Poker rules and game combinations. Poker rules for beginners with pictures

The first thing anyone who wants to win online poker should be familiar with is, of course, the poker rules for beginners. To earn your first money or make a fortune, there is little superficial knowledge, you need to be ready to constantly study new information and work on mistakes. How to start learning the rules of poker? What information will be enough to start the game? Is it important to know the terminology of the game? How to memorize poker hands? You will find answers to these and many other questions in this review.

Basic Poker Rules: Learning Terminology

In any business, it is important to understand what is at stake. Terminology is the foundation of everything. If you know exactly what a particular concept means, it will be easier for you to navigate the game and further study the rules. In addition to the familiar to many concepts like "bluff", "all-in" or "pokerface" in poker there are hundreds of other little-known definitions. And it's important to know as many of them as possible!

Today there are many books and resources on the Internet that teach different types of poker. They are usually written by professional poker players who use poker terminology. You will constantly come across these concepts at the gaming tables. So it is better to immediately read all the definitions carefully and try to remember them.

Many of them can be learned directly during the game. For instance:

• The player commits "Raise"when he thinks that his cards are better than those of his opponents and raises the bet;
• The poker player can place a bet (make "Bet") or say "check" and agree to open a free card;
• If the player has already placed a bet before you, then you can make Call (put the same amount) or Fold (discard all cards).

Here are some more of the more common terms in online poker:

• Buy-in - an entry fee that allows you to take part in the game;
• Blind - a blind bet that a player makes even before receiving cards;
• Bankroll - the total amount of money a player has;
• Satellite - a qualifying competition where a ticket to a more prestigious tournament is played;
• Freeroll - a tournament with free entry, but with real prize money;
• Cashout - withdrawing money from a poker room account.

Knowing these and many other poker concepts, you can not only communicate on an equal footing with your opponents in the game, but also count on easy play and frequent winnings in the hands.

How to play poker: memorize combinations

After you have become familiar with the terminology and even memorized many new concepts for yourself, proceed to the next task - study and memorize combinations in poker. In general, based on the fact that poker uses a 52-card deck of four suits, using one of the sections of mathematics - namely combinatorics - you can determine that there are more than a thousand poker combinations. And if we talk about how many combinations of cards there are, from which you can make ready hands, then the number is even more - more than 130 million combinations can be made from seven cards. But don't be alarmed! You don't have to study and memorize them all. The main thing is to know the main ones. There are 10 ready-made combinations that can bring the maximum profit. We have ranked them by seniority.

1. Royal Flush. Ace, king, queen, jack, ten of the same suit.
2. Straight flush. Five cards of the same suit, which follow one after another in order. The highest card is not an ace. Please note that the higher the highest value of the highest card, the stronger the hand. For example, king, queen, jack, ten and nine of the same suit - straight flush.
3. Square ... Four cards of the same rank. For example, four kings. Please note: the higher the value of the cards, the stronger your hand.
4. Full house. Three cards of one rank and two cards of another of the same rank. The hand will be stronger if the three cards have the highest value. For example, three kings and two queens.
5. Flash. Five cards of the same suit, where one card does not follow the other in order. The higher the value of the highest card, the stronger the hand. For example, king, queen, jack, nine, eight, seven.
6. Straight. Five cards of different suits, but following each other in dignity. The highest card must be the highest in value for the hand to be stronger than the rest. For example, king, queen, jack, ten and nine are of different suits.
7. Troika. Three cards of the same rank. This combination also includes two hole cards that are not counted.
8. Two pairs. Two cards of one rank and two cards of another of the same rank. This also includes the fifth card - the kicker. It can be anything.
9. Couple. Two cards must be of the same rank. The other three cards must be distinguished from each other in value.
10. Senior card. Five cards of different denominations and different suits, they do not follow each other in order. Here the highest card is determined by value.

Mastering the main poker combinations will allow the player to know for sure about their capabilities and to be collected during the game. Seeing his cards in his hands and understanding what combination they add or can add up, the poker player can clearly make decisions about which move to make next.

Poker for Beginners: Learning the Types of Poker

After you've learned what the small and big blinds are, figured out the most common combinations, it's time to find out what types of poker exist in general. There are a lot of them. It is important to remember the most important ones:

• Texas Hold'em. This is classic poker in its usual sense. It is in Texas Holdem that the most poker players in the world play. This is why you will never lose yourself by learning the simple rules of this poker game.
• Omaha. This popular form of poker appeared in American Detroit in the 1970s. This game was then called "Twice three". Omaha is considered aggressive, it is almost impossible for a player to calculate his steps forward. Truly, this type of poker is unpredictable. This is one of the reasons why Omaha is not recommended for beginners.
• Seven Card Stud . Before Texas Holdem, 7-card stud was the most popular form of poker in America. Today there are several types of Seven Card Stud - Razz, Seven Card Stud Hi / Lo and Mississippi Stud.
• Five card draw poker. This is the oldest version of the game. Theorists say that it is five card draw poker that is the main form that gave rise to other types of poker.
• Badugi. The youngest and simplest form of poker. It was invented in Korea. There is an assumption that this variety got its name thanks to the breed of dogs of the same name in Korea, which are distinguished by spots of various colors. The more colors and spots, the more thoroughbred a dog is. Everything is the same in the game: the winner is the one who collects a combination of cards of different ranks and different suits.
• Lowball 2-7. A fairly simple variety. The game does not require deep knowledge of mathematics, the base is enough. The weakest combination by the standards of other types of poker wins here.

What is poker? "Card game" - this will be the majority of the answer to this question. Fair enough. However, let's take the liberty of saying that this is much more than just a game. For many it is an exciting and profitable hobby, and for some it is a way of life.

Adventurism, subtle knowledge of psychology, observation, calculation - this is the shortest list of qualities that a good poker player possesses and which attract more and more people of all ages and social status to the camp of connoisseurs of this game. For them, our introductory course, in which we look at the defining rules of poker for beginners. We will focus on the most widespread and popular form of modern poker - Texas Hold'em.

General definitions and rules of poker for beginners

Despite the fact that here we are talking about the general definitions and rules of poker for beginners, we will dwell on some of the features that are important for beginners to understand the essence and strategy of this game.

Classic Texas Hold'em play with a deck of 52 cards. This is a range of cards from Ace (A) to two in each suit, and who does not know, there are four of them - ♠, ♣,, ♦. Beginners should pay special attention to the fact that A in poker is not always the highest card, sometimes Ace can function as the lowest. But now is not about that. Let's talk about this below. Although we recommend making the corresponding notch in memory. Let this be one of the first rules of poker for beginners.

From the number of cards to the number of players at the table. IN Texas Hold'em there must be at least two of them, and a maximum of ten people.

The cards are dealt to the players clockwise by dealer (D). If you play in a circle of friends and acquaintances, then the dealer's functions are transferred in turn to each player sitting next to the left ofD ... If you play in a poker club or casino, then a licensed dealer from among the staff of the institution will serve each distribution.

For two rounds of distribution, each player receives 1 card face down. As a result, everyone receives 2 cards, which are called in poker "Pocket". They are seen and, accordingly, known only by the player himself.

In every hand exceptD automatically determined also blinds - small (Small Blind - SB) and big (Big Blind - BB)... Small blind - the one who sits first to the left of B (to him, respectively, in the next hand, the functionD ). The big blind is the player in the next position after the youngest. When starting to delve into the rules of poker for beginners, you should remember the following. Both blinds make mandatory blind bets (b lind - blind (English). SB - minimum distribution bet,BB - the rate is twice as high. As soon as these rates appear on the table, consider that the bank has begun to form.

These are the first basics and concepts of poker rules for beginners. Moving on!

Poker combinations

There are only 10 combinations in poker. It's easy to remember them, and you will learn to navigate in their hierarchy pretty quickly, provided that you play poker not once every six months, but at least once a week. You will remember some of the combinations faster, since they will more often form your "hand", others will be more rare for you, and therefore more desirable "guests". The list of poker combinations for the beginner poker rules review will start with the elders and move on to the youngest.

Royal Flush

The strongest combination in poker, which is formed by five senior cards of the same suit: 10, J (Jack), Q (Queen), K (King), A (T knots). If you have collected Royal Flash, you should know that you have no worthy competitors in this particular distribution!

Straight Flush

This combination is also one of the rare "guests" that we talked about above. It is the second strongest hand in poker. It also includes suited cards, but with a lower rank. For example, from 5 to 9 or from 3 to 7. Despite the fact that this combination very rarely appears on the "hands" of players, the history of poker knows cases when "Straight Flush" was collected by two players in the same hand. In this situation, according to the rules of poker for beginners, and according to the rules of poker in general, the player's hand will be stronger, whose combination is formed from the cards of higher rank. To clarify, a 7 to J Street Flush will be weaker than a 9 to K. Street Flush.

"Kare" (Four of a Kind)

Anyone who collects four cards of different suits, but of the same rank, can proudly call himself the owner of Four of a Kind. Let it be four 2 or four queens (Q). In any case, it will be "Kara". True, the oldest combination of these two is the "Four of a Kind" formed from the ladies. Here seniority determines the ranking. It also happens that "Four of a kind" appears on the table as a result of the distribution of "community" cards. In such a situation, the winner is the player who has the strongest in the number of "pocket" ones. Ace (A) is ideal under these circumstances.

Full House

This set assumes a "hand" that will collect three cards of different suits, but of the same rank (triplet) and two off-suit cards of the same rank (pair). Example: 555AA or JJJ99, etc. The significance of the "Full House" combination is determined by the triplet. In our case, JJJ99 will be stronger. If the triplet is the same, then the outcome of the dispute is decided by the couple - in the war between KKK55 and KKK88, the latter will be the winner.

Flush

It's easier with this scheme. In fact, this is a set of five suited cards without reference to their rank. The 3569J of the hearts suit is the same "Flush" as the 4579K of clubs. The only difference is that "Flash", collected in clubs, is stronger. The victory was determined by the highest card in the combination - K (King).

Straight

This hand is a combination of five off-suit cards, which are collected in sequence according to their rank. With several "Straights" on hand, the dominance is determined by the highest card in the combination. And here, speaking about the basics of poker rules for beginners, it would be appropriate to say about the duality A (Ace), which we talked about in the opening of the material. It is in the "Street" that the Ace can be both the oldest - figuratively speaking with a "denomination" of 11 units, and the youngest - respectively, with a "denomination" of 1 unit. In the first case, we are talking about the maximum "Street" called "Broadway" - from 10 to A, and in the second, about the minimum called "Wheel" - from A to 5.

Set (Three of a Kind)

We have already spoken about this combination: “Set” is the same triplet. Therefore, we think it should be clear that "Set" is a combination of three cards of different suits, but the same value. There is a high probability that several players at the table will have such a set at once. In such a situation, the winner will be determined by the kickers - two cards left out of the "Set", because each poker combination takes into account five cards. And this is another axiom that is included in poker rules for beginners! Thus, in a dispute of equal triplets, the one with the higher kicker will be stronger. If the first kickers are the same, then the second will bring the final clarity.

"Two pair" (Two pair)

The name itself dictates that this is a set of two card duos. Each of them consists of offsuit, but identical in value cards - QQ55, 2299, QQJJ, KK33, etc. The leader is revealed by the seniority of the pairs. Of the combinations QQ 77 and JJ 77, the first will be stronger. If two players have combinations that are absolutely identical in rank, the kicker has the last word.

"Pair" (One pair)

The most elementary poker hand is a duo of cards of different suits of the same rank. If several players have the same pair registered, then the senior kickers will determine the victory.

"High card" (High card)

A very common "combination" among poker players, which cannot be kept silent when talking about the rules of poker for beginners. The owner of such a combination is the player who, by the will of the poker gods, failed to collect any of the above. Quite often, with such a meager "catch", all the players are at the table. The lucky one is the holder of the highest ranked card. Ace (A) is the strongest here. Further, the ranking goes down - respectively K, Q, J, 10, 9, etc.

These were all the existing combinations of classic Texas Hold'em. At the next stage of the poker rules for beginners, we will consider the game conditions under which these combinations are collected and under which the bank is formed - the main goal of the players' struggle at the poker table.

Main stages of the game, order of bets

Let's assume that we outlined the first basic concepts of poker more or less easily. Now you know how to deal cards, who the dealer is, the small and big blinds, have an idea of \u200b\u200bthe variety and seniority of existing combinations. Let's move on to the actual process of the game.

Preflop

Remember the blind bets that make up the hand? This is where preflop begins - a stage that largely determines the further course of the game, since it gives a start to trading (bets). Please note that if, as we said above, the blinds make their bets without fail, then the rest of the players at the table have the opportunity to place bets or refuse further trading, having familiarized themselves with their "pocket" cards. What will be your action? As part of our review of the rules of poker for beginners below, we talk about all the possible ways in which you can move on:

Fold(fold) - pass, exit the distribution. A similar development of events will follow on the condition that you understand that further staying in the hand does not promise you anything but a loss. That is, folding is a reflection of the hopelessness of your hand.

Bet - the opposite of folding. If you have a good hand that promises to collect a strong combination, and none of the previous players at the table have made bets, then you can bet. Other players, if they want to continue participating in the distribution (game), must support your bet - put at least the number of chips that you bet. True, their rate may be higher than yours, but not lower. Be prepared for a situation when one of the players goes to all-in(All-In) - all-in our way. That is, the player will bet all of his chips on the outcome of the distribution. To make such a bet you need to have a very good hand. There is another feature of the all-in bet. The one who immediately bet everything will remain in the hand until the end - regardless of whether any of the players outbid his bet by betting more chips.

Call (call) - support for the last bet voiced at the table by one of the players. Having made a call, at the same time you must deposit as many chips into the general pot as the player whose bet you are calling. According to the rules of poker, you can only continue the game by adding the appropriate number of chips.

Raise - atincreasing the rate. Suppose one of the players has already bet 50 chips. You are sure that your hand will ultimately be the strongest in the hand and you want to squeeze the maximum out of it. In this case, you increase the bet by depositing not 50 chips, but for example, already 100. Other players will have to deposit at least 100 chips each or raise (interrupt) your bet. For the less self-confident, there is also a way out - fold.

Check Is just a transmission In other words, if no one has bet before you, and you want to stay in the game, but do not consider it necessary to bet, declare a check. An equivalent designation of a check is two not strong, but audible to other players, strikes with a chip or fingers on the table surface. It will be the same if you read "Check" out loud.

Here we consider it necessary to acquaint beginners with one of the nuances that you are unlikely to find in any manual explaining the rules of poker for beginners. Try to always consider your position at the table! Much depends on what place you occupy in the game. For example, being in the position of one of the blinds, preflop you will make a decision after all the players, that is, assessing their rates and approximately knowing the balance of power. For poker beginners, we recommend that you play or raise only with strong "pocket" cards. These include pairs of type AA, KK, QQ. The so-called "Connectors"... This is the name of a combination of senior cards of the same or different suits, which follow, albeit not in a straight line, but also not too distant in sequence. Pocket cards like AK, AQ, KQ, KJ can be a promising start.

The described "pocket" cards are almost an ideal base for starting trading at the poker table. But this in no way suggests that you should only play with these hands. Meanwhile, we want to warn beginners against continuing the game, for example, with "pocket" 3 ♣ 8 ♦, 2 and 7 of the same suit. You will develop a model of behavior at the table and a strategy for playing with such cards in your hands later - everything will come with practice. In the meantime, try to stay in the game longer to absorb its features.

Consider one more nuance. It happens that at the end of the deal, the cards do not satisfy any of the players. Everyone starts folding preflop. In such a situation, albeit minimal, but still the pot goes to the last remaining player with cards in his hands.

Flop

This stage of the distribution begins after all the players at the table have decided on their strategy in the game: someone has folded, some have made a bet, and others have supported or increased the bet. In short, we believe that preflop trading is over and the first three community cards have appeared on the table - flop... This is a signal for more active actions, since knowing the three cards and comparing them with your "pocket" ones, you can predict your final combination with a greater degree of confidence.

Accordingly, the flop initiates a new round of betting. Bets are made according to the same scenario as preflop. Another thing is that each player has largely determined his potential, because someone will become bolder in their actions, while someone, on the contrary, will prefer to go into the shadows and leave the distribution that is unfavorable for him.

Beginners, be aware that every player who does not fold is aiming to win! Don't be overconfident, but don't let your brains get clouded by unjustified bluffs from seasoned players! Poker is a harmony of cold calculation and the ability to read opponents.

Turn

The turn is the third stage of betting, into which the players remaining in the distribution enter with the appearance of the fourth community card on the table. It is clear that with the turn, the players have more clarity about their combinations. In turn, the growing amount of information forces them to make the next decisions in the rates - to make them, maintain, increase or fold.

River

The appearance on the table of the fifth community card - the river - symbolizes the apogee of the poker deal. It is the river that can easily turn a hand that was empty on the turn into a "Straight" or "Flush", form "Four of a kind" from "Set", and from "Two pairs" - "Full House". At the same time, someone with the fifth card collapses all hopes. In short, a dramatic and at the same time exciting and interesting stage of the game. But it also does not cancel the fourth, last round of trading, the results of which will complete the formation of the bank as a whole.

Showdown

The logical end of the distribution, when the players remaining after all the stages open their hands, determine the winner and, accordingly, the owner of the bank.

Limit poker

If we're talking about the rules of poker for beginners, it would be a mistake not to tell novice poker players about the varieties of limit poker. What kind of poker is this? The one in which is determined money amount of bets - limits... There is a gradation here. About the types of such poker further.

Limit

This type of poker involves the mandatory setting of the bet amount before the start of the game. Restrictions can be on the following items:

• fixed limit - the size of the bet is negotiated for each stage of trading on the flop, turn and river;
• minimum and maximum limit - when the smallest and largest bet size is approved, which no one can exceed.

Pot-limit

In this form, the rules, although not so strict, still imply some restrictions. They relate to the size of the total bank. The fact is that in this type of poker, players are not prohibited from making large bets, but they should not be larger than the total pot. However, taking into account the fact that at the end of each round of trading, the bank may increase, it will increase and limit such a rate.

Unlimited (no-limit)

It is easy to guess from the name that in such poker there are no restrictions and limits on the rates whatsoever. The main thing is that the player at the table has enough money in his pocket to capitalize the declared deal.

Where should poker beginners try their hand at?

After familiarizing yourself with the rules of poker for beginners, everyone, we are sure, will want to immediately try their hand at this exciting and popular game. Do not hurry. You should not throw yourself out of the fire and into the fire, handing out your money to experienced players left and right. You will have time to play and appreciate the severity of the game, and first try your hand and gain practical skills in games not for real money, but in online poker rooms that practice playing for play money. This is a good opportunity to get a useful experience for free, which can later be applied at a real poker table. One of these rooms is PokerDom... Not only that, by registering, you will have access to tables with play for play money, you will also receive 777 rubles as a bonus for subsequent games without any deposit!

Good news for beginners right away - the rules of poker are so primitive and simple that they are available even to those who have never even held a card in their hands. The rules of Texas Hold'em are especially easy to learn, which is not surprising, because it is thanks to its simplicity that this type of poker has become so popular in the world and especially on the Internet. It is in it that they play at all kinds of tournaments that you could see on TV. Therefore, it is better for dummies to study the rules of this particular version of poker, because in 99% of cases, both on the Internet and among friends, you will play it.

Tip: The rules of poker are easier to learn by practicing on the free tables playing on "candy wrappers". Download yourself a free Pokerdom and train for health (there is an Android version). You can also download this link to get up to 40,000 rubles of a first deposit bonus. Pokerdom is the most popular Russian poker room in the CIS.

Texas Hold'em is played with a 52-card deck of cards, the number of players at one table is from 2 to 10. The winner is the one who collects the best poker combination or remains the only player who did not fold by the end of the current hand.

Poker combinations

First of all, beginner poker players need to learn poker hands. All of them are shown in the lower figure and are arranged in ascending order:

1. High card
2. Two pairs
3. Straight
4. Full house
5. Street Flush
6. Royal Flush

As you can see, there are only 10 poker combinations, but in reality, combinations from 1 to 8 are usually most common in the game. Therefore, it is very easy to remember poker combinations.

Each combination is created from 2 cards dealt face down to each player and 5 community cards laid out in the middle of the table, i.e. 7 cards are used. Thus, you see only 5 cards, but you cannot know what other 2 cards the enemy has. Therefore, poker is called a game of incomplete information.

Game process

Poker is played by 2 to 10 people. They take turns and there are several stages in the game, the so-called streets - these are Preflop, Flop, Thorn, River.

To make it more understandable for beginners, in the article, as an illustration, screenshots from the 888 poker room are given, which allows you to play for free play for play chips - "Play for Interest".

Preflop

The first thing the game starts with is 2 people after the Dealer (sign D) make the mandatory bets Small Blind and Big Blind. The initial bank is formed from them.

Next, all players are dealt 2 hole cards and it is the turn of the others to move. Players move clockwise starting with the next player after the big blind.

The two dealt cards, although they give little information so far, but based on it, as well as on your position at the table and the actions of other players, you will need to make a move. The player has 3 options for action:

1. Fold - Discarding the card. If you have weak cards (eg 72), then this is practically the only thing you should do. If you fold, you are already leaving the game and do not pay any money.
2. Call - You support the rate previously made by others. Let's say you have medium cards, a lot of players have entered, and there are no raises. You bet exactly as many as others have bet, in our case 10 chips.
3. Increase / Raise - You raise the stakes. Let's say you have good cards and you want your opponents to pay you more. Perhaps no one will answer you and you will take this bank right now. Depending on the variant of Hold'em, you can raise from 1 blind to all-in.

For beginners, all this will seem a little complicated, but in fact, in a real game, after literally a few hands, everything is done simply and almost automatically. And some experienced players can play up to 24 tables simultaneously!

Flop

After the preflop betting circle is over, everyone has made bets or folded cards, the first 3 out of 5 community cards are dealt.

After the flop is dealt, the situation in the hand becomes more or less clear. Our player sits in the dealer position (D), and the dealer always goes last. In this hand, we see that our player almost has a flush with diamonds. All the players before him checked and now it's his turn. He can fold / check / bet:

1. Fold - Discarding the card. In this case, this is simply not necessary. First, a good combination is planned, and secondly, no one has made a bet yet, so the next card in any case can be viewed for free.
2. Check - i.e. take no action, just pass.
3. Place a bet / raise - No one has placed a bet yet, so you can. If you place a bet, a new round of betting will begin and other players will also be forced to place bets or fold. It is also possible to get a raise in return if someone chooses to check-raise. The size of the bet is limited only by your stack, for example, in this case, you can bet from 10 to all-in (479.70 chips).

Thorn

After the flop comes the next stage of the game - the turn. Here the penultimate 4 card in the hand is dealt.

We still don't have any poker hand on the turn, and the middle position player bet 10 chips. By the rules of the game of poker, now we cannot fold like on the flop, and we have to play Fold / Call / Increase. There are already a lot of chips in the pot and we have good flush odds, so the fold is no longer the case. Increasing the bet is also not an option, although we may have a flush, but it is far from the highest, so if it comes up you will have to play it very carefully. All that remains is to support the rate.

River

The moment of truth is coming. By the end of the game, the winner of the hand will be determined on the river.

A successful card falls out for us and our player collects his flush. The player in front of us bets 1/2 pot. Answer us. As always, we have several options for an answer: Fold, Call or Raise. With a flush ready, a raise suggests itself, but it's embarrassing that we don't have a nut flush and a paired board (full house opportunity), so just call.

Show down

Showdown is the final stage in Texas Hold'em and will determine the winner (s) who will take the pot. In our case, it turned out to be an opponent from Australia, who showed a high flush and took the entire pot.

Practice for beginners

Any beginner usually needs 1-2 hours of online poker session to fix the rules of the game of poker in his head. It is best to consolidate theoretical knowledge in practice with friends or at one of the free poker rooms playing for play money.

For all poker lovers, both beginners and advanced players, we recommend starting your game at Party Poker. The most famous poker room that will not disappoint you at all. Good luck!

The easiest way for beginners to learn how to play poker is to print out the beginner's poker rules and then play poker for free in one of the poker rooms... After you have played a few hands, the rules will become much clearer for you, and all poker rooms allow you to practice your poker skills at tables at " conditional money»As much as you want - you have there is no obligation to play for real money.

In a few hours of playing this guide, you will immediately go from beginner to experienced player. In addition, on the Internet you can find the rules of poker for beginners in pictures and with videos, which is very convenient for the perception of information for the first time. Also, the rules of poker for beginners with pictures can be printed out - this will help you quickly navigate the materials when playing. Some poker rooms even have special tables for beginners, and entire sections of the poker sites are devoted to learning how to play poker.

Poker combinations for beginners

In this section, you will find out which hands win in poker, in order from highest to lowest.

Royal Flush - T, J, Q, K, A are all the same suit.

Street Flush - Five cards in a row of the same suit, but without Ace.

Square - Four cards of the same rank, for example, KKKK.

Full house - Three cards of the same rank plus a pair, for example, KKKAA.

Flush - Five cards of the same suit, but not in a row.

Straight - Five cards in a row, for example 56789.

Troika - Three cards of the same rank, for example, KKK.

Two pairs - Two pairs, for example, KKAA.

A pair - Any two cards of the same rank, for example, KK.

High card - If none of the players has one of the above combinations, then the highest card wins (Ace is the highest, and then in descending order).

Note: Beginners sometimes get confused as to whether the ace counts as the lowest card (ie, “1”) or the highest card (ie, as “11”). Ace can count as a high card or a low card for straights, but not both. For example, A2345 and AKQJT are straights, but 23AKQ is not. Beginners also often overestimate the power of a single ace - having one ace in your starting hand is not uncommon, so don't make the common mistake of all beginners by playing every hand with an ace. Read below for more information on starting hands for beginner poker players.

Classic poker betting rules for beginners

Most types of poker can be played with limit bets, pot-limit bets and no-limit bets... Playing with limit rates the amount you can wager at any time is predetermined, and you cannot bet more or less than this amount... The rate usually doubles when a certain range of rates is reached. For example, in a $ 1 / $ 2 game of Limit Texas Hold'em, the amount you can bet when you first see your cards is $ 1. The amount you can bet after you see the next three cards (the “flop”) is also $ 1. But the amount you can (and should) bet after the fourth card (the “turn”) is $ 2, and the amount you can (and should) bet after the fifth card (the “river”) is also $ 2.

Playing with pot limit the amount you can bet, equal to the amount of money in the bank and thus the pot gets bigger, so the amount you can bet increases. For example, if there is $ 1 in the pot, then you can bet up to a maximum of $ 1, but if there is $ 20 in the pot, then you can bet up to $ 20, and so on.

IN no limit game you can bet as many chips how much do you have, at any stage of distribution.

Poker options for beginners

• Fold: stop participating in the distribution and lose all money already deposited in the bank.
• Check: do not place a bet, but reserve the right to remain in the hand. You can only check if none of your opponents have bet yet.
• Beth: put money in the bank. The amount you can bet depends on the rules for betting in the game.
• Call: Equation of a bet placed by another player (or players) to stay in the hand.
• Raise: Put extra money in the pot on top of the amount needed to "call".

Rules for playing Texas Hold'em for beginners

One player is the dealer and the two players to the left of the dealer place forced bets of the agreed amount called “ small blind"And" big blind"(The small blind is usually half the size of the big blind).

For every player two cards are dealt face down (their name - " hole cards" or " starting hand») And the betting round begins. Then three cards are dealt face up in the middle of the table (" flop") And all players can use these three "common" cards with your hole cards to make the best five card hand. Bets continue, and two more community cards are dealt face up (" turn"And" river») With a round of bets after each of them.

The last player to place a bet that no one has called or the player with the best five-card hand the bank wins... Players can use both, one or none of your hole cardsto collect their final hand, and if several players collect the same combination, then the pot is divided between them.

Starting hands for beginners

Many newbies at first playing too many hands... Get used to fold everything but the best handsand play with these hands aggressively - A classic mistake made by newbies to poker is that with strong hands they call rather than raise. Here is a list of the best hands in Texas Hold'em - the most popular version of poker for beginners.

• High pairs: AA, KK, QQ, JJ;
• Two high rank cards: AK (especially strong hand), AQ, AJ, AT (suited best);
• Middle pairs: TT, 99, 88, 77, 66 - Be prepared to fold this hand if you miss a set on the flop or if there are overcards.
• Little couples: Pairs below sixes can be played if you can see the flop cheap - if there is a lot of action preflop then fold these hands.
• Suited connectors: For example, JT suited are only worth playing from late position, and only if you can see the flop cheaply. Beginner poker players often overestimate the value of suited cards - this is a really good hand if the right suit comes in, but it doesn't happen as often as many beginners think. Having a suited ace is preferable because if you hit a flush, you have the largest possible flush. A lot of newbies lose big money by making the second best flush!

Omaha Poker Rules for Dummies

The rules of Omaha are very similar to those of Texas Hold'em, except that in Omaha each player is dealt four hole cards (face down) instead of two. Bets are placed in the same wayas in Texas Hold'em. One significant difference between these two varieties of poker is that in Omaha you must use two and only two of your four hole cardsto make a combination.

Seven Card Stud Poker Rules for Dummies

Each player pays the agreed ante and gets two cards face down and one card face up (the latter is called “ by door card"). This is followed by a round of betting in which the player with the lowest door card is forced to open “ bring-in rate»(The agreed amount, which is less than the ante). The other players on the left can then add to the full bet. After the first round is completed, three more rounds: All players who are still active are dealt face up cards, then the last card face down. After each card is dealt, a new round of betting follows. In all rounds after the first, the player with the highest open card begins to place bets.

Too hard? It will become clearer if you play several hands - just play poker for free in one of the poker roomsyou can trust. Act out strong starting hands and play aggressivelyand you will immediately go from beginner to experienced player.

The best poker rooms for beginners

PartyPoker Is the perfect choice for newbies as they have created special poker tables for beginnersthat only new players can play (for real money). You can play at these tables within 45 days after making your first deposit at PartyPoker - after 45 days you are no longer considered a rookie and therefore will no longer be able to play at the rookie tables (you will have to join the big boys at the main tables). Betting levels at the beginner tables fluctuate $ 0.02 to $ 0.50... To play, simply create a real money account at PartyPoker, then in the lobby select the “ Real money", Then -" Beginners". This will display all the available beginner tables - just click on the table you want to sit at and then click on an empty seat at the table.

Another good choice is Bet365 Poker... This may seem strange, since this poker room is one of the few who does not offer play money tables... However, the reason this room is a good choice is simple - they have one of the most generous deposit bonuseswhich means that as you learn to play poker, you can play with Bet365's money rather than your own. You can also make very small amounts of moneyto start the game. While the tables at Bet 365 seem too aggressive for a beginner, your opponents may tend to play loose and sloppy poker, which is great for those players who are willing to be patient and only play with strong starting hands. Discipline and playing with only strong hands is a key factor in teaching beginners.

Before playing for money, it is important for a beginner to learn the rules of the game of poker. Most poker disciplines share the basic rules of classic poker due to the general principle of trading and determining the winner. Our beginner's guide to poker will show you how to play your first game of poker.

Poker is an intellectual card game in which success depends on how well the player knows the rules and strategy. After learning the basics of poker, we recommend that you practice the material by playing for play chips in poker rooms for free. Check out the recommended rooms and install the app you like. You can also download the poker rules in PDF format.

The purpose of the poker game

The first point in the study is to understand for what purpose the game is being played. You are unlikely to enjoy the game if you do not win. The main goal of each player is to win the pot, which can be obtained in the following ways:

In the auction: Get rid of rivals with the help of competent trading tactics. If everyone folds before the showdown, you get the coveted bank;

Autopsy: The game reaches the end of the game and the players show their cards. In this case, you can win by presenting a combination that is older than that of your opponents. The goal is achieved by rational choice of starting hands, exchange of cards, etc.

Don't make it your goal to win every hand. The main thing is that the winnings are higher than the losses. To do this, you must choose the best moments to enter the trades.

Poker betting rules

To play poker, you need chips, with the help of which the poker player makes orders in the auction. Bidding is the core of the gameplay! They not only form the pot, but also allow you to force opponents to leave the hand. During the game, participants make mandatory and voluntary bets:

• Mandatory: are made "blindly" and it is not allowed to refuse their placement. Thus, the initial bank is formed and the opportunity to wait only for the best cards is lost.
• Voluntary: are made during the bidding process of the player's choice. He can refuse to bet using alternative solutions or by leaving the hand.

All bets made without fail during the bidding process become part of the bank. The player cannot take the chips already bet, but can continue to fight for the pot.

Priority and types of decision making

Bets are not the only action in the game. In bidding, you can choose one of several actions:

• Fold - fold cards. Suitable in a situation where it is pointless, risky or unprofitable to continue to invest in the bank;
• Check- skip a turn. Allows you to continue the game, without additional investments, if the other poker players have not made promotions. If the check is not announced by the last player, the opponents can bet, after which it is no longer possible to check again;
• Call - equalize someone else's bet. If the last player calls, and there is no order below this size at the table, the betting round ends;
• Raise - raise the previous rate. It can be done several times during trading, however, the basic rules of simple classic poker prohibit one player to raise more than three times (there are exceptions);
• Beth - make the first bet in the bank by choosing the minimum investment amount;
• All-in- put all your own chips. In this case, he will definitely come to showdown, even if someone bets more of their opponents.

The order of making decisions on the rules of the game of classic poker:

Actions are announced clockwise, and the player cannot make a decision until the opponent on his right hand has announced it. In the first auction, the player who has placed a mandatory bet always acts first (except for Stud and Razz poker, where the poker player can place a Bet instead of a mandatory bet).

Poker trading rules

In addition to the sequence of decision-making, there are several rules in the auction that govern the main game situations:

• Equalization rule - if everyone has equalized the bids, the auction ends. It is allowed to end the trade if a number of players do not have enough chips to equalize the rates of their opponents.
• Bid size rule - a player can make a bet only equal to the previous one or higher. If the poker player acts first, he cannot bet less than the Bet.
• Promotion rule - the player can raise the bet by at least the amount of the previous order or increase. Players can raise no more than three times, but if the game is played one-on-one, then the number of promotions is not limited.
• Bid completion rule - the auction ends if everyone is equal or the only participant left in the distribution, who gets the bank.
• Stack size rule - the player is prohibited from adding chips to his stack during the distribution. He can do this only between deals, when he has not yet received pocket cards.

The amount of promotions can be regulated by additional rules, depending on the format:

• Unlimited - only the minimum bet is fixed;
• Fixed limit - the size of bets and raises on each street is the same, the number of raises is limited;
• Pot Limit - the maximum application for a bet is limited by the size of the pot.

When playing in online poker rooms, you will not be able to place a bet under or over the required size, as well as make another unacceptable decision.

In different types of poker, a different number of trades are made during the distribution, also called streets. For example, in Hold'em poker there are four betting rounds, while in five-card draw poker there are only two. Between trades, depending on the discipline, players can receive pocket cards, make an exchange or see the next community cards. An autopsy is performed after the last auction.

Poker combinations

You can learn more about combinations in a separate article on the rules and determining their precedence. Here we will focus on the basic points. After reading the poker rules, do not forget to download the combination table as well, so that it is always at hand!

You can download the full poker hand rules in PDF format.

Determining the winner

If the pot was not drawn during the auction, the winner is determined at the showdown. In this case, the players compare their cards and identify the strongest hand, the owner of which receives the pot.

Poker rules - video tutorials in Russian

If you are not good at absorbing theoretical text material, video tutorials can help you. You can take a video tutorial in Russian to master the rules of the game of poker at the largest poker school PokerStrategy.

Now you know the basic rules of classic poker, but keep in mind that in order to learn how to play, you also need to master the rules for building combinations, especially the course of the game in the discipline in which you choose to play.