I’ve often been asked what are the main qualities that a Pineapple Poker player should have. Well, here are the ones I think are most important.

#1 Good sense of observation. It's very difficult, if not impossible, to be a good Pineapple Poker player if you don't watch what's going on at the table. You have to look at your own cards, that's obvious, but also at your opponent’s cards. The decisions you will make are based on all the information you can gather, so don't miss any of it. Pay a lot of attention and don't play like a robot, very quickly without observing. How many spades or queens are visible? Depending on what you see, you will be able to play optimally and take more or less risks depending on what you can see. 

#2 Adapt your game constantly. Pineapple Poker is an exciting game because you’ll face a lot of different spots. Of course, when it comes to openings, you can easily classify them and are likely to encounter the same spots. But from the second draw, you’ll face many card placement options to choose from. For example, imagine you try to make a flush on the bottom line by placing three of your first five cards, then you don't hit a favorable card on the next draw, will you give up your flush and start taking the two pair option or continue with your flush?

Your choices should be based on what you see (hence the importance of the previous point) and then it's up to you to adapt your play. There is never one definitive answer. In this game, "we agree to disagree". So if you don't adapt your play to the cards exposed but also to the decisions made by your opponents, to their style of play, you will lose an edge. And please note that the ability to adapt is even more important the closer you get to the last draw. For instance, let’s say you see that your two opponents are going to bust 100% of the time. So you are sure to take at least 12 points if you don't bust yourself. It is typically in this case that you have to adapt your strategy and not take unconsidered risks in order to cash in the points simply by not busting. If you play too fast, if you don’t watch the boards, you won’t get the info and you could bust and miss the easy 12 points opportunity. 

#3 Anticipate your moves like a chess player. A parallel is often drawn between Pineapple Poker and the game of chess. There are indeed many similarities between the two games. And one thing that both games share is the notion of anticipation. A good chess player doesn't just make moves without thinking about the next one. It's the same in Pineapple poker. You have to be able to think of the different scenarios that may come up with the next draws. It’s better if you have a plan in mind so that you are not surprised if you don't hit the desired cards. 

It is therefore important to always scan your opponents' board and your own to determine all your options. You can have a plan in mind, let's say it's to make a straight on the bottom line, but ideally you should already be evaluating, when you place your first five cards, what you're going to do if you can't make the straight.

#4 Be good at counting. If you play Pineapple Poker online, the platform will calculate all the points and bonuses automatically for you. Convenient right?  But when you play live, it's up to the players to keep score. It's not rocket science, but it can be quite complex the further along you get in a tournament. Even when you are playing on the computer, try to keep score at the end of each hand before the software gives you the answer. This way you'll train your brain to do the exercise and won't be distraught when you find yourself at a poker table having to keep score in addition to the pressure the live game might bring.

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Back in early 2000’s, when we used to discuss the underrated potential of No Limit Hold'em along with friends from the poker world, we didn't always agree. For many of them, the game was doomed to remain confidential. It's important to remember that poker was then only played by a handful of pros who mostly lived in Las Vegas, where the WSOP was held in the back room of a downtown casino. Apart from a few curious amateurs, the poker world was still a microcosm. I am ashamed to say that even I didn’t know that there was such a thing as being a professional poker player back in the 90s. I can promise you that it would have changed my university’s cursus!

​I remember arguing with my poker friends; I was positive that poker hadn't yet realized its full amazing potential. I was 100% certain that it was on the verge of exploding, and that’s part of the reason why I quit my job and turned pro with almost no money. I wanted to be in that world right away and at any cost, before the big “boom” poker was destined to. In the end, I was right. Chris Moneymaker’s victory, along with the arrival of poker on internet, and the streaming of the World Poker Tour on mainstream television, would prove me right.

The “cowboy card game” gained major traction which eventually turned into a groundswell, and the first major factor to make magic happen was the victory of an American amateur player at the WSOP. Chris Moneymaker was indeed the big spark that ignited the fire. The average American witnessed a 27-year-old accountant, bluffing at legend pro Sam Farha, and becoming World Champion of Poker along with a serious prize pool of 2.5 million dollars, for a ridiculous 40$ entry invested into a satellite on PokerStars.

Better access to Internet Poker with multiple offers from various sites was another pivotal element in the boom. It led to massive arrival of people at the virtual tables, that turned into live players and tournament qualifiers. The “Moneymaker” story had quite the effect on the poker world, and one could think that with such a name, it was his fate within our flourishing industry.

Let's also remember that the pocket cams - that allow you to see the players' cards - were a major breakout for poker. This mastermind game being broadcasted on television quickly caught the eye of the public. We all love poker in North America and playing cards is often a family thing. Lots of people started to play at a young age. Mainstream TV brought a whole new dimension to this game. We were no longer playing our cards; we were playing the players.

The rest of the boom is history.

What about OFC? Will Pineapple poker conquer the world as Hold’em did?

What explains the fact that Open Face Chinese poker, which we also call Pineapple poker, a game that I love so much, is not a big thing yet? Why isn’t there OFC on Pokerstars, GG Poker, PartyPoker or Winamax? And why isn’t there more Pineapple poker in the casinos?

As far as live games are concerned, a very pragmatic way to explain the situation is the fact that live OFC is limited to 3 people maximum per table (up to 4 players could play in the turbo format, but this format is not the most popular nor the most exciting one). So, it’s a whole entire dealer needed, for 3 or 4 players max. That is not profitable for the casino owner. Add to that the fact that poker dealers are not trained yet in this variant that implies heavy mental calculations to rapidly know the final scores of each single hand, score including multiple bonuses on top of winning/losing rows.

So ok, I’ve played tournaments in the past and counted my own points as well as my opponents’ points. We both agree on the total and we pay off each other. We can play without a dealer counting for us, and anyway it will most likely take the dealer longer than ourselves to do so. So, we can manage that part. As far as cash games, if it’s not during a peak hour, any poker room or casino usually has 2 or 3 dealers on hand that could be dispatched to OFC cash games. And what do you know, maybe these games in some sort of high stakes forms will end up paying off enough rake to justify keeping a few running. It’s definitely an attractive offer these days since there are not many venues out there proposing Pineapple poker.

​As far as tournaments are concerned, I very most see in the near future prestigious events similar to Heads Up matches. That would be so refreshing and exciting to participate in and even to witness. The very best players in the world would face each other in this mastermind game and winning it would be as high esteemed as getting an Oscar. OFC can be very gratifying and would be a fascinating game to comment and to watch on television. It includes risks and rewards, you are always in action, and it’s a new form of chess that includes a gambling’s constituent.

In the world of internet, we could wonder why OFC is not more popular. There are no issues of profitability when played online, so what are the reasons behind this lack of software development? 

We can’t neglect the fact that No Limit Hold'em has "taken the poker market" or at least a good portion of it. Everybody who wanna play poker plays No Limit Hold’em. Hard to compete. Moreover, the lack of “drama” at OFC can be seen as a disadvantage. Here is an example of the drama I’m referring to; It’s the final table of the Sunday Millions on PokerStars, the short stack goes all-in hoping to double up and gets called by another player. After a long time, a third player with a huge stack goes all-in and gets paid by a fourth player, the table's chip leader! That’s the drama No Limit Hold’em can bring that OFC can’t. And incidentally outside of the online world, that’s also why NLH is the most spectacular game on TV.

But outside of that, the lack of offers out there can only be explained by the fact that not enough players know the game by now. It’s only a question of time and a question of education. Pineapple poker is a marketable game, and it only needs more exposure to become mainstream. It is completely addictive! Great apps allow players to engage in OFC and I’m sure the game will conquer the hearts of millions of amateur players who will be in need for something more. Something mentally challenging and significantly deeper than the No Limit drama.

In all cases, I strongly believe that Pineapple Poker is here to stay. It’s been around among pro players for more than two decades and even though it is still played in a somehow confidential way (for how long? nobody knows) I believe it will start rising and shinning. The first WSOP at Binion’s was in 1970; it took over 30 years before poker went mainstream after this first tournament. In the end, it's all about cycles. NLH is at its peak of hype, but as soon as interest vanishes, players will turn to exciting new variants such as Pineapple poker. That's my bet! 

When you start playing Open Face Chinese Poker (OFC), the game can be confusing and nothing abnormal here. This poker format is indeed very different from other ones since you play with almost all cards open (all players see the 13 cards of other players). To help you get started, here are 5 useful tips for OFC beginners.

1) Look at your board but non only...

When you are a beginner, you tend to focus almost exclusively on your board. It's normal, you try to place your cards not to bust, and it can take a lot of time and attention. However, in OFC, it is also very important to watch what your opponents are doing. The choices you make will depend on the cards that are visible, so you can calculate how many outs you have if you try to put a flush on the bottom line, for example.

If you don't know how many heart are already out (let's suppose it's the suit you're trying to make), you'll bust more frequently. If you look closely at the cards out, you'll be able to change your strategy and give up your flush in favor of a straight or two pairs for example. There is no 100% pre-defined strategy at OFC.

Of course there are basic placements for the first five cards you are dealt (see our openings section to learn more about that), but apart from that, all your options will be determined by your opponents' choices. So the key to have an edge is to observe a lot!

2) Learn to count the points and the bonuses!

Whether you play online on a platform like CoinPoker or live, it is essential to learn how to count points and bonuses. Sure, when you play online the computer will count the points and bonuses for you, but that doesn't mean you don't need to know the points by heart! It is very important to know the points because it can make you radically change your strategy depending on the points you can make.

One of the main qualities of an OFC player is his ability to adapt. If you know how to keep score and how many points you can make depending on the bonus you’ll get, you will make more money in the long run. Sometimes it's better to "sacrifice" the bottom line and not make a bonus and to go for a big pair on the top line that will take you to Fantasyland (if it's a pair of queens or better). And if you're playing live, it's a necessity to know how to count because it's not the dealers' job to keep score, so start practicing now!

3) Don’t hesitate to take (reasonable) risks!

The risk-reward concept at OFC is very different from the one at No Limit Holdem Poker. Why? Because you can't GO ALL IN in an OFC game. You can BE ALL IN, but that only means you've lost all your chips. You don’t choose to go ALL IN, your opponents put you ALL IN! Big difference since it removes the pressure of an aggro opponent. In an OFC game it won’t happen since everyone sees almost all the cards that have been dealt. That said, keep in mind you can nevertheless take risks in an OFC game, but you will do it differently.

Example: if you choose to put three of a kind on the top line when you’re dealt you first 5 cards, you're taking a lot of risk! Less risky option: put that three of a kind on the bottom line in an attempt to make a foul house. With a three of a kind on the top line, you can potentially make a lot of points (10 points for 2-2-2 and 22 points for A-A-A), but this scenario will happen so rarely that it's not a reasonable risk. It's all about experience. It is also tempting when you receive two queens on the first deal to put them on top, but often it’s better to put them on the bottom line.

4) Adapt your game to your position

As in Hold'em Poker, depending on the position you are in (Button, Button+1 or Button+2), you will not adopt the same strategy. If you're at the button, you have a huge advantage over your opponents because you'll see many more cards than they do on your turn to act. This will help you to take more or less risk depending on the cards that are visible.

If you see that your opponents have been dealt 7 spades - out of the 13 in the deck -, it is not a good idea to try to make a spade flush even if you are dealt three spades because there are only three left in the entire deck. If you are the first to receive your cards, things are different because you don't have as much information and in this case, trying to make a flush with three spades is much more legitimate.

Depending on your position, you will see more or less cards before you make your decision, so take advantage of this!

Want to try a cryptocurrency poker session? Open your account at CoinPoker now and join the action at the Open Face Chinese Poker tables offered by the platform. Missed the cryptocurrency boom? Don't miss out on the crypto-poker revolution. The best is coming!

Tired of playing hold'em poker? Want to take a break and play a fun and original poker game? Here are 4 reasons why you should play Open Face Chinese Poker (OFC):

Hold’em poker players who play live tournaments or cash game sessions know it well: it can take a looooooooooong time for a player before he can play a hand. This is especially true if the tables are at a full ring table (9 or even 10 players).

And we know the drill!

Jack-2? Fold!
10-5? Fold!
Queen-3? Fold!
Jack-9 suited? Hmmm Fold! Bad position...

This “folding game” can last an hour or more. But nothing abnormal here cause when you play Hold'em Poker, you have to select your starting hands, you have to be selective. Therefore, unless you are the most aggro player in the world willing to play every hand, folding is part of Hold'em.

Of course you can gamble from time to time and play very speculative hands, but you have to skip your turn most of the time and... start waiting… and waiting… and waiting. If you have a gold medal of patience, that’s a plus!

This inconvenience disappear when Hold'em players play online thanks to multi-tabling that allows them to play multiple tables at the same time (a lot more hands every hour).

It's a different story with Pineapple poker (OFC). Why is this so? Simply because in this form of poker you play every single hand, and that makes the whole difference! The dealer deals the cards to all players at the table (from 2 to 4 players max depending on the OFC variant), but unlike what happens at Hold'em, players cannot fold their cards. They MUST place them hoping to go to Fantasyland (a very cool game feature by the way).

There is no waiting time when you play Open Face Chinese Poker as you are constantly thinking about your best strategy. It's very stimulating for the brain. I have done tons of very long OFC cash game sessions on TonyBet Poker a few years ago and now on CoinPoker so I can assure you that you won't get bored playing OFC!

So if you wanna take a break between two Hold’em sessions with a fun game with no waiting time between hands, OFC is definitely a game you should try!

To learn more, check out the tutorial section of the site, where you'll find the rules, some strategies and how to count bonuses. But if you decide playing online at CoinPoker, you won't have to calculate these bonuses, the software will do it automatically fo you!

Have fun!

Want to try a cryptocurrency poker session? Open your account at CoinPoker now and join the action at the Open Face Chinese Poker tables offered by the platform. Missed the cryptocurrency boom? Don't miss out on the crypto-poker revolution. The best is coming! 

As the price of Bitcoin (BTC) has just surpassed $20,000 and even reached the $21,000 mark, the legitimacy of cryptocurrencies is becoming more and more obvious. ​In a very pessimistic global economic environment, the status of fiat money no longer seems to be as advantageous as it was a few years ago.

Cryptocurrencies are also changing the poker world. First of all, it is now easier for players to exchange large amounts of money (swapping money for tournaments for example).

With the traditional banking system, transferring thousands of dollars (or a few hundred dollars) is a real challenge and it can take time. Cryptocurrencies allow you to exchange money easily and almost instantly.

When you travel a lot to play tournaments around the world as I did a few years ago (long before cryptocurrencies were popular), you need to have cash on you (but a limited amount by customs) or you need to make a bank transfer. This issue has been solved since the arrival of cryptocurrencies and today, many professional poker players exchange large amounts of money using cryptos.

Finally, poker itself is being revolutionized by cryptocurrencies. On CoinPoker, people have been playing in cryptocurrencies for several years now. In CHP (the native token of the platform) in the first times. Today, it is possible to use several other cryptocurrencies to deposit on one's account. It can be done via the Ethereum blockchain (ETH/CHP/USDT), via the Polygon network (MATIC, CHP, USDT) or the BSC network (BNB, BUSD).

Cryptocurrencies and the blockchain also bring more transparency to the game. CoinPoker uses a decentralized RNG (Random Number Generation) that allows players to verify each hand. Once a hand is completed, players can verify the randomness of the deck, as well as see the undealt cards that would have been in play.

All of these benefits are slowly transforming the way poker sites operate, and it's a safe bet to say that more and more online poker rooms will be using cryptocurrencies and all the benefits that virtual currencies offer players.

Want to try a cryptocurrency poker session? Open your account at CoinPoker now and join the action at the Open Face Chinese Poker tables offered by the platform. Missed the cryptocurrency boom? Don't miss out on the crypto-poker revolution. The best is coming! 

What if 2023 was the year of Open Face Chinese Poker (OFC)? This exciting game has been around for decades but has yet to achieve the success it deserves. 

Sure many professional players know OFC and have been playing it in their spare time for years. But one must admit that OFC is still an unusual form of poker compared to, say, hold'em. 

But as we all know, nothing lasts forever and fashions change. Let's remember that Hold'em was not popular at all until Chris Moneymaker won the WSOP on May 24th 2003. After his unexpected victory, everyone wanted to play No Limit Hold'em poker. 

Open Face Chinese Poker has not yet experienced this extraordinary boom but the game is now played by many people across the planet. Whether apps or online like on CoinPoker, the crypto-platform I'm lucky to be an ambassador for. It's the best place to play Open Face Chinese Poker. 

I will explain to you through the different posts of this blog why this game has all the chances to become more and more popular. Spoiler alert: it's because it's the best card game in the world! 😎

Ready to go to fantasyland and discover OFC and its multiple variants (progressive, 2-7, joker)? ​