NoMercy OFC Crash Course: Opening with Flushes (Part 4)

Hello everyone! Welcome to my personal blog on OFC Pineapple (Open Face Chinese Poker). Week after week, I’ll go over the history of the game, some basic rules and recommendations, anecdotes from the players, and finally, some more advanced strategies. Today it’s opening with Flushes. Stay tune and enjoy the Fantasy Ride!

As explained earlier we are now covering a crucial subject in OFC: your openings. And this is a part four of blog about opening with Flushes.

Indeed, the way you will chose to place your initial 5 cards will be the foundation of your hand. It therefore represent one of the most important decision you will have to make in Open Face Chinese Poker.

We are studying all the best openings in order of the highest starting hands by ranking, until we reach the very worst opening hand with 5 rags such as 10-7-5-4-3 in 4 different suits.

Remember that one of the ultimate goals in Chinese Poker is to reach Fantasyland (FL). Starting with the most effective placement will greatly help you get there!

We already covered some of the best poker hands. We went over the possible scenarios and draws that concern a Royal Flush, a Straight Flush, Quads and Full Houses.

Let’s look at the next category in order of ranking hands: Opening with Flushes and Flush Draws.

We covered in the last 2 blog posts situations involving 5 cards flush served in opening. We discovered when we should keep it as a made hand in the back for 4 points royalty, versus when to split it in order to have more chances of accessing Fantasyland.

Moving on to openings where you will receive 3 cards to a Flush.

3 Cards Flush Draws in Openings

There will be many variations for this opening as the best way to play will depend on the remaining cards accompanying this flush draw.

Variation #1: If you receive 3 cards to a Flush in opening with 2 small cards

In such case, the best play will be to place 3 cards flush draw in the back and the 2 small cards in the middle.

Variation #2: If you receive 3 cards to a Flush in opening with a small card and an Ace, King or Queen

In this case, the best play will be to place 3 cards flush draw in the back, the small card in the middle, and the Ace, King or Queen on top. Yes, even the Ace will go on top here even if it would have been accompanied by a wheel card such as 2-3-4-5 in the middle.

Variation #3: If you receive 3 cards to a Flush in opening with a big pair that is not part of the flush draw

In this scenario, the best play will vary according to that pair:

• AA and 22 to JJ: You will place your 3 cards flush in the back and your pair in the middle
• KK or QQ: You will place your 3 cards flush in the back and your pair on top

Exception!

If you receive 3 cards to a Flush in opening with a big pair such as Aces, Kings or Queens that is part of these 3 cards, then you should exceptionally split your big pair and preserve the 3 cards flush draw at the bottom. You should place your remaining Ace, King or Queen at the top, and the 5^th card in the middle.

Be aware of the reasons why you make every single decision in OFC. That’s how you will become a winning player! Knowing how to handle opening with flushes is a great start.

Rendezvous next week for the continuation of these series of tips on Open Face Chinese Poker!

Meet me at the OFC tables on CoinPoker to practice your skills and enjoy the action. Open yourself a CoinPoker account today. Welcome to Fantasyland!

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Isabelle “No Mercy” Mercier

OFC “Progressive” World Champion

Jump to the next part: Opening with Flushes (Part 5)