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A Fresh Approach to OFC Poker
Welcome to the thrilling world of OFC Poker, short for Open Face Chinese Poker. This points-based game is a must-play among high-stakes poker fanatics and is a popular choice among pros. Let’s dive into the rules, strategies, and everything you need to get started with this exciting game.
What's the Lowdown on OFC Poker?
OFC Poker, a spin on the classic Chinese Poker, is quite a unique poker variation. With 13 cards dealt to each player and 9 rounds of dealing, the focus is on arranging your cards into three poker hands rather than pulling off clever bets or raises.
Here are some ways OFC Poker differs from other poker games:
- 13 cards for each player: With OFC, you'll receive a total of 13 cards.
- 4-player max: Owing to the limited deck size, only up to 4 players can take part in a game.
- No betting: No betting, raising, or bluffing in this game. The action revolves around arranging your cards for points.
- Speed!: With no reason for delay, OFC Poker can move at a rapid pace, especially when played among professionals.
Its rich history may stretch back several centuries, but its global popularity is largely thanks to Russian poker pro Alex Kravchenko, who introduced the game to the high-stakes poker community. The points-based system has made it a favorite among pros, allowing them to beat less-skilled opponents with mathematical precision.
Today, OFC Poker is played by poker enthusiasts all over the world. It entered the US scene in 2012 and quickly gained traction among the high-stakes poker community. In other regions like Scandinavia and Russia, OFC Poker remains popular.
Let's Get Down to the Rules
Traditionally, OFC is played with a two to four-player setup and a standard 52-card deck. However, instead of starting with a few cards, each player is initially dealt five cards at once, set face up. The following cards are then dealt one at a time until you have 13 cards in total, which must be arranged into three hands according to the following rules:
- Back hand: Must be the strongest hand
- Middle hand: Should be stronger than the front, but weaker than the back
- Front hand: The weakest hand
If the rules are broken (e.g., the top hand is stronger than the middle hand), the hand is considered fouled.
The Game's Purpose
Unlike traditional poker games, the aim in OFC Poker isn't to make opponents fold or win the pot. Instead, it is to arrange the cards you are dealt in the best possible manner. This involves tracking what cards have been dealt, going for the strongest possible hands, and avoiding fouls.
The Rounds of OFC Poker
A game of OFC Poker starts with each player receiving five cards. The player to the left of the dealer starts by arranging their five cards into the three hands. The action then moves clockwise until all players have arranged their first five cards.
Once everyone has arranged their initial five cards, a new card is dealt to each player. Players must then set that card into their top, middle, or bottom hand before the next card is dealt. The process continues until each player has 13 cards and has arranged them into their hands.
Once all dealing rounds are completed, the hands are compared, and points are assigned according to the OFC Poker scoring system. With all cards placed face up on the table, players can keep track of the remaining cards in the deck as the rounds progress.
Scoring in OFC Poker
You now know how to play OFC Poker, but how do you win? Unlike other poker games, OFC Poker uses a points system instead of a traditional betting structure. The key is to accumulate the most points at the end of the game. Although the scoring system may seem complex, it's quite straightforward:
- Winning each hand awards +1 point.
- A scoop (winning all three hands) is worth +6 points, including a +3 bonus.
- Players can obtain additional points through royalties and scoring bonuses.
Scoring Bonuses (Royalties)
Comprehensive scoring bonuses include the Scoop (+6) and Fouling (-6). A scoop comes into play when a player wins all three hands, while a foul occurs when a player's hand is deemed incorrectly arranged.
In OFC Poker, royalties and scoring bonuses emerged as a way to encourage risk-taking and reward those willing to take a chance. For instance, players are given bonus points for making strong hands, regardless of the hand's result.
To receive bonus points, you must land a qualifying hand. The basic royalties in OFC Poker are:
- Back hand royalties: Straight, Flush, Full House, Four of a Kind, Straight Flush, Royal Flush.
- Middle and Front hand royalties: Three of a Kind, Three deuces, three 4's, Four 5's, Five of a Kind (limited to once per hand per game).
- Front hand royalties (three cards only): Pairs, Three-of-a-kind.
Keep in mind that some bonuses can cancel each other out. For example, if you and another player both make a pair of eights in the top hand, both players receive zero points.
What's This About Fantasyland?
One of the reasons OFC Poker is so appealing is the prospect of playing in Fantasyland. This optional feature requires a player to have a pair of Queens or better in their top hand to enter. With Fantasyland, the player gets all 13 cards dealt to them at once, can set their hand as they please, and doesn't have to show their hand until everyone else has completed theirs.
Keeping Fantasyland Alive
To stay in Fantasyland once you've entered, you must make Trips in the top, a Full House in the middle, or Quads or better in the top hand. This is a challenging feat but offers immense value if achieved, as it greatly increases the likelihood of winning hands and raking in bonus points.
An Example OFC Poker Hand
Now that we have covered the essential OFC Poker rules, let's explore a hypothetical hand: If you were dealt A♥ K♥ 9♥ J♣ 7♦, a solid setup for the cards could look like this:
- Front: 7♦
- Middle: J♣
- Back: A♥ K♥ 9♥
In this arrangement, you would be going for a flush in the back while aiming for trips or pairs in the other two hands. Keep in mind that pursuing a flush can come with risks, as it increases the chances of fouling your hand. If you don't catch the right cards, the hand may end up being fouled if your back hand becomes too weak.
As you play the hand, keep a close eye on your opponents' cards. If several hearts are dealt out to other players, you may want to adjust your strategy by targeting Aces or Kings instead of the flush. Conversely, if the other players' cards don't interfere with your original plan, stick with it.
Other OFC Poker Variants
While the standard version of OFC Poker is already packed with excitement, there are other variants you may want to try, such as:
- Pinneapple OFC Poker: Players get to discard one card and set the remaining two in their hands.
- Turbo OFC Poker: Players receive five initial cards and four additional cards over two additional dealing rounds for a faster-paced game.
- Progressive OFC Poker: Reach up to 17 cards per hand after making QQ or better in your top hand with OFC Progressive Poker.
Remember, OFC Poker is a flexible game that allows you to modify the rules as you see fit. Feel free to create your own rules or twists to keep things interesting when playing with friends.
Got Poker Fever? Take it to the Next Level
OFC Poker is an excellent option for playing with friends and at home games. However, if you truly want to take your poker skills to the next level, it's time to try out more popular poker variations like Texas Hold'em or Pot-Limit Omaha.
Join CoinPoker today to start mastering these games and play them for the lowest stakes online. Take advantage of our freeroll poker tournaments, where you can win real cash with no risk, or choose stakes you're comfortable with as you build up your bankroll and hone your poker skills.
FAQ
- What is OFC Poker, and how does it differ from Texas Hold'em Poker?
OFC Poker is a points-based Chinese Poker version where players must arrange 13 cards in three poker hands. Unlike Texas Hold'em, it focuses on hand arrangement and does not involve traditional betting rounds.
- Is all information in OFC poker transparent?
Yes, in OFC Poker, all information is visible to all players, eliminating the need for bluffing and other traditional poker strategies.
- What is Fantasyland in OFC Poker?
Fantasyland is a special mode in OFC Poker that a player enters after making a pair of Queens in their top hand. The player is dealt all the cards at once and can set their hand last.
- What are royalties in OFC Poker?
Royalties are special bonuses received in OFC Poker for making extremely strong hands like straight and royal flushes.
- Can a hand be fouled in OFC Poker?
Yes, a hand can be fouled in OFC Poker when the top hand is stronger than the middle hand, or the middle hand is stronger than the bottom hand.
[1] https://www.pokerstrategy.com/stories/tell-your-story-how-open-faced-chinese-poker-won-over-the-high-stakes-community[2] https://www.pokernews.com/strategy/how-to-play-open-face-chinese-poker-7254.htm[3] https://www.twoplustwo.com/forum/ofc-poker-discussion/general-ofc-poker-discussion/what-una-hands-scores-in-ofc-0-450102/[4] https://www.pokerhq.nu/article/o-fc-hand-a-week/[5] https://openc universities.net/articles/open-face-chinese-poker-pokers-hidden-gem
- The unique points-based game, Open Face Chinese Poker, also known as OFC, has gained popularity among high-stakes poker pros as a refreshing variation.
- In OFC, each player receives 13 cards instead of the common 52-card deck, and there is no betting or bluffing involved, unlike other poker games.
- Unlike traditional poker games, the objective in OFC is to arrange the cards into the best possible poker hands, rather than making opponents fold or win the pot.
- The balance of power in OFC lies in the hand arrangement, avoiding fouls, and tracking the dealt cards.
- One of the unique aspects of OFC is Fantasyland, an optional feature that requires a player to have a pair of queens or better in their top hand. Entering Fantasyland allows the player to set their hand last and stay in the feature by making trips in the top, a full house in the middle, or quads or better in the top hand.
- OFC has various spin-offs, such as Pinneapple OFC, Turbo OFC, and OFC Progressive Poker, offering players different paces and challenges.
- Despite the rich history of OFC, it gained significant traction in the US in 2012 and has remained popular in regions like Scandinavia and Russia.
- Players looking to advance their poker skills can explore other popular poker variations like Texas Hold'em or Pot-Limit Omaha online, either through freeroll tournaments or low-stakes games.
- To partake in online OFC games or these other poker variations, consider joining CoinPoker for a selection of cash games and tournaments tailored for various skill levels.
