Chinese poker is a game that is not spread in traditional casinos as it is only a four-handed game, but it is very popular among professionals and players who want to get a poker game going but don’t have enough players. It is also a game with a high luck factor, so players looking to “gamble it up” often enjoy this poker game.

Rules of Chinese Poker
In Chinese Poker each player gets 13 cards and will make three hands, a three-card front hand, a five-card middle hand and a five-card back hand. The strengths of the hands must be in ascending order, with the three card hand the weakest and the back five card hand the strongest. If a player fails to do this his entire hand is fouled and it is as if he lost all three hands.

Players get a point each time one of their hands beats an opponent’s corresponding hand. A player who wins two out of three or all three hands from an opponent gets extra points, the amount of which is pre-determined by the players.

Additional Chinese Poker Points
Players can earn additional points, called “royalties,” for being dealt special hands. Hands like straight flushes, four of a kind, a full house in the middle hand, or three of a kind in the front hand are generally considered royalties. Players can also earn additional points for “naturals.” Naturals include a complete straight ace through king, three separate straights or flushes in each of the three hands (but not for example, two straights and one flush) or six pairs.

The amount of points awarded will vary. For example, at the Bicycle Casino in California, the ace through king straight, called the “Dragon Hand,” is worth 13 points.

Betting in Chinese Poker
There is no betting as in traditional poker. However each point is worth a pre-determined amount of money, so the difference between points surrendered and points awarded represents the amount won in each hand by a player.

Strategy in Chinese Poker
The only real strategy in Chinese Poker is the way in which you set your hand. Playing Pai Gow poker will give you good practice in this as the rules are similar and the dealer can set your hand for you. Also you must be sure to announce your royalties and naturals as soon as they are dealt, before the cards are revealed, or otherwise they will not qualifyin some games.

Finally, some Chinese Poker games have the option to surrender before the hands are revealed. If you surrender you still lose, but you lose fewer units than you would normally with three losing hands.

It’s an open bet when Chinese poker will appear on the online poker sites!