Open-face Chinese poker is scored by points rather than chips in a pot. Each player builds three rows — a three-card top, a five-card middle and a five-card bottom — placing cards one at a time, face up, with no chance to rearrange them later.
The rows must finish in order of strength: the bottom must be at least as strong as the middle, and the middle at least as strong as the top. A hand that breaks that order is fouled and scores nothing.
Order of Play
- The opening fiveEach player receives five cards and places all of them, face up, in any rows they choose.
- One card at a timePlayers receive a single card in turn and must place it immediately. Placement is final.
- Thirteen cards in totalThe hand continues until every player has filled all three rows.
- Compare row by rowEach player's top is compared with each opponent's top, the middle with the middle, and the bottom with the bottom.
- ScoreA point for each row won, with a bonus for winning all three, plus any royalties earned.
Scoring and Royalties
Scoring varies by house, but the shape is consistent: one point per row, a bonus for sweeping all three rows against an opponent, and extra points for strong hands placed in particular rows.
| Row | Earns royalties from | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Top (3 cards) | A pair of sixes or better, up to three of a kind | The smallest row pays the most per unit of strength. |
| Middle (5 cards) | Three of a kind upwards | A full house in the middle is a common target. |
| Bottom (5 cards) | A straight upwards | Must remain the strongest row, which limits what can be placed above it. |
Because the exact royalty table differs between card rooms and apps, it should be read before playing rather than assumed. The hand ranking used within each row is the standard one on the rankings page.
What Makes It Difficult
- Cards are placed before the rest of the hand is known, so every placement is a commitment made with incomplete information.
- All cards are face up, which means an opponent's rows tell you exactly which cards are gone.
- Royalties encourage strong rows, but a strong middle placed too early is the most common cause of a foul.
- The bottom row sets a ceiling for everything above it, so it is usually filled first with the hand's strongest material.
Variants add further rules — a common one deals a bonus round to a player whose top row reaches a stated strength. The core requirement never changes: bottom at least as strong as middle, middle at least as strong as top.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I move a card after placing it?
No. Placement is final, which is what distinguishes open-face from the closed version where all thirteen cards are arranged at once.
What happens if I foul?
The hand scores nothing, loses all three rows to each opponent, and forfeits any royalties, while opponents keep theirs.
Is there betting?
Not in the usual sense. The stake is agreed per point before play, and the result of each hand is a point total rather than a pot.