Whether you're transitioning from Texas Hold'em or diving into open-face variants, understanding chinese poker scoring is the quickest way to improve results and enjoyment. I learned this the hard way at a house game where I lost three straight hands because I didn't appreciate the scoop bonus and a simple royalty structure. That experience taught me to view each 13-card layout not as three separate hands, but as a single decision problem shaped by the scoring rules. This article walks through the scoring systems, common house-rule variations, worked examples, strategy implications, and tools that will speed your learning curve.
What is Chinese poker and how are hands arranged?
Chinese poker is normally played with 2–4 players. Each player receives 13 cards and arranges them into three hands: a 3-card front (also called the top), a 5-card middle, and a 5-card back. The back must be the strongest hand, the middle second-best, and the front the weakest (so the back ≥ middle ≥ front). If a player fails to follow this order, they have a mis-set (or foul) and are penalized under most scoring systems.
The simplest form compares the three hands one-by-one between players; more advanced open-face variants add royalties and fantasy bonuses that drastically change optimal play.
Core scoring approaches
There are two broadly used ways to score: per-hand point scoring and aggregate unit scoring. Below are the common elements you will encounter.
- Per-hand comparisons: Each of the three hands is compared head-to-head between players. For two-player games, a common rule is +1 unit for each hand you beat and −1 for each hand you lose; ties often count as zero or push.
- Scoop (winning all three hands): Many groups award a bonus for scooping. Typical scoop bonuses range from +2 to +3 units (or more) in addition to the three per-hand wins.
- Mis-set (foul): If your back < middle or middle < front, you usually lose all three hands automatically (and sometimes pay an extra penalty or royalties to opponents).
- Multi-player settling: With 3–4 players, scoring is often pairwise: compare your three hands to each opponent's three hands separately and sum the results.
Open-Face Chinese Poker (OFC): royalties and Fantasyland
Open-Face Chinese Poker popularized two major scoring additions that make strategy deeper.
- Royalties: Players receive bonus points for placing premium hands in specific rows—e.g., three-of-a-kind in the front, a straight/flush/full house in the middle/back, four-of-a-kind in the back, etc. The exact values vary by rule set.
- Fantasyland: A player who qualifies (commonly by making a pair of Queens or better in the front without fouling) gets to play the next hand with all 13 cards at once or is allowed a special extra advantage. This is a strong swing mechanic in OFC.
Because royalties and Fantasyland alter the value of building certain hands, you should learn the local royalty chart before you change your approach. To see how different royalty configurations change outcomes, try a few simulated hands using an online calculator.
Sample royalty table (common example)
Note: royalty values are house-dependent. The table below is a representative example used in many friendly OFC games to illustrate conceptually how royalties change incentives:
- Front (3-card): Pair of 6s–10s = +1, Jacks–Kings = +2, Aces = +3, Trips = +6
- Middle (5-card): Straight = +2, Flush = +4, Full house = +6, Quads = +10
- Back (5-card): Straight = +2, Flush = +4, Full house = +6, Quads = +8, Straight flush = +15
Because these are bonuses, they are awarded in addition to per-hand wins. For instance, if you win the back hand and it contains a quad worth +8 royalty, you get the unit for beating that opponent's back plus the +8 royalty.
Worked scoring examples
Examples help make abstract rules concrete. We'll use 1 unit per hand, scoop bonus +3, and the sample royalty chart above. Two-player comparisons.
Example 1 — Simple per-hand scoring
Player A: wins back and middle, loses front.
Player B: wins front only.
Scoring (no royalties): A beats B on back = +1, middle = +1, loses front = −1 ⇒ net +1 for A. If A scooped instead (won all three), with +3 scoop bonus they'd score +6 (three units + scoop +3).
Example 2 — Royalties included
Player A beats Player B in back (+1) and the back is a four-of-a-kind worth +8 royalty. Player A loses the middle and front (−1, −1). Total = +1 (back win) −1 −1 +8 (royalty) = +7. If the back win had also been part of a scoop, you'd add the scoop bonus too.
Example 3 — Mis-set penalty
Player C accidentally places a better hand in the front, making middle > back, which is a foul. Under common house rules, a foul costs Player C the equivalent of being beaten on all three hands by each opponent, plus any specified foul fee (for example −3 units per opponent). Always double-check your layout before revealing.
How scoring should change your strategy
Scoring rules should be the first thing you learn at any table because they alter risk/reward calculations:
- If scoop bonuses are large: You should play more aggressively for a balanced set of three winning hands rather than maximize one big hand and sacrifice the others.
- If royalties are generous: You may chase specific patterns—such as prioritizing quads in the back—even if it costs the middle on occasion.
- Fantasyland considerations: If the penalty for failing to reach Fantasyland is small but the upside is large, you might make riskier plays early to try to qualify.
- Avoid fouls: Even small scoring systems penalize fouls heavily, so conservative early placement can be wise until you're confident in your vision for all three rows.
Practical tips for setting stakes and house rules
Before you start, agree on: unit size (e.g., $1 per unit), scoop bonus, royalty chart, foul penalty, and whether ties count as pushes. Keep a written or digital reference at the table to prevent disputes. For online practice or low-stakes games, allow different groups to experiment with alternate royalty tables to see how strategy shifts.
For hands-on practice and calculators that show how different rules change expected value, visit resources like chinese poker scoring where you can find guides and tools tailored to common variants.
Tools, apps, and calculators
Once you grasp the basics, use software to test layouts and simulate thousands of hands to learn frequencies and EVs. Many calculators let you input house royalty tables and scoop bonuses so you can see how changing a number affects optimal play. I run my own simple spreadsheet for quick comparisons, but if you prefer ready-made tools, check out community sites and apps for OFC training and scoring calculators.
One helpful approach is to play a few low-stakes sessions online or with friends using an agreed royalty chart, then compare outcomes and adjust the chart if certain royalties overpower the rest of the structure. Another useful link is chinese poker scoring, which aggregates rulesets and practice games for different formats.
Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
- Underestimating the cost of a foul: Always validate the back ≥ middle ≥ front rule before revealing.
- Chasing one hand exclusively: Unless royalties or scoop bonuses make it correct, try to secure at least two solid rows.
- Ignoring house rules: Small differences (e.g., whether front pairs beat trips for Fantasyland) can flip correct decisions.
- Poor bankroll rules: Because variance is high, keep stakes proportional and agree on buy-ins and rebuy rules beforehand.
Final checklist before you sit down
- Confirm unit size, scoop bonus, royalty table, and foul penalties.
- Decide how ties are handled and how multi-player comparisons settle.
- Confirm whether Fantasyland rules apply and the exact qualification criteria.
- Agree on time limits for placement (especially in open-face variants) to keep play moving.
- Keep a calculator or app at the ready for newcomers — it speeds learning dramatically.
Getting good at chinese poker scoring is less about memorizing every possible value and more about learning the scoring logic so you can evaluate trade-offs quickly at the table. Use the examples and tools here to practice, and you’ll start anticipating when to protect a middle, when to chase a royal bonus, and when to settle safely to avoid a foul. If you want a quick set of practice drills and scoring templates, try the resources at chinese poker scoring to speed up your learning curve.
Good luck—play deliberately, review your layouts after each session, and you’ll see steady improvement in both scoring outcomes and table IQ.
