Every discipline, whether athletic or not, requires specific qualities. An ultramarathon runner (yes, the kind of people who can run up to 300 km / 186 miles) has a completely different profile than a sprinter whose effort is explosive and lasts less than 10 seconds. Not the same training, not the same body type — these two types of athletes are at opposite ends of the spectrum, and the qualities they need to reach the top of their sport are vastly different.
It’s exactly the same in poker. A cash game player doesn’t need the same qualities as a tournament (MTT) player. The former has to pay close attention to bankroll management while playing, whereas the latter doesn’t face that issue — once he’s in a tournament, the buy-in is already spent. Instead, he has to deal with the stress of tournament pressure and as the bubble approaches, the pressure increases drastically, because busting at that point means losing his entire buy-in. MTT players have only two options: win (finish in the money) or go home with nothing. A cash game player can end a session up, down, or even, which offers more flexibility. Plus, they don’t face the escalating blinds, a major source of stress for MTT players.
So yes, the qualities of a good cash game player and a good tournament player differ, even though the game is technically the same. Both require patience, good hand selection, and the ability to take risks at the right time — but in different proportions. For instance, a tournament player who just took a bad beat and is down to 10 BB while still far from the bubble will have to take serious risks to stay in contention. A cash game player who takes a bad beat doesn’t face that same pressure: he can just reload, and the blinds won’t increase.
The same logic applies to OFC (Open Face Chinese Poker). To be successful in OFC, you need very specific skills. Here are the most important ones.
Be observant
The key concept in OFC is “Open Face.” Unlike most poker variants where opponents’ cards are hidden, in OFC you can see nearly all of your opponents’ cards. Keep in mind that during the four rounds of 3-card draws, players must place two cards face up and discard one, which remains hidden. So you don’t see 100% of their hands, but almost. If you’re playing against two opponents, you get to see a total of 43 cards — your 17 cards and your opponents’ 26.
With that much information, it’s obvious that being observant is a major asset.
What should you observe?
Start by tracking the visible cards that matter for your own hand. For example, if you’re aiming for a flush on your bottom row and have three hearts after the first 5-card deal, pay close attention to whether your opponents are also showing hearts. If they are, your chances of hitting the flush drop sharply. But if they’re not showing any hearts, your probability goes up significantly. Observation directly impacts your strategic decisions and win rate.
You should also study your opponents’ tendencies. After a few hands, patterns emerge — especially from weaker players who often stick to the same strategies, particularly in how they place their first five cards. Some players love chasing a flush on the bottom row, even if they’re first to act and only hold two suited cards. They won’t even consider going for two pairs. Recognizing this kind of behavior gives you a major edge and lets you adapt your own strategy accordingly.
While OFC doesn’t involve the same level of aggression or bluffing as No-Limit Hold’em, there are still aggressive players in OFC. Some take big risks with their top row, placing two queens or more early on. That kind of high-risk play can pay off — especially if they reach Fantasyland — but over the long run, it often leads to fouling. Once again, your ability to observe and adapt lets you play more conservatively when needed, especially against players likely to crash.
We’ll explore more essential OFC skills in a future article. In the meantime, check out these three pieces to deepen your OFC knowledge:
- What is the goal of OFC Poker?
- The Mysterious Origins of Chinese Poker
- Pineapple Poker vs NLHE: Which Game Is Right for You?
