How to Play OFC Poker

OFC is a short-handed game of strategy and card counting that rewards poker skill in a unique way. Its rules are similar to standard Chinese poker, but the object is to make three hands-two of five and one of three cards-that beat your opponents. Players earn points for each hand they make that beats an opponent’s corresponding row, as well as extra points called “royalties” for making high-ranking hands in the top rows.

Players are dealt five cards and must rearrange them face up on the table in order to make their front, middle, and back hands. Afterwards, each player draws one additional card that can be placed into any of the three hands. There are also special rules like Fantasy Land that allow players to see the other players’ hands before normal play starts. This gives them a big advantage in the game.

The objective of OFC is to make three poker hands-two of five and one of three-that are higher in value than your opponents’ corresponding hands. Each player scores points for each hand they make that beats their opponents’ corresponding hands in the top, middle, and bottom rows. There are also bonus points called Royalties that can be earned for certain types of hands in the top rows.

When playing OFC, a big part of the strategy is knowing when to take risks. Putting your best pairs in the front is a good idea, but only if they are worth the risk. For example, QQ or KK in the front will give you a good chance of getting into Fantasyland, while JJ will not. Using a pair of small cards in the middle will also put you into Fantasyland, but they won’t be worth the risk if they are not high enough in value.

Another thing to keep in mind when playing OFC is that if you foul, you lose. This is why it is important to pay attention to your opponent’s play, as you never know when they are about to foul. A basic OFC strategy of simply trying to not foul will not get you very far, so you should always be weighing the odds and benefits of risky moves in each hand. The best OFC players understand when to take the risks and when to play conservatively.