Chinese poker
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chinese poker, also called Russian poker, is a card game that has been played in the Asian community for many years. It has begun to gain popularity elsewhere because it has many features of an "exciting" gambling game:
- The rules are simple: only a basic knowledge of poker hand rankings is needed to get started.
- There is a large element of luck involved, therefore a beginner has a good chance of winning in the short term, even against experienced opponents. Poor players may not be so easily deterred by losses as they can more easily attribute bad results to their cards rather than their plays.
- More advanced players can still apply enough strategy to the game to give themselves a significant advantage over poor players.
- The game format results in frequent unexpected wins and high ranking hands.
- Only a few players are required to play the game.
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[edit] Gameplay
Chinese poker is typically played as a four-person game, though it can also be played with two or three.
[edit] Playing a hand
In Chinese Poker, each player receives a 13 card hand from a standard 52 card deck. Each player then has to divide his cards into three poker hands (known as "setting"): two containing five cards each (known as "the middle" and "the back"), and one containing three cards ("the front"); the back must be the highest ranking hand, and the front, the lowest ranking hand (note that straights and flushes do not count in the three card hand). The back hand is placed face down on the table in front of the player, then the middle hand is placed face down in front of the back hand, and the front hand is placed face down in front of the middle hand. After all the players have set their hands, each player will announce in turn (clockwise, starting from the left of the dealer) whether or not he is playing his hand. All players then announce their royalties, before revealing their hands.
[edit] Scoring
The stakes played for in Chinese poker are known as units: an amount of money agreed on before the game starts. Basic scoring rules dictate that a player collects one unit from each opponent whose front, middle or back hand is beaten by his own corresponding hand. Thus, unlike most poker games, being second-best at the table is good enough to win money. In some variants players are also paid an additional unit if they win in two or three of the hands. In other variants players only get an additional unit if they win all three hands (known as a scoop). Also, due to the head-to-head nature of the comparisons, it is possible for different players to play for different stakes. For example, A and B could play for $10/unit, while all other pairs play for $1/unit. Many variations of scoring are in common use; refer to the external links for more information.
The two most common scoring systems used in Casinos today are the 2-4 scoring method, and the 1-6 scoring method.
In the 2-4 method you receive 1 unit for each of the three hands you win, and 1 unit called the overall unit is awarded to the player who wins two out of the three hands, or all of the three hands. In the event of a tie in one of the hands, then no money is exchange for this particular hand and one player either wins both of the other hands, and collects 3 units (1 for each hand, and 1 overall), or they each win one hand and no units are exchanged (each win 1 unit, and there is no overall).
In the 1-6 method you receive 1 unit for each of the three hands you win, and 3 units if you win all three hands.
[edit] Example
| Howard | Annie | Winner | |
| Front | 6♠ 6♣ 4♥ | A♥ K♦ Q♦ | Howard |
| Middle | 10♦ 10♠ 9♣ Q♠ 8♣ | 9♥ 9♦ 5♥ 5♦ 4♣ | Annie |
| Back | 3♥ 3♦ 3♠ 2♥ 2♦ | K♠ J♠ 9♠ 8♠ 7♠ | Howard |
In the 2-4 method, Annie would pay Howard two points. In the 1-6 method, Annie would pay Howard one point.
[edit] Royalties
Royalties, or bonuses as they are sometimes called, are extra units that may be awarded to players with particularly strong hands. In some variants all royalties are worth the same amount (e.g. 1 unit per royalty). In other variants each royalty is given a different payout (e.g. 1 unit for a four of a kind in the back, and 2 units for a straight flush in the back). Sometimes only the winner may be awarded a royalty (e.g. four sevens in the back beats four sixes in the back, therefore only the player with sevens is awarded a royalty). In some games players are allowed to break up straight flushes or four of a kinds and still receive royalties (e.g. a player is dealt four sevens; he may use three of them for a three of a kind in the front, and one as part of a straight in the middle). Some rules say that players are only allowed to claim one royalty per hand.
Royalties must be declared prior to the revealing of the hands.
Some hands and combinations of hands that are commonly awarded royalties are listed:
- Straight flush
- Four of a kind
- Full house or better in the middle
- Three of a kind in the front
Naturals are special types of royalties where if dealt to a player, the player is rewarded immediately (prior to anyone surrendering), and the player does not set their hand.
- Three straights
- Three flushes
- Six pairs (counting all three hands)
- 13 unique cards (i.e. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, A)
[edit] Surrendering
If a player chooses to surrender his hand, he will pay an amount greater than the amount paid when losing 2 out of 3 hands, but less than the amount paid when getting scooped (losing all three hands). When surrendered, a player is not required to pay any royalties to his opponents. In some variations surrendering is not an option.
[edit] Misset Hand
If a player missets his hand (e.g. he puts three of a kind in the front, but only two pair in the middle) then he must pay each of his opponents still in the hand (players who have not surrendered) an amount equal to being scooped. In some variations players are still required to play their hands.
[edit] Where played
Chinese Poker is often played as a side game in large poker tournaments, particularly at the WSOP. Typical stakes are $25, $50 and $100 per unit. Some high stakes poker players are known to play as high as $500 or $1000 per unit. Chinese poker is usually played when there are not enough players to have a full Stud, Texas hold 'em, or Omaha hold 'em game.
[edit] Variations
- Low in the middle — In this variation the middle hand is played as a Deuce-to-seven low hand.
- Criss Cross — This variation is played heads up: each player is dealt two 13 card hands and plays each of their hands against each of their opponents' hands. Players' hands are to be treated as two independent hands, they cannot exchange cards between the two hands.
- In this variation The Wheel (A, 2, 3, 4, 5) is the second highest straight. Therefore it is ranked above a 9, 10, J, Q, K straight, but below a 10, J, Q, K, A straight.
[edit] Anecdotes
- Phil Ivey did not want to go to Monte Carlo in November 2005, but went because he was able to convince Barry Greenstein to play Chinese Poker with him on the plane. Phil went on to win $1,600,000 in Texas hold 'em tournaments on that trip.
- Chinese Poker was played at the 1995 World Series of Poker and the 1996 World Series of Poker. In 1995, the $1500 event was won by John Tsagaris, and the $5000 event by Steve Zolotow. In 1996 the $1500 event was won by Gregory Grivas, and the $5000 event by Jim Feldhouse. There have been no Chinese Poker events at the WSOP since 1996.
- In 1995, 69 Players entered the $5000 event (?); Men Nguyen came in 6th place, and Chau Giang came in 7th.
- In an RGP post circa 2000 Daniel Negreanu said the Bellagio had become the Chinese Poker capital of the world. It had become so popular that players continued playing in it even after there were sufficient players to start a traditional poker game. [source]
