How and where to play Chinese poker?

Chinese poker is different from no limit texas holdem or pot-limit omaha. There is no common board and no trading. There are no more than 4 players at a table. Chinese poker reminds many people of solitaire, where opponents just collect combinations. Fans appreciate the measured pace of the game and the lack of aggression. Let's discuss the rules and features of Chinese poker.

Rules of Chinese poker

The rules are not difficult to memorize. Some aspects coincide with holdem. It is about combinations and the number of cards in the deck. Let's look at the key points of the game.

Number of participants. Usually there are 2 to 4 players at the table. More is not allowed due to the limitations of the deck. In NL Holdem the most popular tables for 6 people. There are also Full Ring tables for 9 players.

Starting Hands. At the beginning of the draw players are dealt 5 cards. During the hand, each participant is dealt 13 denominations. Players do not get so many cards anywhere else: in 5-Card poker players are dealt 5 denominations each, in 7 Card Stud - 7 denominations each.

Building combinations. The main aim of players is to fill 3 lines with combinations. The upper one is made of 3 cards, the middle and lower - of 5. The strength of hands should increase as you move "from top to bottom". If in the top row the player made a pair of 88, then in the middle row there should be a combination not lower than 99, and in the bottom row - not lower than TT. The variant "pair 88 - set 999 - straight 56789" will also work.

Scoring. There is no trading in Chinese poker, so the winner is determined by points. More often they are called "unit". If a player wins in 2 rows, he gets 1 point. Success in 3 lines brings 6 points. Additional points are awarded for the strength of the combination. For 66 gives 1 point, for 77 - 2 and so on. For a set of 222, 10 points are awarded, for 333 - 11, with a further increase by a step. A flush royal gives a maximum of 50 points.

The rules for calculating points depend on the specific place for the game. On TigerGaming, a set can be given 10 points, and on Pokerdom - 11.

Fantasy. If the player on the top row has a QQ+ combination, he gets all 13 cards at once in the next deal. The opponents are dealt according to the classical rules: 5+5+3. Information about all 13 denominations gives an advantage. A participant can repeat a fantasy if he collects «set-full-house-four of kind” combinations consecutively. More than two fantasies cannot be made up.

Where to play Chinese poker online?

Chinese poker is not as popular as NL Holdem, PLO or Short Deck. The game is not in the lobbies of PokerOK, PokerStars or RedStar Poker. But Chinese poker can be found at:

• TigerGaming. Leading room of Chico Network. The network goes 13th in the world in terms of the number of players. The game is available in spins. You can play Chinese poker for: $3, $8, $15 and $30. In the most expensive tournament, the maximum prize reaches $15,000.
• Pokerdom. Independent brand. Ranked 9th in terms of traffic. Chinese poker is available in every tab: cash, tournaments and spins. The minimum unit in the cash section is $0.03, the maximum is $12. Buy-ins in Chinese poker spins start at $0.5. In Windfall you can win up to $123,000. Entry to the most expensive Pineapple tournament costs $28. Its guarantee is $1,400. The best MTT players get extra money as part of the Chinese League leaderboard.
• Mobile apps. Some clubs and unions of PPPoker, PokerBros and ClubGG offer Chinese poker. Check with agents for specific locations and conditions.

Why is Holdem better than Chinese poker?

Chinese poker is interesting for its uniqueness, but playing holdem is more profitable over the distance. Here's why:

• More strategy. In NL Holdem, the player has a stronger influence on the results. The poker player can: read his opponents, use bluffs and apply analytical skills. In Pineapple, you can't take the pot with a continuation bet or a second barrel. In holdem, experienced players consistently earn money thanks to their skill. In Chinese poker, a lot depends on luck in the distribution of cards.
• Popularity. Chinese poker is a curious, but not very popular game. Pineapple can be found in the lobbies of 2-3 rooms. NL Holdem is everywhere.
• Progression. In Chinese poker the player must correctly distribute the cards in rows. Otherwise, not much depends on him. In NL Holdem you can develop your skills to infinity. Math, bluffs, psychology, GTO, ranges - the path to perfection will take thousands of hours of work. A strong holdem player will leave no stone unturned against a weak one. In Pineapple, an amateur will easily defeat a master if he is better dealt.

In Holdem, player skill has a much greater impact on results than in Pineapple

Chinese poker is a great way to diversify your gaming experience, but if you want to earn serious money, texas holdem is the best choice. The programs from PokerEnergy's catalog will improve your learning speed and game efficiency. Power-Equilab will help you create ranges for all occasions, GTO Wizard will teach you how to play a balanced game, Hand2Note 4 - will provide information on your opponents.

We publish catalog updates and useful materials in the PokerEnergy telegram channel. Subscribe to stay on top of your +EV.