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Mậu Binh (Chinese Poker) Variations — Regional & House Rules | Card Games Academy

Mậu Binh (Chinese Poker) Variations

Intermediate

Understand the confusion between Mầu Binh variants. Liêng (Betting), Bài Cào (Counting), and Binh Xập Xám (13-Card Strategy).

Reviewed by Card Games Academy Editorial Team · Traditional Card Games Researchers

You are viewing the variations section for Mậu Binh (Chinese Poker). The content below starts with key takeaways, then goes deeper with examples and common scenarios.

32 main sections on this page4 related glossary terms

Players

2-4

Duration

5-10 min

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Mầu Binh Variations - A Tale of Three Games 🎭

The Name Confusion

In Vietnam, "bài" terminology can be regional, and the name "Mầu Binh" causes significant confusion among new players and even experienced card enthusiasts.

Miền Bắc (North): "Mầu Binh" usually refers to the 13-card strategic game (Chinese Poker). The 3-card betting game is called "Liêng" or "3 Cây".
Miền Nam (South): "Binh Xập Xám" is the 13-card game. The 3-card game is "Bài Cào" (Scratch Cards).

This guide clarifies the three major variants involving 3-card mechanics and explains when each name applies.

Why Three Names?

Term

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Key statistics

Main variants

3 (Liêng, Bài Cào, Binh Xập Xám)

Cards per player

3 or 13

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Key Terminology for this Game

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Rank	Hand Name	Description	Probability
1	Three of a Kind	Three cards of same rank	0.24%
2	Straight	Three consecutive cards	3.3%
3	Flush	Three cards of same suit	4.96%
4	Pair	Two cards of same rank	16.9%
5	High Card	No combinations	74.6%

Phase	Action
Ante	All players post initial bet
Deal	3 cards dealt face-down
First Bet	Players bet, call, raise, or fold
Showdown	Remaining players reveal cards

Situation	Recommended Action
Any Pair	Bet or call, rarely fold
Ace-High	Consider position, may bluff
Straight/Flush	Raise for value
Trips	Slow play or bet aggressively
Low High Card	Fold unless bluffing

Card	Value
Ace (A)	1 point
2-9	Face value
10, J, Q, K	0 points

Hand Name	Description	Beats
9 Nút	Total of 9 points	All other point totals
Ba Tây	Three face cards (J, Q, K)	9 Nút
Sáp	Three cards same suit (some regions)	Ba Tây

Feature	Bài Cào	Liêng
Strategy	None (pure luck)	High (bluffing)
Speed	Very fast	Medium
Betting	Single ante	Multiple rounds
Skill	Low	High
Social	Party game	Serious game

Region	Variation
South	Ba Tây beats 9 Nút
North	Sometimes Sáp (flush) counts
Diaspora	Often simplified further

Limb	Cards	Strength Requirement	Description
Front	3	Weakest	Uses 3-card rankings
Middle	5	Medium	Standard poker hand
Back	5	Strongest	Must beat middle

Rank	Hand	Description
1	Three of Kind	Three same rank
2	Pair	Two same rank
3	High Card	Highest card wins

Outcome	Points
Win all 3	Sweep bonus + points
Win 2 of 3	Points for wins
Lose 2 of 3	Pay points
Foul (invalid)	Pay all opponents

Foul Type	Description
Back weaker	Back hand weaker than Middle
Middle weaker	Middle hand weaker than Front
Invalid hand	Cards don't form proper poker hands

Hand Name	Description	Bonus
Rồng (Dragon)	13 cards straight 2-A	Maximum
6 Pairs	Six pairs total	High
3 Straights	All three limbs are straights	Medium
3 Flushes	All three limbs are flushes	Medium

Feature	Liêng	Bài Cào (3 Cây)	Binh Xập Xám
Cards	3	3	13
Ranking	Poker Hands	Sum Points (0-9)	3 Poker Rows
Betting	Yes (Poker style)	Ante only	Points per limb
Skill	High (Bluffing)	Low (Luck)	Very High (Logic)
Speed	Medium	Very Fast	Slow
Players	2-10	2-10+	2-4
Duration	5-10 min/hand	1-2 min/hand	15-30 min/hand
Best For	Serious players	Parties, families	Strategic thinkers

What You Hear/See	Game Type
"Tố" (Raise), "Theo" (Call)	Liêng
"Nút" (Points), "Ba Tây!"	Bài Cào
13 cards being arranged	Binh Xập Xám

Game	Table Setup	Card Count
Liêng	Chips visible, betting pot	3 per player
Bài Cào	Simple ante, quick reveal	3 per player
Binh Xập Xám	Cards spread for arranging	13 per player

Game	Learning Curve	Time Investment
Bài Cào	Very low	5 minutes
Liêng	Medium	30 minutes
Binh Xập Xám	High	Several hours

Game	Party Suitability	Player Count
Bài Cào	Excellent	Any number
Liêng	Good	4-8
Binh Xập Xám	Moderate	4

Game	Skill Ceiling	Tournament Viability
Liêng	High	Excellent
Binh Xập Xám	Very High	Excellent
Bài Cào	Low	Limited

Term	North Vietnam	South Vietnam	Notes
3-card betting	Liêng, 3 Cây	Bài Cào Tố	Same game
3-card counting	3 Cây	Bài Cào	Different game
13-card	Mầu Binh	Binh Xập Xám	Same game
Pair	Đôi	Cặp	Same meaning
Trips	Sám	Ba con	Same meaning

Liêng	French "Lien"	3-card betting game
Bài Cào	Vietnamese "scratch"	3-card counting game
Binh Xập Xám	Chinese "Pineapple"	13-card arrangement game

Game	Similarity	Difficulty
Teen Patti	3-card Indian poker	Medium
Three Card Poker	Casino variant	Easy
Open Face Chinese Poker	Binh variant	High
Pusoy Dos	Filipino card game	Medium

Variant	Best For	Skill Level
Liêng	Strategic players	Medium-High
Bài Cào	Casual, social play	Low
Binh Xập Xám	Serious competition	Very High

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Mậu Binh (Chinese Poker) Variations

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