The rules of China Poker may seem very complex to a new player, but in all reality, the rules of China Poker are quite simplistic. It simply takes some getting used to the various aspects that govern how a player must set their hands, and how the scoring system works.

China Poker can be played with anywhere from 2 to 4 players. For the examples below, we will assume you are playing as a full table of 4.

Setting Hands

Each player is dealt 13 cards to work with. These cards must be separated into 3 groups – the “Back Hand”, the “Middle Hand” and the “Front Hand”. The first is the “Back Hand”, a group of 5 cards which must rank higher than the Middle and Front Hand. The second is a “Middle Hand”, also consisting of 5 cards, which must rank lower than the Back Hand, but higher than the Front Hand. The last set is the “Front Hand”, containing only 3 cards. This hand must rank the lowest of all set hands, and is exempt from Straights and Flushes. Therefore, the highest possible “Front Hand” is 3 Aces.

Please refer to our Poker Hand Ranks page for a list of highest ranking poker hands.

Betting / Scoring System

First, we’ll cover the betting/scoring system of China Poker. Unlike most poker games, players do not place a wager at the start, or at various intervals of a China Poker hand. Instead, score is taken in units at the end of each hand, with a predetermined amount related to every unit. For example, a single unit may be worth $1, $5 or even $100 or $1,000, depending on each player’s bankroll. In general, a single betting unit cannot exceed 10% of the lowest bankroll at the table. This means the betting units may change between every hand played.

If playing China Poker online, all betting units and payouts are automatically calculated and awarded – a very convenient method when compared to a home game of China Poker, in which pen and paper are strongly recommended!

Once all hands are revealed, players compare all “Back Hands” to one another. If there are four players, one player may beat two players, but lose to another. For each “Back Hand” a player beats, he receives 1 point, or unit. The “Middle Hands” are then compared in the same fashion, followed by the “Front Hands”.

Let’s try an example of Back Hands…

Player 1: A, A, A, 5, 5 (Full House)
Player 2: Q, Q, Q, 2, 2 (Full House)
Player 3: Jh, 9h, 8h, 4h, 2h (Flush)
Player 4: 7, 7, 7, 6, 6 (Full House)

Player 1 has beaten all 3 remaining hands, earning 3 units.
Player 2 has beaten Player 3 and 4, but lost to Player 1, earning 2 units.
Player 3 has the lowest ranking hand, beating no one and earning 0 units.
Player 4 has beaten Player 3, but lost to Player 1 and 2, earning only 1 unit.

All hands are compared and scores tallied. Each player whose hand lost must pay 1 unit per loss to each player who beat them. Because each player may owe and/or receive units from each other, the recommended scoring style would appear something like this.

China Poker Variations In Rules

There are many different ways to play China Poker. The most common variations in the rules f China Poker can be found below.

Bonus / Special Hand Scoring

In some China Poker games, Bonus Scoring is allowed for developing a high enough ranking poker hand in certain sets. Some China Poker games also award automatic-wins to any player who is able to create a specific 13-card hand, called a Special Hand.

The scoring and unit-payout for Bonus Hands are as follows:

1) If the Back Hand is won with Trips (3 of a Kind), the player is awarded 3 units instead of 1.
2) If the Middle Hand is won with a Full House, the player is awarded 2 units instead of 1.
3) If the Back or Middle Hand is won with 4 of a Kind, the player is awarded 4 units instead of 1.
4) If the Back or Middle Hand is won with a Straight Flush or Royal Flush, the player is awarded 5 units instead of 1.

Note that these bonus units are only scored if the player wins the hand. Should two players have Trips in their Front Hand, only the winner of the hand receives the Bonus units - the losing Trips must still pay the bonus units.

Special Hands are those that contain all of the cards dealt, rather than separating them into 3 groups. In order to win a Special Hand, the player must declare it before any cards/hands are revealed. Should two players both declare Special Hands, the higher 13-card hand wins the entire amount. Once all Special Hands are paid, the remaining players reveal their hands and settle up accordingly.

The scoring and unit-payout for Special Hands are as follows:

1) 6-Pairs: If 12 of the 13 cards can be paired, the player automatically wins, and is awarded 3 units from every player. (If two players have a 6-Pair Special Hand, the highest pair is compared to determine the winner. If the highest is a tie, the next highest is compared, and so on, until a winner is determined.)
2) 3-Straights: Three Straights are achieved by creating two 5-card Straights and a 3-card Straight, awarding 3 units from every player. (A tie is broken by comparing the Back Hand (highest) Straights; highest Straight wins. If also a tie, the Middle Hand is compared, followed by the Front Hand if necessary.)
3) 3-Flushes: This is achieved by creating Back, Middle and Front Hands that are all Flushes, including a 3-card Flush in the Front Hand. This hand is awarded 3 units from every player. (A tie is broken by comparing the highest card in the Back Hand; followed by the Middle and Front Hands if necessary.)
4) Complete Straight: If a player’s 13-card hand is A-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-J-Q-K, this is a Complete Straight, awarding 13 units from every player. If two players are dealt a Complete Straight, it is a tie.
5) Complete Flush: All 13 cards are of the same suit (i.e. 13 Hearts), awarding 13 units from every player. If two players are dealt a Complete Flush, it is a tie.

Extra Units For “Sweeping”

Some games of China Poker award extra units for a “Sweep”. A Sweep is accomplished when all three of one player’s hands beat all three of another player’s hands. A Sweep pays anywhere from 1 to 3 extra units from each player, depending on the exact rules in play.

Surrender

China Poker games with a Surrender option will allow a player who believes he has been dealt a losing hand to Surrender, paying each player 1 or 2 units (depending on the exact rules in play).

Pool Betting

Pool Betting in China Poker is when each player wagers 3 units at the start of a hand. With 4 players, there would be a total of 12 units in the pool. The outright winner of the Back Hand receives 4 units; winner of the Middle Hand receives 4 units; winner of the Front Hand receives 4 units. This style of play creates for a much less expensive and more organized game of China Poker, especially favored in home games as it alleviates the need for a scoring pad.

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