Common questions about Pineapple OFC
In Pineapple OFC, you build three poker hands on a board: a 3-card top hand, 5-card middle hand, and 5-card bottom hand. You start with 5 cards, then receive 3 cards at a time (keeping 2, discarding 1) until your board is complete. Your hands must be in ascending order of strength (top weakest, bottom strongest). Full rules →
The "Pineapple" mechanic means receiving 3 cards but only keeping 2 (discarding 1). This creates more decision points than standard dealing, as you must choose which card to throw away based on your developing hand.
Pineapple OFC is a Chinese Poker variant with no betting—pure strategy. Crazy Pineapple is a Texas Hold'em variant with betting rounds. They share the "3 cards, discard 1" mechanic but are completely different games. Detailed comparison →
Pineapple OFC is typically played heads-up (2 players). With a standard 52-card deck, 2 players use 26 cards + discards. 3 players is possible but less common.
No. Once a card is placed on your board, it cannot be moved. This is a core rule of Open Face Chinese Poker and is what creates the strategic tension.
You can place cards in any row (top, middle, or bottom) at any time. However, your final hands must be in ascending order of strength—bottom strongest, top weakest—or you foul.
If you run out of time during your turn, the game will auto-place your remaining cards, which may result in a foul. Try to complete your placements before the timer expires.
Yes! In Open Face Chinese Poker, all placed cards are visible to both players. This is the "open face" part—you can see your opponent's developing hand and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Standard poker rankings apply. Royal Flush is best, followed by Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House, etc. In OFC, trips on top is especially valuable for its royalty bonus (10-22 points).
Royalties are bonus points for premium hands. Both players collect royalties regardless of who wins the row. For example, a flush on bottom = +4, quads = +10. See the full royalties chart →
A scoop is winning all three rows against your opponent. It's worth 6 points total (1+1+1 for the rows, plus a 3-point bonus).
If both players foul, no points are exchanged. Neither player collects royalties. The hand is essentially a draw.
Set QQ (pair of Queens) or better in your top row without fouling. On your next hand, you'll receive all 14 cards at once instead of the normal progressive dealing.
To stay for another hand, achieve one of: trips on top, full house or better in middle, or quads or better on bottom. Fantasyland strategy →
You set all 13 cards at once (receiving 14, discarding 1). Your opponent plays normally without seeing your cards until you're both done. You have complete information to set the optimal hand.
No. Going for QQ+ on top is risky if your other cards don't support strong middle/bottom hands. A foul costs ~10+ points, while FL is worth ~5-7 extra points. Only chase FL when you have supporting cards.
Committing too early to ambitious hands. Beginners often chase flushes or Fantasyland without considering foul risk. It's better to play conservatively and build skill before taking big risks.
Very important! Many players neglect it, but top row royalties add up (66 = +1, AA = +9, trips = +10-22). A strong top row also helps prevent fouling. Strategy guide →
The best way to learn is to play! Start a game and experiment with different strategies.