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Chill Poker Guide: A Fresh Take on OFC - Open Face Chinese Poker
Hey mate! You're about to dive into the thrilling world of OFC Poker, also known as Open Face Chinese Poker. It's a hot favorite among the high-stakes poker community and an exciting points-based game played during breaks at major tourneys.
Got no clue about OFC Poker? No worries, we'll guide you through the ins and outs! Let's check out the basics and see how it differs from the classic Texas Hold'em Poker.
What's This OFC Poker Thing?
OFC Poker belongs to the family of Chinese Poker variations. Unlike traditional poker games, OFC is played with 13 cards per player and 9 dealing rounds in total. The game is all about points rather than betting rounds. With up to 4 players getting in on the action, it's a jam-packed affair!
Here are a few ways OFC differs from other games:
- 13 Cards Per Player: Prepare yourself for a full deck - that's 13 cards each!
- 4 Players: Due to the 52-card deck limit, only 4 players can play at a time.
- No Betting: Say goodbye to bluffing and betting. It's all about arranging your cards to fetch points.
- Fast Pace: This game really moves! High-stakes players fly through hands without a second to spare.
OFC Poker's history may trace back centuries, though it gathered mainstream attention thanks to Russian poker pro, Alex Kravchenko, who introduced it to the high-stakes scene. Its points-based system quickly won over the pros, allowing them to edge out less-skilled opponents with perfectly calculated moves.
It's now beloved by poker players all over the globe. Introduced to the USA in 2012, it became a popular choice among high-stakes players as a relaxing game between big tournaments. In other parts of the world, OFC Poker maintains popularity in Scandinavia and Russia.
The OFC Poker Rules Breakdown
Getting ready to play? Here's a quick rundown of the rules to get you started:
- Player Count: Two to four players, using a 52-card standard deck.
- Card Distribution: Initially, players get five cards dealt face-up, followed by one card per round for a total of 13 cards.
- Hand Arrangement: Players must assign their cards to three hands: bottom (5 cards, strongest), middle (5 cards, weaker than the bottom, stronger than the top), and top (3 cards, weakest).
- No Fouls: Make sure your hand arrangement follows the order described above! Otherwise, it's considered a foul.
The Game's Objective
Unlike traditional poker games, the goal in OFC Poker isn't to force opponents to fold or win the pot. Instead, it's all about strategically placing your cards to earn the highest points. By tracking what cards are dealt and going for powerful hands, you stand a better chance of winning.
Rounding up the Rounds
Let's go over the flow of playing OFC Poker:
- Initial Round: Each player gets five cards, arranged into their three hands.
- Following Rounds: Each player receives one card per round, placing it in their top, middle, or bottom hand before the next card is dealt.
- Comparison: Once all players have their 13 cards, hands are compared, points are assigned, and the game ends.
Scoring Your Victories
You're all set to play, but how do you actually win? OFC Poker doesn't use the traditional betting structure but instead employs a points system. The player with the highest points at the end wins! Points are awarded as follows:
- Winning each hand earns +1 point.
- Winning all hands (a "scoop") gets you +6 points, an extra +3 for a clean sweep.
Additional points can be earned through royalties and scoring bonuses, which we'll cover next.
Scoring Bonuses (Royalties)
The most popular bonuses are the Scoop (+6) and Fouling (-6). A scoop comes into play when a player wins all three hands, while a foul occurs when a hand is arranged incorrectly.
In addition to royalty points, the game rewards good hands with bonus points. These bonuses aren't affected by the overall result of the row, meaning they can cancel each other out. For example, if you and another player hit a pair of eights in the top hand, both players will receive no royalties.
Basic royalties in OFC Poker:
- Bottom Hand: Royal Flush (+25), Straight Flush (+10), Four of a Kind (+8), Full House (+4), Flush (+2), Straight (+1).
- Middle Hand: Royal Flush (+20), Straight Flush (+8), Four of a Kind (+6), Full House (+2), Flush (+1), Straight (+0.5).
- Top Hand: Pair of Aces or better (+2), Pair of Kings or better (+1), Pair of Queens/Jack/Tens (+0.5), Three of a Kind (no bonus).
Fantasyland Bonus Round
The Fantasyland round is an optional rule that players must agree on before starting the game.To enter Fantasyland, you need a pair of Queens or better in your top hand and no fouls. With Fantasyland activated, the following benefits apply:
- The dealer button remains in the same position.
- All players retain their positions throughout the game.
- Players receive all their cards at once when in Fantasyland (no intermediate rounds).
- The player in Fantasyland doesn't have to expose their hands until everyone else has completed theirs.
Remaining in Fantasyland can be tough, but it's incredibly valuable! By making Trips in the top, a Full House in the middle, or Quads or better, you can stay in Fantasyland for an extra hand, potentially netting you tons of extra points, including Straight and Royal Flushes.
Examples of Play
After mastering the rules, it's time to practice on a live hand. Let's assume you've been dealt A♥ K♥ 9♥ J♣ 7♦. Place your cards according to strategy (e.g., Top: 7♦, Middle: J♣, Bottom: A♥ K♥ 9♥) and adjust your approach based on the cards dealt out in subsequent rounds.
OFC Poker Variations
While classic OFC Poker is already a riot, you can try out other OFC variations like:
- Pinneapple OFC Poker: Players get three cards at a time and discard one card before setting the other two.
- Turbo OFC Poker: Faster-paced game with players receiving five initial cards and two additional dealing rounds.
- Progressive OFC Poker: Advance to a maximum of 17 cards per hand after achieving a certain hand in the top hand (e.g., QQ or better).
OFC Poker is a versatile game that accommodates new rules and points systems. Get creative implementing twists alongside friends during your next home game!
Join the Poker Revolution - Today!
OFC Poker is an awesome game to play with friends and at home games. But if you're ready for a more challenging poker experience, you should definitely check out the thrill of Texas Hold'em and Pot Limit Omaha!
Join CoinPoker today to dive into these classics and play for the lowest stakes conceivable online. Enjoy freeroll poker tournaments, where you can win real cash without risking a thing, or play at stakes that fit your skill level as you build your bankroll.
- OFC Poker is a points-based game that belongs to the Chinese Poker variations, popular among high-stakes poker players during breaks at major tournaments.
- Unlike traditional poker games, OFC Poker is played with 13 cards per player and no betting rounds, focusing on arranging cards strategically to earn points.
- With up to 4 players involved in the action and a fast pace, OFC Poker offers an exciting change from games like Texas Hold'em Poker.
- The goal in OFC Poker is to strategically place cards to earn the highest points, rather than forcing opponents to fold or winning the pot through betting.
- To play, players must arrange their cards into three hands: bottom (5 cards, strongest), middle (5 cards, weaker than the bottom, stronger than the top), and top (3 cards, weakest).
- Points are awarded through winning each hand (+1 point), sweeping all hands (+6 points, with an extra +3 for a clean sweep), scoring bonuses (royalties), and Fantasyland bonus rounds.
- OFC Poker variations like Pinneapple, Turbo, and Progressive OFC Poker offer different twists to the game, allowing for creative rule adjustments during home games or online poker activities.
