Trivia: Chinese Poker

Playing Chinese poker can be quite exciting once you are thorough with its rules. Since this game is played with a 52 card pack and each player is given 13 cards each, only four players can play at a time. Though its rules may seem a little complex at first, once you play this game you will find that it is actually quite simple. A point system is used in Chinese poker to connote the amount of money that you win or lose. Hence if one pint is equal to $10 and you win four points at the end of a game, you actually win $40.

 

Once every player is dealt 13 cards, he or she is required to make three sets of cards comprising of two 5-card sets and one 3-card set. While the latter is known as the front, the 5-card sets make up the middle and back of the hand. However, you cannot make these set randomly as there are certain rules regarding the same. For instance, the highest hand should comprise the back 5-card set, while the middle 5-card set should be of average strength. The front made up of 3-card set should be of lowest value and negates any straights or flushes.

 

When all the players have arranged the cards, there is a showdown and every player reveals his or her cards and the higher cards beat the lower cards in every set. Every time a player beats a set of cards of another player, he wins his point and the same is paid later in real money. Thus, if you beat the middle and front of a player but get beaten in your back cards, you will get two points and lose one. At the end of each round the points are calculated and payment is made accordingly.