What Is a Dragon in Chinese Poker?

Dragon in Chinese Poker – Understanding the Mythical Creature and Its Role in the Game

Chinese Poker is a unique form of poker that has its roots in Asia. Unlike traditional poker, Chinese Poker is played with thirteen cards per player, and the players must arrange their cards into three separate hands – two with five cards each and one with three cards. The goal of the game is to create three hands that outrank your opponents’ hands, with the backhand being the strongest and the front hand being the weakest.

One of the most exciting things about Chinese Poker is its use of special hands, such as ‘Dragon.’ In this article, we will explore what a Dragon hand is, how it can be formed, and its significance in the game.

The Origin of Dragon Hand

Dragon hand is named after the mythical creature from Chinese culture and folklore. Dragons are powerful creatures that symbolize strength, good fortune, prosperity and power. In Chinese culture, dragons are revered for their abilities to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits.

The Formation of Dragon Hand

To form a Dragon hand in Chinese Poker, you need to have a specific combination of cards. A Dragon hand consists of one flush or straight flush consisting of all seven cards (the players’ thirteen-card hands plus four dummy cards).

PRO TIP:Dragon in Chinese Poker is the name for a three-of-a-kind hand. It’s one of the highest hands in the game, and it’s usually worth more points than flushes or straights. When constructing your hand, you should always aim to make a Dragon whenever possible.

The formation of a Dragon hand requires careful planning and strategy. Players must select their initial 13-card hands carefully to maximize their chances of forming a Dragon hand later on in the game. Players must also keep an eye out for any opportunities to improve their chances of forming a Dragon hand by discarding specific cards or by drawing specific cards from the deck.

The Significance of Dragon Hand

Dragon hands are rare but highly valuable in Chinese Poker. A player with a Dragon hand scores a bonus point, which is added to their overall score at the end of the game. The bonus point for a Dragon hand can be significant, especially if it is the only special hand that a player forms during the game.

Dragon hands can also act as a tiebreaker in Chinese Poker. If two or more players have equally ranked hands, the player with the highest-ranking Dragon hand wins.

Tips for Creating a Dragon Hand

If you want to create a Dragon hand in Chinese Poker, here are some tips to keep in mind:

  • Try to form two strong five-card hands first so that you can focus on creating your backhand and getting rid of unwanted cards.
  • Look for opportunities to create flushes and straight flushes early on in the game.
  • Discard any cards that do not contribute to your goal of forming a Dragon hand.
  • Be patient – forming a Dragon hand requires careful planning and strategy.

The Bottom Line

Dragon hands are one of the most exciting aspects of Chinese Poker. They offer players an opportunity to score bonus points and act as tiebreakers in case of equally ranked hands.

However, forming a Dragon hand requires careful planning and strategy. Players must choose their initial 13-card hands wisely, look for opportunities to improve their chances of forming a Dragon hand, and discard any unwanted cards. With practice and experience, anyone can learn how to form a powerful and rare Dragon hand in Chinese Poker.