Introduction
Open-Face Chinese Poker with 2-7 in the Middle – also known as “2-7 OFC” or “Deuce Pineapple” – is a turn-based card game that can be played with two or three players. In this game, players take turns drawing cards and placing them into three separate poker hands. The middle hand follows the rankings used in 2-7 lowball, while the other two hands are played as regular “high” poker hands. Despite sounding complicated, 2-7 Open-Face Chinese Poker is actually quite easy to understand. In this article, we will go over the rules of this exciting game.
Objective
The objective of 2-7 Open-Face Chinese Poker is to arrange 13 cards into three hands: a five-card bottom hand, a five-card middle hand, and a three-card top hand.
Taking Turns and Discarding
The game is called Open-Face Chinese Poker because the three hands are built face up, with a few cards added at a time. Each player starts by being dealt five cards and placing them in their respective hands. On subsequent turns, players are dealt three cards face down and must place two of them in any of the available rows (bottom, middle, or top). The remaining card is discarded face down and is out of play. Opponents are not allowed to see the discarded cards. It is important to note that there are only enough cards in a deck to play Deuce Pineapple OFC with either two players or three players.
Fantasyland and “Super Fantasyland”
If a player makes a qualifying hand with kings or better at the top or a wheel (2x3x4x5x7) in the middle, they enter Fantasyland on their next hand. In Fantasyland, the player receives 14 cards and sets 13 of them face down into three rows, discarding one card. The opponents then play their hands normally, and the result is scored against the Fantasyland hand.
To stay in Fantasyland, a player needs to make a big enough bonus. In Deuce Pineapple, this can be achieved by having trips (three of a kind) at the top, a low wheel in the middle, or quads (four of a kind) or better at the bottom. Additionally, players can also earn a 15-card “Super Fantasyland” by qualifying for Fantasyland twice in the same normal hand. Super Fantasyland is a rare occurrence, but it offers great advantages if achieved.
Qualification and Scoring
To create a qualifying hand, the top hand must not be better than the bottom hand in a regular poker ranking. The middle low hand must be at least a ten-low, meaning that the highest card is no higher than a ten without a pair, straight, or flush. Disqualified or “fouled” hands automatically lose every row in the game.
The three rows are scored against opponents, with each winner receiving +1 point. Winning all three rows results in a +3 scoop bonus. In addition to winning and scooping, players earn points for any bonuses earned by a qualifying hand, even if that hand loses the row. The bottom hand earns bonuses for a straight, the low middle hand for a nine-low, and the top row for a pair of sixes.
Conclusion
And there you have it – an introduction to Open-Face Chinese Poker with 2-7 in the Middle, also known as “Deuce Pineapple.” This unique variation of poker offers exciting gameplay and strategic opportunities. It is essential to understand the rules and strategies to excel in this game.
OFC rules have been contributed by Nikolai Yakovenko, known as “Googles.” Yakovenko is a poker player and software developer residing in Brooklyn, New York. He has achieved great success in poker, having made final tables in both the World Series of Poker and World Poker Tour. Yakovenko has also developed independent software projects, including the ABC Open-Face Chinese Poker iPhone App. You can follow him on Twitter at @ivan_bezdomny.
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