Chinese poker
Encyclopedia
Chinese poker
, also Pusoy (but not Pusoy Dos
or Russian Poker
), is a card game that has been played in the Asian community for many years. It has begun to gain popularity elsewhere because it has many features of an "exciting" gambling game:
If a player makes three flushes or three straights he automatically wins the hand, regardless of the other players' hands. As shown in the photo, the middle player has made all three hands flush and is an automatic winner.
The two most common scoring systems used in Chinese poker are the 2-4 scoring method, and the 1-6 scoring method.
In the 2-4 method the player receives 1 unit for each of the three hands they win, and 1 unit called the overall unit is awarded to the player who wins two out of the three hands, or all of the three hands. In the event of a tie in one of the hands, no money is exchanged for this particular hand. If one player wins both of the other two hands, they collect 3 units (1 for each hand, and 1 overall). If they each win one hand, no units are exchanged (each win 1 unit, and there is no overall).
In the 1-6 method the player receives 1 unit for each of the three hands they win, and 3 bonus units (on top of the three for the hands) if they win all three hands.
In the 2-4 method, Hellmuth would pay Ivey two units; Ivey receives two points for winning front and back, loses one for losing middle and receives one as the overall unit for winning two out of three hands. In the 1-6 method, Hellmuth would pay Ivey one unit; again Ivey receives two points for winning front and back and loses one for losing middle, but he does not receive any bonus units.
Royalties must be declared prior to the revealing of the hands.
Some hands and combinations of hands that are commonly awarded royalties are listed:
Naturals are special types of royalties where if dealt to a player, the player is rewarded immediately (prior to anyone surrendering), and the player does not set their hand:
and the 1996 World Series of Poker
. In 1995, the $1,500 event was won by John Tsagaris, and the $5,000 event by Steve Zolotow
. In 1996 the $1,500 event was won by Gregory Grivas, and the $5,000 event by Jim Feldhouse. There have been no Chinese Poker events at the World Series of Poker
since 1996.
Chinese Poker is often played as a side game in large poker tournaments. Typical stakes are $25, $50 and $100 per unit. Some high stakes poker players are known to play as high as $500 or $1,000 per unit. Some even go as high as $15,000.
The Venetian, Bellagio and Wynn
casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada
have been known to spread Chinese poker at their poker tables.
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
, also Pusoy (but not Pusoy Dos
Pusoy Dos
Pusoy Dos, a variation of Big Two, is a popular type of shedding card game with origins in the Philippines. The object of the game is to be the first to get rid of all your cards by playing them to the table. If you cannot be first to play all your cards, then your aim is to have as few cards as...
or Russian Poker
Russian Poker
-Main Features:1. Each box in play is dealt five cards. The dealer also receives five cards, but his last card is placed face up on the table.2. The player can either fold and lose his ante, or continue playing by making a bet equal to twice the ante. Furthermore, the player has a right to buy a...
), is a card game that has been played in the Asian community for many years. It has begun to gain popularity elsewhere because it has many features of an "exciting" gambling game:
- The rules are simple—only a basic knowledge of poker hand rankings is needed to get started.
- There is a large element of luck involved, therefore a beginner has a good chance of winning in the short term, even against experienced opponents. Poor players may not be so easily deterred by losses, as they can more easily attribute bad results to their cards rather than their plays.
- More advanced players can still apply enough strategy to the game to give themselves a significant advantage over poor players.
- The game format results in frequent unexpected wins and high ranking hands.
- Only a few players are required to play the game.
Gameplay
Chinese poker is typically played as a four-person game, though it can also be played with two or three.Playing a hand
In Chinese Poker, each player receives a 13 card hand from a standard 52 card deck. Each player then has to divide his cards into three poker hands (known as "setting"): two containing five cards each (known as "the middle" and "the back"), and one containing three cards ("the front"); the back must be the highest ranking hand, and the front, the lowest ranking hand (note that straights and flushes do not count in the three card hand). The back hand is placed face down on the table in front of the player, then the middle hand is placed face down in front of the back hand, and the front hand is placed face down in front of the middle hand. After all the players have set their hands, each player will announce in turn (clockwise, starting from the left of the dealer) whether or not he is playing his hand. All players then announce their royalties, before revealing their hands.If a player makes three flushes or three straights he automatically wins the hand, regardless of the other players' hands. As shown in the photo, the middle player has made all three hands flush and is an automatic winner.
Scoring
The stakes played for in Chinese poker are known as units: an amount of money agreed on before the game starts. Basic scoring rules dictate that a player collects one unit from each opponent whose front, middle or back hand is beaten by his own corresponding hand. Thus, unlike most poker games, being second-best at the table is good enough to win money. In some variants players are also paid an additional unit if they win in two or three of the hands. In other variants players only get an additional unit if they win all three hands (known as a scoop). Also, due to the head-to-head nature of the comparisons, it is possible for different players to play for different stakes. For example, A and B could play for $10 per unit versus each other, while all other player pairings play for $1 per unit. Many variations of scoring are in common use; refer to the external links for more information.The two most common scoring systems used in Chinese poker are the 2-4 scoring method, and the 1-6 scoring method.
In the 2-4 method the player receives 1 unit for each of the three hands they win, and 1 unit called the overall unit is awarded to the player who wins two out of the three hands, or all of the three hands. In the event of a tie in one of the hands, no money is exchanged for this particular hand. If one player wins both of the other two hands, they collect 3 units (1 for each hand, and 1 overall). If they each win one hand, no units are exchanged (each win 1 unit, and there is no overall).
In the 1-6 method the player receives 1 unit for each of the three hands they win, and 3 bonus units (on top of the three for the hands) if they win all three hands.
Example
| Ivey | Hellmuth | Winner | |
| Front | Ivey | ||
| Middle | Hellmuth | ||
| Back | Ivey | ||
In the 2-4 method, Hellmuth would pay Ivey two units; Ivey receives two points for winning front and back, loses one for losing middle and receives one as the overall unit for winning two out of three hands. In the 1-6 method, Hellmuth would pay Ivey one unit; again Ivey receives two points for winning front and back and loses one for losing middle, but he does not receive any bonus units.
Royalties
Royalties, or bonuses as they are sometimes called, are extra units that may be awarded to players with particularly strong hands. In some variants all royalties are worth the same amount (e.g., 1 unit per royalty). In other variants each royalty is given a different payout (e.g., 1 unit for a four of a kind in the back, and 2 units for a straight flush in the back). Sometimes only the winner may be awarded a royalty (e.g., four sevens in the back beats four sixes in the back; therefore, only the player with sevens is awarded a royalty). In some games players are allowed to break up straight flushes or four of a kinds and still receive royalties (e.g., a player is dealt four sevens; he may use three of them for a three of a kind in the front, and one as part of a straight in the middle). Some rules say that players are only allowed to claim one royalty per hand.Royalties must be declared prior to the revealing of the hands.
Some hands and combinations of hands that are commonly awarded royalties are listed:
- Straight flush
- Four of a kind
- Full house or better in the middle
- Three of a kind in the front
Naturals are special types of royalties where if dealt to a player, the player is rewarded immediately (prior to anyone surrendering), and the player does not set their hand:
- Three straights
- Three flushes
- Six pairs (counting all three hands)
- 13 unique cards (i.e. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, J, Q, K, A)
Surrendering
If a player chooses to surrender his hand, he will pay an amount greater than the amount paid when losing 2 out of 3 hands, but less than the amount paid when getting scooped (losing all three hands). When surrendered, a player is not required to pay any royalties to his opponents. In some variations surrendering is not an option.Mis-set Hand
If a player mis-sets his hand (e.g., he puts three of a kind in the front, but only two pair in the middle) then he must pay each of his opponents still in the hand (players who have not surrendered) an amount equal to being scooped. In some variations players are still required to play their hands.Where played
Chinese Poker was played at the 1995 World Series of Poker1995 World Series of Poker
-Preliminary events:-Final table:-Other High Finishes:NB: This list is restricted to top 30 finishers with an existing Wikipedia entry.-External Links:*...
and the 1996 World Series of Poker
1996 World Series of Poker
-Preliminary events:-Final table:-Other High Finishes:NB: This list is restricted to top 30 finishers with an existing Wikipedia entry.-External Links:*...
. In 1995, the $1,500 event was won by John Tsagaris, and the $5,000 event by Steve Zolotow
Steve Zolotow
Steve Zolotow is an American businessman and professional poker player from Las Vegas, Nevada. He has won two bracelets at the World Series of Poker. He was one of the regulars at the famed Mayfair Club while he lived in New York City.-New York Years:...
. In 1996 the $1,500 event was won by Gregory Grivas, and the $5,000 event by Jim Feldhouse. There have been no Chinese Poker events at the World Series of Poker
World Series of Poker
The World Series of Poker is a world-renowned series of poker tournaments held annually in Las Vegas and, since 2005, sponsored by Harrah's Entertainment...
since 1996.
Chinese Poker is often played as a side game in large poker tournaments. Typical stakes are $25, $50 and $100 per unit. Some high stakes poker players are known to play as high as $500 or $1,000 per unit. Some even go as high as $15,000.
The Venetian, Bellagio and Wynn
Wynn Las Vegas
Wynn Las Vegas is a resort and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada. The US $2.7 billion resort is named after casino developer Steve Wynn and is the flagship property of Wynn Resorts Limited. The resort covers . It is located on Las Vegas Boulevard and Sands Avenue Wynn Las...
casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
have been known to spread Chinese poker at their poker tables.
Variations
- Low in the middle — In this variation, the middle hand is played as a Deuce-to-seven low hand.
- Criss Cross — This variation is played heads up: each player is dealt two 13 card hands and plays each of their hands against each of their opponents' hands. Players' hands are to be treated as two independent hands; they cannot exchange cards between the two hands.
- In this variation, The Wheel (A, 2, 3, 4, 5) is the second highest straight. Therefore, it is ranked above a 9, 10, J, Q, K straight, but below a 10, J, Q, K, A straight.
- Another variation scores the game 1 point per hand, with the winner of the game being the first to 11 points. If a player wins all 3 hands and there are 4 players, the winning player gets a 4th point.