Open Face Chinese (OFC) Rules

Overview

Open-Face Chinese Poker (OFC) is a set-building poker game played with standard 52-card decks.

Each player builds three poker hands from the cards they receive:

• Top (Front): 3 cards
• Middle: 5 cards
• Bottom (Back): 5 cards

The goal is to arrange your hands from weakest (Top) to strongest (Bottom) without breaking that order.

Instead of betting chips, players compete for points based on hand strength and bonuses.

How a Round Works

Initial Deal

Each player receives 5 cards and places them face-up in any of their three hands.

Placement Rounds

• Each turn, players receive 3 new cards.
• Choose 2 to place and discard 1.
• Continue until all hands are full (13 cards total).

Reveal

Once all players are done, hands are compared line by line (Top, Middle, Bottom).

Scoring

Points are awarded for each line win and for any bonus royalties.

Scoring System

Each player compares their hands against every opponent.

• +1 point for each line you win (Top, Middle, Bottom).
• -1 point for each line you lose.

Winning all three lines earns a Sweep Bonus (+3 points).

Unique 3-Player Feature

Players will receive their cards face down each round. Their cards will be revealed when it is their turn to act.

Fantasyland

Players in Fantasyland receive their cards face down and the cards will be revealed once players who are NOT in Fantasyland are on their last set.

*Note: This feature is put in place to prevent card sharing and collusion.

OFC Rules

Fouling

• You foul if your hand order is invalid — e.g. your Top beats your Middle or your Middle beats your Bottom.
• In the 2-7 Variant, you can also foul if your low does not qualify as a 10 low or better (straights and flushes count against you).
• A fouled hand loses 6 points automatically plus royalty points.

Fantasyland

• Achieved when your Top hand is QQ or better (in most variants).
• Next round, you receive 14 cards at once, keeping the best 13 and discarding 1.
• Ends after one round unless retriggered.

Fantasyland Retrigger

• Players can stay in Fantasyland the next hand if they make Trips on Top hand or Quads or better on the Bottom hand.
• Applies to all variants.

Game Variants

Pineapple OFC

• Standard Version
• Players receive 3 cards per turn, keep 2, and discard 1.
• Goal: build valid hands in proper order and avoid fouling.
• Qualify for Fantasyland with Top hand: QQ+
• Receive 14 cards in Fantasyland.

Pineapple 2-7 OFC

• Uses 2-7 Lowball rankings for Middle hand.
• Middle hand must qualify with a 10 low or better.
• Pairs, Straights and flushes count against you for Middle hand qualifying.
• If the Middle hand does not qualify, the hand is fouled.
• The bottom hand needs to beat the top hand.
• Fantasyland Qualification with Middle hand: 75432.
• Fantasyland Qualification with Top hand: KK+.
• Double Fantasyland qualification grants an additional card in Fantasyland.
• If you stay in Fantasyland with double qualification, next Fantasyland will reduce back to 14 cards.

Pineapple Progressive OFC

• Earn additional cards in Fantasyland with stronger Top hands.
• QQ - 14 cards, KK - 15 cards, AA - 16 cards, Trips - 17 cards.
• If you stay in Fantasyland, you reduce back to 14 cards in your next Fantasyland hand.

Pineapple Ultimate Progressive OFC

• Earn additional cards in Fantasyland with a stronger Top hand.
• QQ - 14 cards, KK - 15 cards, AA - 16 cards, Trips - 17 cards
• If you stay in Fantasyland, you are dealt the same amount of cards each time.
• Maximum of 3 stays in Fantasyland.

Pineapple Ultimate Progressive Jokers OFC

• Progressive format with 2 Jokers added to the deck.
• Jokers act as wild cards that can represent any rank or suit.
• Used to complete stronger combinations but must still follow valid hand order.
• Same Top hand qualifiers as Progressive OFC and additional cards.
• If you stay in Fantasyland, you are dealt the same amount of cards each time.
• Maximum of 3 stays in Fantasyland.

Quick Tips for New Players

• Avoid fouling — it’s the biggest penalty.
• Focus on reaching Fantasyland for a big advantage.
• Watch opponents’ boards to plan your placements.