- BGG rank
- BGG #169
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Magic: The Gathering
- 2–6 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 3.3/5
- 1993
- BGG rank
- BGG #20,640
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Chinese Poker
Rules assistance for Chinese Poker
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 5 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.9/5
Rules assistant for Chinese Poker
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Chinese Poker is a board game for 2–4 players, 5 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. Its main mechanics are Betting and Bluffing.
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About the game
(Not to be confused with Big Two) A gambling game using a standard card deck. Each player is dealt 13 cards, which they use to form 3 poker hands: a 3-card "front hand," a 5-card "middle hand" (which must outrank the front hand), and a 5-card "back hand" (which must outrank the middle hand). Each player then compares their three hands to those of each of the other players, in turn. In the most common scoring system, a player wins two betting units when two of their hands are stronger than another player's corresponding hands, and four betting units when all three of their hands are stronger. So for example, if Player A's back hand was a full house, his middle hand was two pair, and his front hand a pair of jacks, while Player B's corresponding hands were a flush, three-of-a-kind, and a pair of nines, Player B would owe Player A two betting units. Other scoring options include bonuses for especially strong hands (e.g., you win four extra bets if your back or middle hand is a straight flush), and "surrender," which allows you to throw away a particularly bad set of cards and just pay a fixed penalty fee to each opponent. In another variant, if you have all fours, you instantly win.
Questions and answers
Chinese Poker supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Chinese Poker is 5 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Chinese Poker for ages 10 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Chinese Poker has a complexity rating of 1.9 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Chinese Poker belongs to these categories: Card Game. Its main mechanics are Betting and Bluffing. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The catalogue lists Chinese Poker as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.