Poker is at the same time one of the simplest and most difficult games. And there is no mistake in this expression. The simplicity is that rules can be learned in minutes, just like learning combinations. But to achieve mastery, like in sports, will take you years and years. Moreover, even having reached a certain level, you cannot simply stop. When you stop developing and mastering new skills, you immediately lose your skill.

But any progress begins with something simple - in this case, with mastering the basic rules. And it is their study and detailed review that we will engage in in this material.

We'll consider Texas Hold'em as it is the most common and fastest growing poker variation. Although, believe me, once you learn how to play it, it won’t be difficult for you to understand the rules of classic poker and its other types.

Poker rules

In order to simplify the learning process, let's say right away that Conventionally, the entire game of poker can be divided into two parts: trading and collecting combinations. Separately, one could add elements of strategy, but since this part is wedged into the rest, there is no point in singling it out.

Trading is about betting, calling, raising and bluffing; combinations are the main goal in the game; they are also responsible for determining the winner

Let's go from the very beginning in order.

Betting circle in poker rules

The first thing that happens at the table in each individual hand is setting blinds(from English “blind”). These are like this minimum mandatory rates, which are necessary so that the game does not end without a bank at all. Yes, sometimes they are annoying, especially when a player with a weak hand is sent to the next stage of the game only because he has already placed chips, albeit against his will.

To make it easier to determine who will make these blinds, there is a special dealer chip on the table. At the beginning of the hand, one of the players has it, and after each batch it is passed further around the circle counterclockwise.

Total There are two blinds: big and small. In most cases, the first is twice the size of the second. You can find them out from the names of the tables (this information is indicated there at the very end) or a special column in the poker room.

For example, a table with blinds of $0.04/$0.08 provides 4 cents for the small blind and 8 cents for the big blind

In some tournaments there is also ante. This is a mandatory bet that every player makes. But this is not typical for cash tables, so at the beginning of your acquaintance with the world of poker, this knowledge will not be useful to you.

After the blinds have been posted, each player receives two pocket cards.

This stage requires the presence of a specific strategy. The fact is that, based on the strength of the combinations (we will look at them later), each of the starting hands carries a certain chance and a certain probability of what it can grow into.

Although this is not part of the rules of playing classic poker, it would be worth mentioning these points in passing. Ability to analyze the first two cards- one of the most important, on which depends how much money you will lose until, by pure chance, you get a really strong combination.

Since in Hold'em players only have 2 cards, their strength can be predicted even intuitively (of course, knowing all these combinations).

Suited aces, ace and king, other strong pairs - this is something that is likely to bring victory and something that must be played, even if the opponent is acting too aggressively.

After the cards are dealt, the first round of betting occurs. According to the rules of the game of poker, it, together with the issuance of cards, is called preflop.

We'll look at the options a little later, but now let's talk about how the distribution formally ends.

After completing the betting round, three community cards are laid out on the table - flop. Bets are placed again. One more card – another round of bets. This thorn And finally river The final map and final financial machinations.

After this, the cards are revealed and the winners are determined. In online poker this happens instantly, although in real life professional players and dealers determine the collected combinations and winners in a split second.

Possible actions in the game

What can you do during a deal according to the rules of playing cards and poker?

First, you must simply understand the nature of trading in order to understand what actions are available.

To put it roughly in layman's terms, all players must be on an equal footing at each stage of the betting round for the game to move to the next phase.

There are three options for this: skipping a move, equalizing (calling) or discarding cards.

The pass is available at all stages of the game except preflop. Since there is already a big blind preflop, every player must call it in order to continue playing (except for the one who posted it). Further, if players do not see prospects, they may not raise, and just continue playing without betting. If all three stages of the game are played out in the same way, then in the end only the initial pot formed by the blinds and the chips that equalized them will be played.

The essence of the second is that all players take turns make a bet with the same amount of chips. After the circle ends, all the money is collected in a single bank and the next stage of the game begins.

And finally, folding is the best option if someone promoted before you, and you don't want to spend your chips because you don't see any prospects. The most annoying thing is that in this case everything that has already been delivered is lost. And even if you called once, and then someone in the circle decided to raise, and you don’t want to call again, then you won’t be able to take back what you bet.

The basic rules of poker provide for several types of limits: no-limit, fixed and pot-limit. The first one is the most popular. In this mode, players' bet sizes are limited only by the number of their chips. Secondly, there is a specific minimum and maximum amount that can be bet. In pot limit, bets are limited by the existing pot. That is, with each new circle, their sizes grow.

Combinations for complete poker rules

Combinations can be learned before you even know how to play. They are very simple and logical and are used in several varieties of poker.

Each of them has its own characteristics and nuances that you need to know not only in order to play better, but so as not to be caught off guard by a detail “that you weren’t told anything about.”

It should be said that, despite the fact that in poker you, roughly speaking, have 7 cards, two of your own and five of the common ones, you can use no more than five in total, regardless of which ones. Thus, there are situations when a very strong combination becomes a combination of all players at once, and, in this case, the pot is divided between them all. But such things are sorted out at later stages.

The main thing to know is that you always use 5 cards, no more and no less.

• Kicker. Some people don't even highlight this combination, but it is important. It determines the winner if none of the players was able to collect anything stronger; or used to judge players with the same combinations of cards. Those who use less than 5 cards. Accordingly, an ace is the best kicker, a two is the worst.
• Pair– two cards of the same rank. The combination occurs quite often. It can appear preflop and consist of two pocket cards, or be common on the table. The strength of a pair is determined by the rank of its constituent cards. If they match, the winner will be determined using the kicker. Since 5 cards are used for a combination, and a pair uses only 2, then we are left with as many as 3 cards, the seniority of which will help determine who won. If they all match, then it’s a draw.
• Two pairs. Although this combination is at the very beginning of the list, it already forces a good half of Hold’em players to raise bets, seeing the prospects for it. The fact is that she has a very good draw (the probability of making a stronger combination) to a full house. We'll look at it a little later.
• Set– three cards of the same rank. Depending on how this combination is put together, it is called differently. But this does not change the strength. Trips, three and set - It is the same. If they match, then only two kickers will determine the winner.
• Straight– five consecutive cards. One of the favorite combinations from the rules of the poker game among novice players. This is explained by several factors: to collect it you need all 5 cards, and it looks “impressive”, although in reality it is quite simple to assemble, due to the fact that the sequence can be searched in both directions.
  There are several nuances here. Firstly, we need to remind you once again that there can be only 5 cards, and strength is determined by the highest card in the straight. Even if you have it consisting of 7 at once, but two additional ones are weaker, then this will not play any role.
  There is another straight combination that beginners forget about. Straight from ace to deuce. He is the weakest according to the rules of simple poker. But be careful, the Ace can only be used in two straights. From Ace to Two, where it becomes the weakest card, and from Ten to Ace. CombinationsJ, Q, K, A, 2 and others do not exist.
• Flash– five cards of the same suit. But this combination is often underestimated, although according to probability theory, it appears less often. Here, too, there can be only five cards, and the winner, if there is a match, will be determined by the higher one in the flush.
• Full house– combining two combinations: a pair and a set. Has a very good draw with two pair, but still comes up rarely.
• Kare– four cards of the same rank. Despite the fact that the combination consists of only four cards, It's quite difficult to assemble. However, it is possible to receive several four of a kind in one hand. The stronger one will consist of higher cards. And if, for example, it lays out entirely on the table, then one kicker will be able to decide the fate of the game.
• Straight flush– the second strongest combination according to the rules of the poker card game Texas Hold'em. This is again a combination of several combinations - flush and straight. It is subject to all their characteristics and collection conditions.
• Royal flush (or royal flush) is the strongest hand in poker. It is also called the strongest flush straight. This is a suited straight from ten to ace. The probability of collecting it is more than 600,000 to 1. However, having received such a combination, you definitely become a winner.

Although combinations are easy and quick to remember, it would be a good idea to download these poker rules and place them in front of you. This way, you will always be sure that you are making a choice when betting, bluffing or folding.

A few words about strategy

Poker rules have absolutely no strategy.. This is a component that the player must take care of on his own, however, it is very complex and important. The basic conditions of the game are learned in 20-40 hands, but even the most experienced won’t tell you how to play to win. But there are a few recommendations:

1. Study your opponents. By understanding how each player behaves in a particular situation, you will understand how to respond to their actions.
2. Develop your own strategy. Bluffing, aggression, playing only with strong hands - only you decide how best to play, but try to do it in a way that is not clear. Make your opponents sweat when playing with you.
3. Study the odds. Knowing the probability that you will collect this or that combination, you understand exactly what to do at a particular moment. So, being on the river (last round) with one pair, you are unlikely to raise, but a flush on the flop will definitely force you to compete for the pot.
4. Learn everything. Sometimes, bluffing is just as useful as just playing smart. Explore different options and practice them periodically.
5. Use any learning tools - from books to communicating with people.

If the text version is difficult for you to understand, you can use video training in Russian for the rules of the game of poker. Due to the fact that it uses a visual component (tables, players, cards, chips), it will be easier and faster for you to understand and understand all the nuances.

Learning the basic rules of poker is just the beginning. Real learning is ongoing - as long as you play.

The tips given here are the result of the extensive gaming experience of your predecessors. It's your choice whether to follow poker tips or not, but you'll make more money if you follow them.

Watch your opponents and write notes. The importance of this to a successful poker game cannot be overstated. Especially while you are playing without special programs that display opponents' statistics, notes will be the most important guide for making decisions in difficult situations.

Notice the hand ranges your opponents are holding and how they play those hands. Over time, you must learn to accurately determine what your opponent can play with, and, do not get hung up on specific combinations, you must play against the range, the set of hands that he may have.

Over time, you will be able to change your poker game to suit specific opponents. For example, if you notice that a player is raising half of his hands, you will realize that you can avoid folding some combinations after such a raise that should not be played after an unknown opponent raises. Or, conversely, if a person bets only on AA and KK, then you will not answer him with JJ or AK.

Your goal is to not butt heads with anyone unless you have a monster on your hands. Therefore, without a doubt, part with even fairly strong hands like AQ after your opponents raise. When you get a statistics program, you will be able to more individually adjust your game to specific opponents. Without statistics, notes are indispensable; they must be written, recording all the characteristics of the opponents (however, even with statistics, notes must be written).

Try to bluff less. If you don't bluff at all, you will win significantly more than if you do it too often (especially against unsuitable opponents, which is the majority at the micros). Actually, in the latter case, you will simply lose.

Do not elevate your opponents to the rank of personal enemies who need to be punished - this only leads to losses. If someone moved your premium hands three times in a row on any kind of garbage, this does not mean at all that you need to react to every entry into the bank of this opponent and also start playing on garbage. Your task is not to win against anyone in particular, but simply to play poker optimally in order to win over the long haul. Any deviations from the optimal game are equivalent to a loss. In the same way, there is no need to compete with anyone and look for equal opponents. The goal of the game is to win money, and for this, weak gambling opponents are better suited - the fish we love so much.

If you are outplayed and your opponents are uncomfortable for you, don’t prove anything to yourself, leave the table.

A short stack player's strongest weapon is all-in, which very often forces opponents to fold stronger hands than you have, or less cautious opponents to call you with weaker hands. But you need to use this weapon wisely - limit yourself to the cases described in the Strategy. Be especially careful about all-in when playing with a larger stack. What is profitable with a short stack can lead to losses with a larger stack.

Stay strategic when determining when to fold a hand if your raise is followed by a . In most cases you will have to click Fold. And don’t let it bother you that you have already deposited money into the bank. Having placed a bet, you must say goodbye to it in advance. This is no longer your money, and you should not take into account how many of your bets are in the general bank.

In poker, in the short term, much is determined by chance, but the art of the game is to lose little in bad situations and win a lot in successful situations. Therefore, especially at the micro-limits, try to increase the pot only in cases where you have a really strong hand. Give away small pots easily (for example, you need to learn to fold even top pair, especially with a bad kicker, or low, when freeplaying). You cannot answer bets out of curiosity - to find out what your opponent had. This leads to losses. But step on the gas when you have a really good hand. At low limits there is practically no place for slowplay - there your bets will be called just fine as is. Just wait for that strong hand.

A good poker player differs from a bad one in that it is almost impossible for him to win much - he simply folds weak hands. Set a goal so that it is impossible for you to win much. Let you fold a weak hand five times, even suspecting that your opponent is bluffing, but on the sixth you get a strong one and pay it all off with interest.

When in doubt, remember the main poker wisdom: the most profitable button is Fold. Always look for a reason to fold your hand.

So, first he plays for you - about 30-40 thousand hands, play exactly according to the strategy, eliminate mistakes, get used to it, so that most decisions are made “automatically”. You have to adopt the appropriate playing style as a stereotype.

After this, study articles on further development of the strategy, and begin to carefully apply the acquired knowledge in practice.

SECTION 7.

7.1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

7.1.1. Management reserves the right to cancel or change any tournament in a manner that is fair to the players.

7.1.2. Whenever possible, the same rules apply as for regular games.

7.1.3. Managers (Pit Bosses) must consider the interests of the game and fairness as the highest priority in the decision-making process. In certain unusual cases, in the interests of fairness, decisions may be made that are contrary to technical rules. The decision of the Manager (Pit Boss) is final.

7.1.4. In all international tournaments, during hands, players can speak only in English (In Russia and Ukraine, Russian is used along with English).

7.1.5. Players cannot use their phones while at the poker table. This rule applies to all other forms of electronic devices. (The use of audio players is allowed).

7.1.6. It is prohibited to keep any personal items on the tournament table. (exception – “Card holder”)

7.1.7. Limits and dark bets are increased regularly at scheduled intervals.

7.1.8. After the signal indicating the end of the betting level, new limits are applied to the next hand. (The beginning of a new distribution is considered the beginning of the “shuffle”).

7.1.9. Chips of the smallest denomination will be removed from the table as soon as they are no longer needed for dark or ante betting. All chips of a lower denomination, if there are a sufficient number of them, will be immediately exchanged for new chips.

7.1.10. The absent player will always be dealt cards and bet blinds, ante, and a mandatory bet if he has a low card.

7.1.11. As players leave, the tables are closed in a certain order, with players from the closed tables being assigned to empty seats at other tables.

7.1.12. A reasonable balance of players at the tables will be maintained by transferring a player if necessary.

7.1.13. All players who leave the game must immediately leave their seats at the table.

7.1.14. Management is not responsible for settling private deals, third-party bets, or redistributing the prize fund between finalists.

7.2. DRAWING OF SEATS, CLOSING AND BALANCED TABLES

7.2.1. Initially, seats at the table are determined by drawing lots or distribution. (If a tournament is played at only one table, the cards that determine the seats at the table may be left face up to allow early players to choose their seats, with the stake position determined later at random). At tournaments and satellites, the draw for places is carried out randomly. Whenever possible, comfortable seating may be provided for players with special physical needs.

7.2.2. During the draw, it is prohibited to exchange previously drawn place cards.

7.2.3. Players moving from a disbanded table, depending on the new draw card received, can sit in any position at the new table. They can get big blind, small blind, or button. The only position at the new table from which a player cannot continue playing immediately is the place between the button and the small blind.

7.2.4. At the start of the tournament, each paying player will have a corresponding starting number of chips placed on the table, regardless of whether the player is present at the table or not. Cards will be dealt to absent players and any chips required for ante and dark bets will be placed in the pot.

7.2.5. In flop and mixed games, when balancing tables, players move from the big blind position to the worst position (the big blind position or the closest position to the big blind clockwise, including the position of one big blind (without the small blind), even if it is means that a given seat at the table will have a big blind twice (not one player). A player cannot be moved to the small blind position and a seat between the button and small blind. The table from which the player will be moved is determined by the table balancing procedure. The game stops at a table that has three or more fewer players than the other tables.

7.2.6. In flop games, the final table consists of ten (10) players. In stud games, the final table consists of nine (9) players. In a 6 max game, the final table consists of seven (7) players.

7.3. BANKS, CARD OPENING

7.3.1. The cards speak for themselves. Verbal statements regarding the contents of a player's cards are optional. However, any player who deliberately miscalls his hand may be penalized.

7.3.2. All cards must be face up, once one player has bet all in, that bet has been accepted and all other betting action has been completed.

7.3.3. Dealers cannot "kill" a winning hand that has been tabled (cards up) and was clearly a winner. Players must assist the dealer in identifying the winning combination if he has not correctly identified the winner.

7.3.4. At the end of the last round of betting, the player who made the last aggressive action (bet, raise) in the final round of betting must show his cards first. If there was no bet on the last round of betting, the player to the left of the button reveals his cards first and so on clockwise. In stud games, the player with the highest hand (up) must show his cards first. In Razz, the player with the lowest hand reveals his cards first.

7.3.5. In flop games: When playing Hi, the odd chip goes to the player to the left of the button; when playing Hi – Low to the Hi combination. When there are two or more Hi combinations or two or more Low combinations, the odd chip goes to the player to the left of the button. In stud games, the odd chip goes to the player with the highest card by suit.

7.3.6. Each minor bank must be divided separately.

7.3.7. To receive part of the bank, if there is a winning combination on the board, the player must open both of his cards.

7.3.8. The opportunity to discuss a hand ends when a new hand begins.

7.4. GENERAL PROCEDURES

7.4.1. During a chip raise, the chips that are removed from the game will be swapped, each player having a maximum of chips of the next denomination. The remaining chips of the removed denomination will be played. The drawing of the remaining chips begins from the first box. The player cannot leave the tournament due to a chip raise. If during a chip raise he loses all his chips, then he is given one chip of the smallest value in the game. Players are encouraged to be present during the chip raise.

7.4.2. The deck will be replaced during a dealer change, a level change, or according to the tournament rules. Players cannot request replacement cards.

7.4.3. When the round time has expired and the tournament manager announces a level change, the new level begins with the next hand. The distribution begins with the first shuffle. If you are using a shuffle machine, then distribution begins by pressing the green button.

7.4.4. In rebuy tournaments, a player cannot miss a single hand. If a player announces his intention to make an additional purchase, then chips are placed before the start of the distribution and he will be obliged to make an additional purchase.

7.4.5. After a reasonable time to think, players may request a timer. In this case, the player will be given a maximum of one minute to make a decision. If the player has not made a decision within this minute, then the player is given a 10-second countdown. If the player has not made a decision before the end of the 10-second report, then the player’s cards are automatically counted as a pass and taken by the dealer.

7.4.6. Opening additional cards after the end of the distribution is prohibited.

7.5. WAITING FOR YOUR WORD

7.5.1. The player must be in his seat by the time all players are dealt the initial cards (preflop). If the player is not in his place until this moment, then his cards are considered to be a pass, regardless of what position the player is in at that moment (Big blind, small blind).

7.5.2. The player must remain at the table until the word reaches him, even if he plans to fold his cards.

7.6. BUTTON AND BLINDS

7.6.1. During a tournament, a “dead” button can be used (the button is in the place of the eliminated player. “empty space”).

7.6.2. A player who deliberately avoids the blinds when moving from a broken table will be subject to a penalty.

7.6.3. In a heads-up game, the button is small blind and makes the first decision before the flop. After the flop, the big blind player makes the first decision. When starting a Heads-up game, the button is placed so that the same player is not on the Big Blind twice.

7.7. DEALER ERROR

7.7.1. In stud games, if any of the players are dealt two cards face up by the dealer's mistake, then a mulligan is announced. In games with a flop, if the first or second card in the hand is turned over, a mulligan is declared. A player can receive two consecutive cards if he is Big Blind.

7.7.2. If the opened flop contains four (not three) cards (open or not), then the dealer must close them and call the pit boss (manager). Pit boss (manager). Must choose one of 4 cards, which will then be used as a cut, and the remaining 3 cards will become the flop.

7.8. GAME: BETS AND INCREASING STAKES

7.8.1. The verbal statement determines your actions and is binding. The player who verbally announced the bet in turn is obliged to place it. Players must take their turn. If the bet was announced out of turn, the player cannot change it, unless the player whose word was missed has raised the bet. Check, call or pass of a player whose word was missed does not give the right to change the bet.

7.8.2. In No-limit or Pot-limit games, raising the bet must be done correctly and according to the rules. Raise options:

1) chips must be deposited into the bank in one motion;

2) The bet must be verbally announced before chips are placed into the bank;

3) Verbally stating "Raise" and then placing chips in the pot in one motion. It is the player's responsibility to ensure that his actions are understood correctly.

7.8.3. The rate increase must be at least the same as the previous increase. If a player raises the bet by 50% or more of the previous increase, but less than the minimum increase increment, then he must deliver up to the minimum bet increase. The minimum step is equal to the last increase. (see exception for multiple chips of the same value.). In No-limit or Pot-limit games, if the All-in is greater than the previous bet, but less than the minimum increase, then the player who has already bet in this betting round cannot increase.

7.8.4. If a player throws one chip higher than the bet into the pot and does not call a raise, he is considered to have called the previous bet. If a player wants to make a one-chip increase over the previous bet, he must voice this before the chip touches the surface of the table. If an increase is announced, but the amount of the increase is not specified, then the increase is accepted at the maximum for a chip of a given denomination. If a player makes the first bet in a given betting round, throwing one chip, and does not announce the amount, then the bet is accepted at the maximum for a chip of this denomination.

7.8.5. If a bet has been made and the player, without announcing a raise, throws several chips of the same value, and the removal of one of the chips leaves the amount less than what was required before the previous bet was answered, then this action is not accepted as a raise. For example: preflop. mandatory bets 200-400: player A bets 1200 (increase by 800), player B throws 2 chips worth 1000 without declaring an increase. This bet is accepted as a response to the previous bet (call).

7.8.6. In No-limit games there are no restrictions on increasing bets. In limit games there is a limit, but only until there are 2 players left in the game.

7.8.7. Players can only ask the dealer for the pot amount in Pot-limit games. Dealers should not count the pot in limit and no limit games.

7.8.8. All bets and increases are accepted only by the dealer. The dealer is responsible for the sequence of bets and raises.

7.8.9. Players must hold their high denomination chips so that they are always visible and identifiable.7.8.9. Players may not hold or carry tournament chips in any manner that obscures them from view. A player who tries to do this will lose these chips and may be disqualified. These chips will be removed from the game.

7.8.10. If the dealer mistakenly takes unprotected cards, the player cannot claim the cards back and is not entitled to a refund of bets. However, if the player made an increase and it was not declared, then this increase will be returned to the player.

7.8.11. If a player does not have enough chips to place a blind bet or a forced bet, the player is given the right to make a move with the number of chips that he has left.

7.8.12. During a Showdown, all of a player's cards will be revealed if the player deposits all of their money into the pot (All in).

7.8.13. If two (or more) players lose at the same time, the player who started the game with the larger amount of chips ranks higher in the tournament and receives a higher winnings.

7.9. ETIQUETTE AND FINES

7.9.1. A player may be fined if he reveals at least one of his cards while "under bet", throws a card from the table, violates the "cards in one hand only" rule, or similar incidents. A player may be fined in cases of “soft play”, insults, or disruptive behavior. Penalties that may be used by the Tournament Director (TD) (Manager, Pit Boss) include verbal warnings and “missed hand” penalties. During the penalty period, the offender must remain away from the table, but has the opportunity to continue playing after the penalty is completed. A tournament management representative may assess the penalty by being suspended from play for a specified period of time; one missed hand; one, two, three or four missed rounds, as well as disqualification. A player who is disqualified will have his chips removed from the game. Repeated violations are subject to increasing fines.

7.9.2. Players are required to respect the interests of other players in the tournament. Therefore, players, regardless of whether they are in the game or not, cannot:

1. Reveal the contents of “live” or passed cards.

2. Advise or criticize the game at any time.

3. Reveal cards that were not brought up for discussion.

In this case, the “cards in one hand only” rule will be applied.

7.9.3. A player who reveals cards while "under bet" or while betting will incur a penalty, but his cards will not be considered "dead". The penalty will begin at the end of the hand.

7.9.4. Poker is an individual game. “Soft play” in a game between players may result in penalties, which may also include confiscation of chips and/or disqualification. Chip dumping and/or all other forms of collusion between players will result in disqualification.

7.9.5. Repeated violations of etiquette will result in fines. Examples include, but are not limited to: talking excessively about other players' cards or chips, delaying play, repeatedly acting out of turn, or being excessively talkative.

7.9.6. Inappropriate behavior, such as throwing cards off the table, may result in penalties such as excluding the player from the game for a certain period of time. More serious violations such as arguing and swearing at the table may result in exclusion from the tournament.

7.9.7. It is not permitted to change seats after the start of the game, unless the movement is determined by management.

Which are most often asked by novice poker players (or “dummies” as they are called) on various forums, as well as in VKontakte groups. Moreover, if you want an answer to your question, post it in the comments and we will try to answer it as thoroughly as possible.

Q: Question. Tell me what to do in a situation when one player runs out of chips in the middle of the game (for example on the turn), but wants to continue the game? How are the cards then revealed and if such a person wins, how is the winning stack distributed among the players?

Answer. Such situations are not uncommon at the poker tables, so you should be aware of how the game will develop further. Let's look at this with small examples.

Example 1. There are two players in the hand: you and your opponent. On the turn, your opponent bets the rest of your chips and you call. What will happen next? But nothing, we can assume that the hand is already over. You made your decision and put all the chips in the pot. Since according to the rules of the game of poker you cannot add and/or remove chips from the table during the hand, you must simply wait until the river card is revealed and the winner is determined. The winner will be the player with the stronger combination.

Example 2. There are three players in the hand: you and two opponents. On the turn, one opponent bets the remainder of your chips, and you and the other opponent call. What will happen next? Then the game will develop as follows: if opponents place bets on the river, then a main bank and a side bank (side bank) will be formed. The main bank will be played between those players who contributed funds to it (since everyone contributed, then it will be played between all three participants), and the side bank will be played only between your opponents. Please note that since you are out of funds on the turn, you cannot bet or call on the river, i.e. The hand is over for you. You must wait until the end of the giveaway to determine the winners. Your opponents will play both pots: the side pot between themselves (since only they took part in it) and the main one (between you, Opponent 1 and Opponent 2)

Q: Question. I went all in on the flop. In the following rounds of betting, I did not make decisions, but waited to see what my opponents would do. Please explain, can I use the turn and river cards to make a combination, or can I only use the flop cards and my pocket cards in this situation?

Answer. All players, regardless of whether they put all their chips in the center of the table preflop, flop, turn or river, can use all 5 community cards to make a winning hand

Q: Question. In what situations is a reserve bank created?

Answer. There is no concept of a “reserve bank” in poker, there is only the concept of a side bank or side bank. Read more in our separate article poker rules - side bank.

Q: Question. Please explain what the situation is like if there are two people playing Texas Hold'em at the table. How many blinds are there? What is their betting order preflop? Is Diller the second blind?

Answer. There are always blinds in poker, and heads-up games are no exception. The small blind is the player in the dealer position, and the big blind is the second player. The first decision to be made preflop is the small blind (in our case, he is the dealer), and the big blind is the first to decide postflop. See our picture below

In this situation, the player marked in blue is both the dealer and the small blind.

Q: Question. I am newbie. I am interested in the following question (it is somehow not explained in the rules of the game): can I leave the game, i.e. I play for cash, I win, but I don’t have time, I have to leave. Can I just interrupt my game, and what will happen to the deposited funds?

Answer. You can leave the table at any time with all your winnings if you play at cash tables (cash tables). The funds will be immediately credited to your gaming account.

But if you are playing a tournament (multi-table tournament or Sit-n-go), you must wait until the end of that tournament. If you leave, you will be automatically put into Sit Out (no player), but you will continue to automatically post blinds until you run out of chips. In this case, no one will return the invested funds to you.

Q: Question. Please tell me, in a straight, an ace replaces the missing card? For example: ?

Answer. An Ace does not replace any card; it can be either the first card in a straight or the last. There can be no other options for a straight with an ace.

Q: Question. In the hand, 2 people called the big blind, and then another player raised the bet. Now should everyone else call or raise again, or is there another round of betting?

Answer. Betting rounds continue until all players have either folded their cards or called the highest bet.

Q: Question. If in Texas Hold'em let's say there are 4 people playing and EVERYONE folds, does the round end or does it continue until someone makes a bet?

Answer. If all players have folded, then the player in the big blind position takes the big and small blind. The hand ends and a new deal begins (all players receive new starting cards).

Q: Question. How many community cards are used in Texas Hold'em?

Texas Hold'em uses only 5 community cards: 3 on the flop, 1 on the turn and 1 on the river.

Q: Question. What to do if during a distribution two players have the same combinations?

Situations in poker when two or more players have the same combinations are not uncommon. In such cases, the total pot is simply divided equally between the players who reach the showdown.