The Real Deal on Chinese Poker

If you have been a Poker aficionado forever, you might be interested to learn some of the other Poker varieties that are not as popular but definitely as exciting. We are talking about Chinese Poker.

Chinese Poker is a type of Poker where the ranks of three different hands matter. Each player is given 13 cards off the deck. Those 13 cards will compose three different hands - two with five cards each and one with three cards. The player's goal is to keep all his hands strong, especially the one at the back (the first five-card hand).

After arranging the cards, each player will take turns at showing off his hands. You can get one point for every hand that is better than each of the other players' hands. The rules on scoring are often altered but basically, you get three bonus points if all your three hands are strongest among the pack.

The best training ground for the Chinese Poker is the Pai Gow Poker. In this particular Poker variety, you get to play two hands with seven cards. Your hand then consists of one five-card hand and one two-card hand. In this case, the five-card hand must be stronger than the two-card hand. Instead of going against your opponents' hands, you are going against the Dealer's in Pai Gow Poker.

Undoubtedly, Chinese and Pai Gow Poker are similar in many ways. Those who experienced both, however, claimed that the former is better than the latter. In fact, Phil Ivey, a known Poker professional is said to be very much in love with it. Ivey is even tracked down going across the world to seek for the best Chinese Poker plays he could ever handle.

Although the Chinese Poker is yet to be recognized, experts are predicting that its time to shine is coming near. A good start is when a specific event at the 1995 band 1996 World Series of Poker -- the most prestigious Poker tournament in the world - featured the game. This could be a good start for Chinese Poker's popularity to zoom.

For now, Chinese Poker is diminished as a little game played by friendly opponents to wile away their time. Its official entry to the gambling world remains indefinite but for sure, it will come. That is the best hope of those players who learned to love the game for its many different challenges and its high level of enjoyment.