Open-face Chinese poker

Open-face Chinese poker
Standard Chinese poker hands
OriginFinland
Alternative namesOpen Face Chinese, OFC, OFCP
Players2–4
SkillsTactics, strategy
Cards52
DeckFrench
Rank (high→low)A K Q J 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
PlayClockwise
Playing time5 -10 min. per round
ChanceMedium to High
Related games
Chinese poker
Pai gow poker

Open-face Chinese poker, OFCP, commonly known as Open Face Chinese or OFC, is a variant of Chinese poker where players receive five cards to start and then one card at a time until each player has a 13 card hand legal or not. The game originated in Finland during the mid-2000s and spread to Russia a few years later. Professional poker player Alex Kravchenko, who is credited with introducing the game to the Russian high-stakes community, describes the game as "spreading like a virus".[1] The game was introduced to the United States in 2012.[2]

In December 2014, TonyBet hosted the first-ever World Championship of OFC where Jennifer Shahade won the High Roller and Mikal Blomlie won the Main Event.[3][4] On Monday, Dec. 7th, 2015, TonyBet Poker Ambassador Isabelle Mercier became the first Open-Face Chinese Poker Progressive Pineapple world champion.[5]

  1. ^ Dave Behr (2012). "Not just another pretty face". Bluff Magazine. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014.
  2. ^ Jennifer Shahade (18 October 2012). "How to Play Open-Face Chinese Poker". Card Player.
  3. ^ Calvinayre.com: Mikal Blomlie Wins the TonyBet OFC World Championships
  4. ^ Pokernews.com: Jennifer Shahade Wins Biggest Open-Face Chinese Live Poker Event in History
  5. ^ "Isabelle Mercier Becomes the First Ever Progressive Pineapple OFC Champion".