Chinese Poker

[Replic]

To raise some interest on this game, because it truly is a hard and skilled game, I wrote out the rules in my blog. I'll post it here in its entireity.


Chinese Poker

Chinese Poker is an odd game that I have spent far too much time playing with a friend lately. It is a very difficult head to head gambling game. While the element of luck exists, it relies heavily upon skill. Granted, I once heavily argued that the game was more luck than skill, but after observing some of the finer nuances of the game, I realized it was not split heavily towards luck.

The game is played with a standard 52 card deck. Each player is dealt 13 cards to make their hand. The card suits are ranked as 3 being the lowest card, going all the way up to aces. 2's are then only misplaced rank, being at the top of the ladder. Suits are alphabetically ranked - clubs in dead last, and spades as the most powerful suit. Players must show their lowest card, as the player with the lowest card, through both rank and suit, shall begin the game. The player with the lowest also must start the first round with the lowest card in any starting hand.

Players beginning a round have a choice of doing a single card round, a pair round, a triple card round, a consecutive double round, or a 5 card round.

A single card round is when the player initiating a round throws a single card. A single card can ONLY be beaten by another single card of a higher suit or rank. For instance- the lowest card in the game is the 3 of clubs. If this begins the game, any 3 or card of higher rank can beat it. But if the next player throws a 5 diamonds, the 5 of clubs and below cannot beat it.

A pair round is when only pairs are played. The suit of the pair is the highest suit in the pair. For instance- A King of clubs paired with a King of spades beats a King of hearts paired with a King of diamonds because the spade is higher than the heart. A pair can only be beaten by another pair.

A triple card round is when players throw a three of a kind. Same rules as above. A three of a kind can only be beaten by another three of a kind.

A consecutive double round is when a player throws 2 pair. The 2 pairs must be consecutive, such as 9's and 10's. The suit strength of the consecutive pairs are determined by the highest suit on the higher pair. 2's may act as low cards (2's and 3's) or the highest cards (Aces and 2's). A consecutive double may only be beaten by a consecutive double.

A 5 card hand is more difficult. Once ANY five card hand is thrown, it opens the door for any higher five card hand to play. The five card hand ranks go straight, flush, fullhouse, four of a kind, and straight flush. The suit strength of each hand goes by the suit of the highest card involved. The strength of fullhouses are determined by the card used for the three of a kind. One four of a kind, players has to choose any fifth card to join with the four of a kind, called a kicker. The kicker does nothing to determine the strength of the four of a kind. A 5 card hand can only be beaten by another 5 card hand.

Whenever a player can not beat the hand or card played by their opponent, or can but chooses not to beat it, they must "pass" and take an additional card from the remainder of the deck. Their turn is over, and their opponent may start a new round starting with any type of hand they wish.

The game is over when one player has completely rid himself of his cards.

Here is the gambling twist on this game- before the game begins, both players must agree to an amount they will pay per card for losing. When the game is over, the defeated player must count their cards. For every card they have, they must pay the preset agreed amount. For a mere $.50 a card, I have seen matches end with 10 dollars going to one player for forcing the other player to break their power hands up early, and then dominating.

The strategy in the game is not only the skill of reading your opponents cards correctly, but also by your method of playing your available cards.

I am currently trying to figure out an enjoyable and equally challenging version of this game that relies as little upon luck as it does now, while incorporating more players. If I cut down on the number of cards dealt to each player and increase the amount of players, it becomes based more upon luck than skill. If I increase the number of players without changing the amount of cards, the "pass" pile becomes far too small.

Perhaps the game is fine as is to play with three players? I'll have to try this.

I've also toyed with the idea of a special deck- 10 suits total, for 130 cards. This will allow 7 players simultaneously and comfortably.

[Replic]

Does NO ONE want to even attempt this game or something?

[ballbp]

I wasn't trying to be rude. It just blew my mind reading your post the first time through. It does sound like a good game, but like you said, I'm sure it takes a good bit of skill to play and win. I don't even like Omaha so you can see my reason to keep silent.

[offsuitk]

sorta reminds me of the game a**hole. but that has no betting and actually i guess it's not too similar.

[Replic]

Anyone know the real name of this game then, or did I modify a**hole and made it into my own gambling game?

I found the rules of chinese poker:
http://www.pagat.com/partition/pusoy.html#showdown

And that ain't this...


So did I make up my own kind of game?

[Aves]

I've played this game for several years among friends except our version has 2 main differences.

1. We don't have consecutive pairs; we just have singles, pairs, three of a kinds, and 5-card hands.
2. We just deal out all the cards at the beginning, making sure that each person has an equal number of cards, or agree on a rule before dealing where any extra cards will go. (Note: our version requires that at least 3 players are playing. If only 2 are playing, there are a couple options such as dealing 4 hands of 13 cards and then playing 2 separate games with those piles; or you can deal an agreed number of cards to each player)

I would also like to add that although someone may get good cards every now and then, that in the long run, this game relies heavily on skill. In our version, since we deal out all the cards from the beginning, the main skill factor comes from being able to count cards so that near the end you can deduce what the other player(s) are holding. There are many websites I found that offer free software for this game also, just by searching "pusoy dos" on google.

[Replic]

Pusoy dos? Is that the name of it?

Well, I'll start searching now.

See, we never play with 4 people as there would never be enough pass cards to pick up. Everytime a player cannot beat a hand out, they must forfeit their turn and pick up, thus increasing the profit of the opponent. It's a mixture of greed- making them pick up and simply ending them now with less cards.

[jwrussell]

Wow....just wow. That's a little insane for me. Reminds me of rummy somewhat.

By the way, Replic, what's with the mention of the blog but no link in the sig? PM me with the link, I'd like to peruse.