Chinese Poker

What do many professional poker players do during the break of a major tournament - or in their spare time? They play Chinese Poker. While the game is not like any other form of poker, the hand rankings are the same, and it provides just as many thrills. 

Indeed, while the skill element of the game is less than traditional poker games, the gambling element of the game makes it an addictive proposition. Each player is dealt 13 cards, and the aim of the game is to construct your three best hands. 

The way you set your hands is as follows: three cards in the bottom hand, five in your middle hand, and five in your top hand. To determine who has the best hand in each, the game reverts to the hand rankings of poker’s most popular game: Texas Hold’em.

For the bottom hand, you must make the best three card hand possible – note that flushes and straights do not count in this hand. In the middle and top hands, you must make the best five card poker hands. 

The one caveat of the game, however, is that the strength of your hands must increase as you move up the levels. For example, you could not use three of a kind in your bottom hand unless you could make a stronger hand in your middle and top hands. 

This is where the element of skills comes into the game, because you must distribute your strong hands evenly to maximise your chances of winning. Indeed, while it may be possible to win one round with your best hand, you actually want to try to score points on each round. 

Players continue playing games and noting down points until they have had enough. When this happens, they add up their points and whoever has the most is deemed the winner.

Last Updated 22 May 2014
Chinese Poker