Hakka Poker

The hardworking and thrifty Hakka people would sometimes engage in card games for entertainment during their spare time as well. “Luk Fu Cards” originated from paper card games of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the game requires four players and is played like a hybrid combination of poker, contract bridge and mah-jong using a deck of 38 cards. These cards are divided into four different suits, named “Shi”, “Guan”, “Suo” and “Xian”. Each suit has 9 cards numbering from 1 to 9, with the exception of “1 Shi” and “1 Xian” being known as “Bai Zi” and “Mao Gong”. There are also two extra cards named “Lu Hua” and “Yun Xian” which do not belong to any suit and has a numerical value of 1. Each round can be separated into 4 phases to complete a hand and to tally the points. A winning hand must have at least six points, hence the name “Luk Fu” (Six Points).