crucial part of the game. You are awarded one point for every hand that beats your opponent’s hand. If all three of your hands beat your opponents, you get a bonus or royalty of three points. In a game with three or four players, each player’s hand is compared, and points are calculated together as the total for that round.

Let’s elaborate a tad more: in Chinese poker, players agree on an amount of money, called units, before the game begins. Each player earns a unit from any opponent whose front, middle, or backhand they beat. Unlike most poker games, being second-best can still result in winning money. Some game variations award an extra unit for winning two or three hands, while others only award an additional unit for winning all three hands, known as a “scoop.” Players can also bet different amounts against each other, for instance, Player A and Player B might play for $100 per unit, while others play for $10 per unit.

Scoring systems

Two popular scoring systems in Chinese poker are the 2–4 and 1–6 methods.

In the 2–4 method, a player earns 1 unit for each hand they win. Additionally, 1 unit is given to the player who wins two or more hands. If one hand ends in a tie, no unit is exchanged for that hand. A player who wins two hands earns 3 units in total (1 for each winning hand and 1 for the overall win). If both players win one hand each, no units are exchanged.

In the 1–6 method, a player receives 1 unit for each hand they win, and an extra 3 units if they win all three hands.

Royalties

In the rules of Chinese poker, there are additional bonuses players can enjoy.

Royalties, sometimes called bonuses, are extra units awarded to players with particularly strong hands in Chinese poker. These bonuses must be declared before the hands are revealed.

One of them is getting three points for winning all three hands. There are single-hand bonuses where you win extra points for making strong hands, which you can find in the most popular poker games like Four of A Kind and Straight Flush.

There are also 13-card hand bonuses where you win extra points for making specific hands, like in the single-hand bonus. However, this type combines multiple hands to get the bonus. For example, you are awarded 24 points for making two five-card Straight Flushes and one three-card Straight Flush.

In addition, there’s a surrender rule similar to folding in any winning poker hands strategy. However, it is not permitted in all Chinese poker games.

Let’s look a little closer at these royalties:

Common hands that earn royalties include:

Straight flush
Four of a kind
Full house (middle hand)
Three-of-a-kind (front hand)

Naturals

Naturals are special royalties that automatically reward a player when they’ve been dealt, without the need to set their hand. Examples of naturals include:

Three straights
Three flushes
Six pairs (across all hands)
Four sets of three-of-a-kind
Three sets of four-of-a-kind
Three straight flushes
A “Dragon” (13 unique cards, 2-A)

Variations of naturals can also include:

No picture cards (Ace included as a non-picture card)
All picture cards (including Ace)
All cards six or higher (Ace counts as higher)
12 or 13 cards of one color

In cases where multiple players have naturals, the stronger one wins. If both players have six pairs, the highest pair determines the winner. For flushes and straights, the strongest backhand is compared first, then the middle, and finally the front if needed.

The value of royalties can differ between games. In some versions, all royalties are worth the same amount, such as 1 unit per royalty. In others, the payouts vary based on the hand, like 1 unit for four of a kind and 2 units for a straight flush. Typically, only the winning player gets the royalty, but in some variants, bonuses may cancel each other out, leaving only the point for the row. Some rule sets allow breaking up stronger hands like four of a kind to still earn royalties, such as using three of a kind in one hand and part of a straight in another.

In most games, players can only claim one royalty per hand, with the specific royalty point structure varying depending on the game.

Surrendering

If a player decides to surrender their hand, they will pay more than they would for losing two hands but less than if they were fully scooped. A surrendered player is not required to pay any royalties to their opponents. In some variations of the game, surrendering is not allowed as an option.

Scoop/Home-run

In a Taiwanese variation, when a player loses all three hands to a single opponent, it’s called a scoop, and they must pay double the base points. If a player scoops all three opponents, it’s known as a home run, and the payment is doubled again. However, if a natural hand is declared, it is exempt from scooping and is scored separately.

Variations of Chinese Poker

Although Chinese poker is, in itself, a variation of the popular poker game, it also comes with variations and slight changes in rules. Variations include:

Open Face Chinese Poker

Open-face Chinese poker is a popular variation that follows the original game setup. It’s also called poker 13 cards. Each player receives five cards first and arranges them into their front, middle, and backhands. Players take turns removing a card from the stack and adding it to their three hands.

Pineapple Chinese Poker

Another variant is the Pineapple Chinese Poker. The rule here is that players get the first 5 cards and arrange them into their front, middle, and backhands. However, instead of picking a card, each player takes turns picking three cards and discarding one. The gameplay goes on until all 13 cards are complete. Other variations include Criss Cross and Low in the middle.

Strategies for Playing Chinese Poker

Chinese Poker is a strategic game where you must arrange your cards in the best hand possible. You could lose points against your opponent if the cards are poorly placed. Here are some very basic strategies to help you maximize your gameplay.

Obey the Rules

First, ensure you follow the rules of Chinese poker properly. Silly mistakes like mis-setting and making a foul can cost you a lot in the game.

Be Watchful of What Your Opponents Build

Always watch what your opponents build in a game like Open Face Chinese Poker. This will give you a better perspective on how to best create yours, even if you haven’t mastered the poker counting cards technique.

Do Not Underestimate Your Front Hand

Never disregard your front hand because it’s the weakest. It constitutes 30.333% of every point you score in a regular game.

Keep Tabs on Your Bankroll

Finally, as recommended for all games, including online video poker, keep tabs on your bankroll. Never bet abruptly, and study our casino guides.

Parting Shot

Chinese poker rules make it one of the most entertaining card table games. Its gameplay is simple and strategic, keeping you entertained for hours. If you want to poke around more into gameplay mechanics, check out the game theory optimal (GTO) guides. GTO poker strategy is another great find and addition to your knowledge base.

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Find more insights with these recommended poker posts:

The Rules of Chinese Poker – FAQs

How is Chinese Poker different from regular poker?

In Chinese Poker, players get 13 cards and make three hands (two five-card and one three-card), unlike regular poker where you make one hand.

How do I arrange the hands in Chinese Poker?

You arrange three hands: the strongest five-card hand at the back, a weaker five-card in the middle, and the weakest three-card hand in the front. If you mis-set (arrange incorrectly), you pay penalties to the other players.

What are royalties in Chinese Poker?

Royalties are bonus points for making special hands like straight flushes or full houses.