NoMercy OFC Crash Course: Common Mistakes to Avoid

After having looked at some tricks and tips on how to remember all royalties by heart, understanding how the game is played, and knowing how the points are calculated, let’s continue with some primary recommendations to elevate your game in OFC Pineapple.

As you will not be able to move your cards once they are placed, your initial positioning is the absolute foundation of your hand. Therefore, it is when setting up the five initial cards that we see most mistakes being made in OFC.

Common Mistake #1: Placing a High Pair on Top

When you are dealt a pair of kings or a pair of aces on the first draw, it will usually be a mistake to place such a pair on the top line right away. It will be difficult to cover it on the middle line and on the bottom line, and the reward of 14 cards Fantasyland is not worth that risk in classic Pineapple.

To push this theory even further, most high roller OFC players do not even place a pair of queens on the top row in the opening, unless it’s already covered by a live Ace or King in the middle.

Common Mistake #2: Splitting Two Pairs

When you are dealt two pairs in the first draw, it will rarely be wise to split them into two lines in classic OFC Pineapple.

Remember that not giving up points is a big part of this game!  Therefore, if you place your two pairs in the back, there is a great chance that you will complete the line with a full house, which comes with a 6-points royalty.

Nevertheless, some scenarios are not as clear. For example, if you are dealt a pair of deuces along with a pair of threes, you might want to split those two, as it will be impossible for you to make two smaller pairs in the middle unless you make your full house on the back.

Common Mistake #3: Going for the Flush

Most amateur OFC players have a tendency to systematically go for flushes in the back when placing their initial cards. There are multiple problems with that:

1. When you don’t succeed in making your flush, you will most likely bust out since you will end up with no pair at all on the bottom line.
2. It may look less exotic than placing cards from the same suit on the back, but if you place two high cards instead, your chances of busting out will diminish as you will easily make one or two pairs. Moreover, making a full house on the back for 6 points royalties will happen frequently enough to be worth it, versus 4 points royalties for the flush.
3. Remember the ratio of royalties and consider that big pairs on top are always worth more than a flush in the back. you will get 7 points for a pair of queens on top, but only 4 points for a flush on the back. So, would you rather go for the easy way “two pairs on the back, two pairs in the middle, and a pair of Queens on top”, or for a flush in the back and nothing more on the other lines?

Meet me at the OFC tables on CoinPoker to practice your skills and enjoy the action and the Fantasy ride!

– Isabelle “No Mercy” Mercier
OFC “Progressive” World Champion