Face-Up Chinese Poker
Type of Game
The players of Chinese Poker play against each other for the entire stack of chips that
each player has on the table, referred to as table stakes. Each player’s entire stack of
chips shall be eligible to be won or lost during each round of play. The game does not
utilize a player-dealer position, it is a Poker game. The gambling establishment does not
participate in the actual play of the game and has no interest in the outcome of the play.
Object of the Game
The object of the game is for players to form three hands, also referred to as “segments;”
a five-card back hand, a five-card middle hand, and a three-card front hand, which rank
higher than all other player hands at the table, according to the rankings as shown below.
Each player’s back hand must rank higher than their middle and front hands, their middle
hand must rank higher than the front hand but lower than the back hand, and the front
hand must rank lower than the back and middle hands.
Description of the Deck and Number of Decks Used
Chinese Poker is played with one standard 52-card deck which does not include a joker.
Card Values and Hand Rankings
The rank of each card used in Chinese Poker, in order of highest to lowest, shall be:
ace, king, queen, jack, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, and 2. However, an ace may also be used
as a low card when completing a straight. All suits shall be considered equal in rank.
The ranking of hands that may be made for the back hand and the middle hand, in order
from highest to lowest rank, shall be:
Hand Dealt Hand Requirements
A hand that consists of an ace, king, queen, jack and 10 of
Royal Flush
the same suit.
A hand that consists of five cards of the same suit in
consecutive ranking. A king, queen, jack, 10 and 9 is the
Straight Flush
highest ranked Straight Flush and a 5, 4, 3, 2 and ace is the
lowest ranked Straight Flush.
A hand that consists of four cards of the same rank. Four
Four of a Kind Aces is the highest ranked Four of a Kind and four 2’s is the
lowest ranked Four of a Kind.
A hand that consists of a Three of a Kind and a Pair. Three
Full House aces and two kings is the highest ranked Full House and
three 2’s and two 3’s is the lowest ranked Full House.
A hand that consists of five cards of the same suit, but that
are not in consecutive ranking. An ace, king, queen, jack and
Flush
9 is the highest ranked Flush and a 7, 5, 4, 3 and 2 is the
lowest ranked Flush.
A hand that consists of five cards that are in consecutive
ranking, but that are not the same suit. An ace, king, queen,
Straight
jack and 10 is the highest ranked Straight and a 5, 4, 3, 2 and
ace is the lowest ranked Straight.
A hand that consists of three cards of the same rank. Three
Three of a
aces is the highest ranked Three of a Kind and three 2’s is
Kind
the lowest ranked Three of a Kind.
A hand that consists of two pairs. Two aces and two kings is
Two Pairs the highest ranked Two Pairs and two 3’s and two 2’s is the
lowest ranked Two Pairs.
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Face-Up Chinese Poker
A hand that consists of two cards of the same rank. Two
One Pair aces is the highest ranked Pair and two 2’s is the lowest
ranked Pair.
A hand that consists of five cards that do not make any of the
hands listed above. An ace, king, queen, jack and 9 is the
High Card
highest ranked High Card hand and 7, 5, 4, 3 and 2 the
lowest ranked High Card hand.
The ranking of hands that may be made for the front hand, in order from highest to
lowest rank shall be:
Hand Dealt Hand Requirements
A hand that consists of three cards of the same rank. Three
Three of a aces is the highest ranked Three of a Kind and three 2’s is
Kind the lowest ranked Three of a Kind. Except as noted in the
clean sweep section.
A hand that consists of two cards of the same rank. Two
One Pair aces is the highest ranked Pair and two 2’s is the lowest
ranked Pair.
A hand that consists of three cards that do not make any of
the hands listed above. An ace, king, queen, jack and 9 is
High Card
the highest ranked High Card hand and 7, 5, 4, 3 and 2 the
lowest ranked High Card hand.
Straights and Flushes are not considered in the three card hand
Description of Table Used and Total Number of Seated Positions
The game will be played using a standard poker table or small round table which shall
accommodate up to five seated positions. However, in a five-handed game, only four
players will receive a hand and will be actively playing. The fifth player will become
eligible during the next round of play when the action button and dealer button rotates.
The fifth player may also be eligible to participate provided that one of the four hands
chooses not to participate during that round of play. When five players are seated at the
table, only the player that has both the action button and the dealer button, and the three
players clockwise around the table from that player, shall receive cards. Also, if there are
only two players at the table, they will have the option of playing two hands each.
However, if both players do not agree to play two hands, each player will only receive one
hand. The settling of hands will follow the same guidelines below. If a player does play
two hands, their hands will only be compared to the other player’s.
Each player’s stack of chips acts as their wager, which is referred to as table stakes.
Therefore, each player’s stack of chips on the table shall be eligible to be won or lost
during each round of play. A player is required to initially buy into a game for at least
thirty times the amount of the table limit. At the beginning of each round, each player
shall be required to have a minimum of nine points worth of chips in their stack.
Dealing Procedures and Round of Play
After each player has placed their wager, the action button and the dealer button shall
be placed. When first opening a game, the player to the left of the house dealer shall
receive both the action button and the dealer button. Once a player has received both
buttons, the house dealer shall complete the dealing procedures as described below.
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Face-Up Chinese Poker
The casino dealer deals cards one at a time, face-up, to each active player beginning
with the active player to the left of the dealer button, and continues clockwise until each
active player receives five cards. The active player to the left of the dealer button must
then place his initial cards face-up in either the top, middle, or bottom segments with no
more than three cards in the top segment. The initial five cards can be split up between
the three segments. This process continues clockwise until all active players have
placed their initial five cards in their respective segments. The casino dealer will then
deal one card face-down to the active player to the left of the dealer button. That player
must place the card face-up in either the top, middle or bottom segment of their hand.
Once the card lays face-up on the table in any of the segments, it will be set and cannot
be altered. This process continues clockwise to each active player until all active
players have 13 cards face-up with three cards in the top segment and five cards in both
the middle and bottom segments.
Prior to any cards being dealt, the amount of chips in front of each player will be
considered table stakes. Table stakes is defined as limiting the amount a player can win
or lose during the play of a single hand. A player may bet no more than what they have
on the table at the beginning of that hand and consequently cannot go back to their
pocket for more money once the hand is dealt. In between hands however, a play is
free to re-buy or add-on so long as their entire stack does not then exceed the maximum
buy in. In addition, players may not remove any chips from their table stakes in between
hands.
Dealer Button
The game shall utilize a flat white disk with the words dealer button on it to visually
designate which player is in the dealer position (in theory) for that hand. The dealer
button shall rotate from player to player around the table clockwise after each round of
play.
Action Button
The game shall also utilize a disk with the words action button on it to visually designate
which player received first action on their wager. It also signifies that the player with this
button is in position #1 and shall begin the comparison of his/her hands against all other
players at the table, according to the settling of hands described below. The other
players in clockwise rotation represent position #2, position #3, and position #4.
When a new game is opened, the player to the left of the house dealer shall receive both
the action button and the dealer button. Both buttons shall stay with the same player at
all times and shall rotate clockwise to the next player after each round of play. Wagers
shall be settled according to the rules below.
How Winners are Determined and Paid
Once each player has set their three hands, all three segments of a player’s hand shall
be compared to the next player’s three segments, in the following order:
The player in position #1 shall compare their hands against the position to their
left, which is position #2.
The player in position #1 shall compare their hands against the position to the left of
the position #2, which is the position #3.
The player in position #1 shall compare their hands against the position to the left of
the position #3, which is the position #4.
The player in position #2, which is to the left of the action button and the dealer
button, settles the payoff against the position to their left, which is the position #3.
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BGC ID: GEGA-004348 (October 2014)
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Face-Up Chinese Poker
The player in position #2, which is to the left of the action button and the dealer
button, settles the payoff against the position to the left of the position #3, which is
the position #4.
The player in the position #3, which is to the left of the action button and the dealer
button, settles the payoff against the position to their left, which is the position #4.
Foul Hand
A hand that is set by a player that fails to set their hand in the proper ranking order when
setting their five-card back hand, five-card middle hand, and three-card front hand,
according to the rules above, is referred to as a “Foul Hand.” When a player has a foul
hand, that player must pay a penalty to each player. The penalty shall be three points to
each player for each segment. No matter which segment has been fouled, the whole
hand will be considered fouled and the penalty will be nine points. Additionally, the player
with the foul hand shall also be required to pay a player if they are eligible for bonus
points according to the Bonus System, or if there is a Clean Sweep hand. However, the
player with the foul hand is not eligible for bonus points according to the Bonus System or
if they have a Clean Sweep.
When comparing each player’s segments, each player shall be paid according to the
point system, as described below.
Point System
The settlement of wagers is based on points awarded for each hand. Each of the three
segments is worth one point which has a monetary value depending on the table limit.
When segments are being compared between two players, as described in the order
above, the player who has the highest ranking hand for each segment wins one point
from their opponent(s) and shall be paid according to the monetary value of one point. If
a segment has the same exact rank between two players, it results in a tie (push) and no
point or wager is exchanged unless the tie is between a player in possession of the
action and dealer buttons and another player. The player with both buttons will win all
tie hands.
In addition to players winning according to the Point System, players shall be eligible to
win additional points according to the Bonus System or Clean Sweep rules, as shown
below. All of these shall be offered together at all times that this game is being played.
Bonus System
Players may be eligible for additional points when comparing their segments against other
players’ segments if they make certain hands in their five-card back hand, their five-card
middle hand, or their three-card front hand, as shown below. A player earns one point
for each winning segment, and if a “Bonus” hand is present, points are added on the
“Bonus” hand. Bonus points are earned as follows:
Points
Hand Dealt
Top Segment Middle Segment Bottom Segment
Pair of Sixes (6s) 1 point N/A N/A
Pair of Sevens (7s) 2 points N/A N/A
Pair of Eights (8s) 3 points N/A N/A
Pair of Nines (9s) 4 points N/A N/A
Pair of Tens (10s) 5 points N/A N/A
Pair of Jacks (Js) 6 points N/A N/A
Pair of Queens (Qs) 7 points N/A N/A
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Face-Up Chinese Poker
Pair of Kings (Ks) 8 points N/A N/A
Pair of Aces (As) 9 points N/A N/A
Three of a Kind (2s) 10 points N/A N/A
Three of a Kind (3s) 11 points N/A N/A
Three of a Kind (4s) 12 points N/A N/A
Three of a Kind (5s) 13 points N/A N/A
Three of a Kind (6s) 14 points N/A N/A
Three of a Kind (7s) 15 points N/A N/A
Three of a Kind (8s) 16 points N/A N/A
Three of a Kind (9s) 17 points N/A N/A
Three of a Kind (10s) 18 points N/A N/A
Three of a Kind (Js) 19 points N/A N/A
Three of a Kind (Qs) 20 points N/A N/A
Three of a Kind (Ks) 21 points N/A N/A
Three of a Kind (As) 22 points N/A N/A
Straight N/A 4 points 2 points
Flush N/A 8 points 4 points
Full House N/A 12 points 6 points
Four of a Kind N/A 20 points 10 points
Straight Flush N/A 30 points 15 points
Royal Flush N/A 50 points 25 points
Bonus points may be awarded in addition to the other points awarded for winning a
segment or Clean Sweep. In order to get the bonus for each segment, as shown above,
the following requirements must be met:
Players need not win the segment to win the Bonus. If a player has a qualifying
bonus hand but loses the segment, they shall still be paid the bonus.
Bonus Hand values are always additional points.
Fouled Hands will not be paid the bonus.
Example: if a player wins two out of three segments and has four of kind in the back, that
player shall win two points for two segments and ten points for the four of a kind in the
back for a total of twelve points.
Clean Sweep
A Clean Sweep, also referred to as a Natural occurs when all thirteen cards dealt to a
player make a qualifying hand, as shown below. Clean Sweep hands have a special
ranking and automatically win. A Clean Sweep hand must be declared after the player
has received their cards but prior to the segments being compared. Additionally, that
player’s hand will not participate in the comparing of segments and will not be required
to pay players if they receive a bonus. In order to qualify for a Clean Sweep hand, all 13
cards are considered. The 13 cards that make a clean sweep hand must be contained
in the 13 cards in order to qualify. The following are the Clean Sweep hands ranked from
highest to lowest:
Clean Sweep Hands
Hand Dealt Point Value
Super Dragon
26
Ace (low) through king, One suit
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Face-Up Chinese Poker
Dragon
13
Ace (low) through king, Any Suit
6 Pairs
3
Hand consist of 6 pairs (4 of a kind may be used as 2 pairs)
Three Straights
3
Contains straights in all three segments (top, middle, bottom)
Three Flushes
3
Suited cards in all three segments (top, middle, bottom)
Clean sweep hands with the same value are pushed. Clean sweep hands with a higher
value will be paid the full amount of the winning value. In the situation where a player has
2 clean sweeps in one hand; they will be paid the higher value only. Clean sweep hands
will be paid before all regular hands are compared, starting with the player with the action
and dealer buttons and moving clockwise. Once the Clean Sweep hand has been paid,
all hands will be compared according to the rules above.
When a player declares a Clean Sweep hand, the casino dealer will verbally confirm this
with the player. Once confirmed, the dealer will place a marker on the top of the hand.
The Clean Sweep hand will be viewed first on the showdown and the player collects its
value first. If more than one player has a Clean Sweep hand the higher ranking Clean
Sweep hand will collect the total point value for that hand; the point value for the lower
ranking Clean Sweep hand will not be subtracted. If two Clean Sweep hands have the
same ranking, it is a tie. No money is exchanged between these two players, but they
still may collect from the other players.
Fantasy Land
Fantasy Land gets triggered if a player gets a pair of Queens (Qs) or better, as their front
hand segment without fouling. On the next hand, that player receives all 13 cards dealt
face down right from the deal. The player must then place those 13 cards optimally into
their 3 hands before the cards are dealt to the remaining players. To stay in Fantasy
Land a player must make a straight flush or quads on the bottom hand, a full house or
better in the middle or trips on top. If a player stays in Fantasy Land they must make a
verbal announcement to the other players in the game.
Collection Procedure
For schedule options 1 through 8, a collection fee is taken per player, per 40 minute
down, based on the table limit. The limit of the game indicates the wager being played
for; each hand basically represents one (1) point which is equivalent to the money value
of the game's limit. i.e., in a $5.00 limit game each point would have a money value of
$5.00. Players who enter the game prior to the 20 minute mark of the 40 minute down
will be charged the posted collection rate for that down. Players who enter the game
after the 20 minute mark of the 40 minute down will be charged half the posted collection
rate for that down. Only one collection schedule option, which utilizes one table limit and
the specified collection fees for that table limit, as listed below, shall be used at a table at
any one time. Collection rates and fees shall be determined prior to the start of play of
any hand or round. Rates may not be calculated as a fraction or percentage of wagers
made or winnings earned. Flat fees on wagers may be assessed at different collection
rates; however, no more than five collection rates may be established per table limit.
The 101 Casino
BGC ID: GEGA-004348 (October 2014)
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Face-Up Chinese Poker
Player Fee
Schedule Options Table Limit
(per 40 minute down)
1 $1 $10
2 $5 $10
3 $10 $12
4 $20 $12
5 $30 $15
6 $40 $15
7 $50 $18
8 $100 $18
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BGC ID: GEGA-004348 (October 2014)
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