The games · Coolhand Poker

Chinese Poker

Thirteen cards, sorted into three hands of three, five and five, strongest at the back. Every player settles with every other, row by row.

18+ · Nothing to win but the hand.

Players: 2 to 4
Family: Chinese Poker
App: Coolhand Poker · iOS and Android, soon

How it goes

You're dealt thirteen cards and there are no offers: all you do is sort them. Split them into three hands: a front of three cards, a middle of five and a back of five. The back has to be at least as strong as the middle, and the middle stronger than the front. Everyone sets their rows face down, and then all the rows are turned over together. You settle with each other player separately, row against row: a unit for each row you win against them, and three more if you win all three. There's no second chance and nobody to read. The hand is decided the moment you set it down.

A good hand

The arrangement that wins two of the three rows against most opponents, not the one that wins a single row by a mile. Three of a kind in the front is rare and almost always wins its row. A full house in the middle is the same. Avoid a huge hand at the back that strips the front and middle bare: it wins one row and loses the other two, which is a loss. Spread the strength across the rows.

The usual mistake

Setting the rows out of order. The back has to be the strongest hand and the front the weakest, and the table holds you to it. A pair in the front with nothing in the middle isn't a daring play to steal the front row; the table won't accept it. Look at all three rows together before you set them down, not one at a time.

Played differently where you are?

Card games change from table to table, and we researched some of these games instead of playing them. If Chinese Poker goes differently where you play it, tell us. That's one of the things the closed beta is for.

The closed beta is by invitation. How to ask to join.