Overview

Open-Face Chinese Poker (OFC) is a set-building poker game played with standard 52-card decks.

Each player builds three poker hands from the cards they receive:

• Top (Front): 3 cards

• Middle: 5 cards

• Bottom (Back): 5 cards

The goal is to arrange your hands from weakest (Top) to strongest (Bottom) without breaking that order.

Instead of betting chips, players compete for points based on hand strength and bonuses.

How a Round Works

Initial Deal

Each player receives 5 cards and places them face-up in any of their three hands.

Placement Rounds

• Each turn, players receive 3 new cards.

• Choose 2 to place and discard 1.

• Continue until all hands are full (13 cards total).

Reveal

Once all players are done, hands are compared line by line (Top, Middle, Bottom).

Scoring

Points are awarded for each line win and for any bonus royalties.

Scoring System

Each player compares their hands against every opponent.

• +1 point for each line you win (Top, Middle, Bottom).

• -1 point for each line you lose.

Winning all three lines earns a Sweep Bonus (+3 points).

Special Features

Fouling

• You foul if your hand order is invalid — e.g. your Top beats your Middle or your Middle beats your Bottom.

• In the 2-7 Variant, you can also foul if you low does not qualify as a 10 low or better (straights and flushes count against you).

• A fouled hand loses 6 points automatically plus royalty points.

Fantasyland

• Achieved when your Top hand is QQ or better (in most variants).

• Next round, you receive 14 cards at once, keeping the best 13 and discarding 1.

• Ends after one round unless requalified.

• Players can stay in Fantasyland the next hand if the make Trips on top or Quads or better on the bottom.

Progressive

• In Progressive variants, you can earn additional cards in Fantasyland with stronger Top hands.

• QQ - 14 cards, KK - 15 cards, AA - 16 cards, Trips - 17 cards

• If you stay in Fantasyland, you are dealt the same amount of cards each time.

• Maximum of 3 hands stayed in Fantasyland.

Jokers

• Jokers act as wild cards that can represent any rank or suit.

• Used to complete stronger combinations but must still follow valid hand order.

• Same Top hand Fantasyland qualifiers as Progressive OFC.

• Maximum of 3 hands stayed in Fantasyland.

Game Variants

Pineapple OFC

• Standard version.

• Players receive 3 cards per turn, keep 2, and discard 1.

• Goal: build valid hands in proper order and avoid fouling.

Pineapple 2-7 OFC

• Similar to Pineapple, but uses 2-7 Lowball ranking for Fantasyland qualification.

• Straights and flushes count against you in lowball scoring.

Pineapple Progressive OFC

• Earn additional cards in Fantasyland when you qualify with stronger Top hands.

• If you stay in Fantasyland, you get the same amount of cards each time.

• Maximum of 3 stays in Fantasyland.

Pineapple Progressive Jokers OFC

• Progressive format with 2 Jokers added to the deck.

• Jokers are wild, increasing combo possibilities and volatility.

• Rules specify Joker ranking and tie-breaks clearly.

• Same Top hand qualifiers as Progressive OFC.

• Maximum of 3 stays in Fantasyland.

Quick Tips for New Players

• Always keep your Bottom hand the strongest and Top the weakest.

• Avoid fouling — it’s the biggest penalty.

• Focus on reaching Fantasyland for a big advantage.

• Watch opponents’ boards to plan your placements.