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Poker is an intelligent card game with incomplete information. This means that you do not see the opponents' cards and make decisions in conditions of uncertainty. A strong poker player is not the one who is “lucky”, but the one who:
understands the rules and structure of the game;
is able to count the chances;
controls emotions;
makes decisions, not guesses.
Poker combines mathematics, strategy, psychology and discipline. That is why for some it is just a hobby, and for others it is a source of income. At Poker University, you can go from a complete beginner to a confident player. We analyze the game step by step: from basic rules to advanced tournament strategies and cash poker. At the same time, a system of free training through a loyalty program is available for beginners.
1. Basic rules of poker
In each hand, your task is to pick up the pot (the chips that are in the center of the table).
There are two ways to do this:
Reach the autopsy (showdown) and show the strongest five-card combination.
Make opponents believe that you have the best combination, demonstrating this with your active actions (bets) so that the opponent fold his cards.
Important: the combination always consists of 5 cards — even if some of them are shared. The game takes place in several stages of trading (preflop, flop, turn, river), where players take turns making decisions: make a bet, equalize it or fold cards. We will consider the most popular variety — unlimited Texas holdem. This is what most players in the world play, both online and in live tournaments. The local task in poker is to win the hand.
Preflop - the very beginning of the distribution
Each play begins with the setting of mandatory bet — small and large blinds. They are not made at random. The players are indicated by the dealer button (button). The poker player directly to the left of it puts a small blind (MB), and the next one is a big blind (BB). To ensure that all оpponents are in equal conditions, after each hand the button moves one place clockwise. For one round of hands, all participants once find themselves in each of the positions, including blinds. Only after the blinds are delivered, the dealer deals cards. Each participant receives two cards in private. The first round of betting begins — preflop. It is opened by the player sitting to the left of the big blind position.
He has several options:
- Fold (fold) — muck cards
You turn into a spectator who watches the further course of the hand. You will not be able to win the pot, but you will not lose any more chips. - Call — to equalize bet (at the very beginning, the call size is one big blind)
This is a passive line that newcomers often resort to in order to see as many flops as possible with a small investment. However, at a distance, such a strategy is unprofitable, since you play too many unnecessary combinations with initially weak hands. - Raise — bet raise
In no-limit Texas Hold 'em, the maximum raise size is unlimited. You can put at least all the chips that are on the stack in the center of the table. The minimum allowable amount of raise is equal to the previous increase. At the very beginning of the hand, these are two big blinds, since the first raise was 1 BB.
Hand moves to the next stage if one or more poker players have equalized the current bet. The choice of the starting combination is the key moment for a successful game at the the long run. If you don't understand the difference between a offsuited hand 
and 
a Broadway hand, you won't be able to play plus yet.
Discipline is important in professional poker. It manifests itself in different aspects of the game itself and management. In terms of strategy, it is important to match the optimal choice of starting hands for the game from each position.
You can get a basic table of starting hands for beginners for free in the charts section on our website. Also, be sure to get a self-education file, it comes to the mail immediately after registration on our website. It contains many useful materials in a convenient structured format.
Microlimit Chart (Full Version)
This is a ready-made strategy for playing starting hands on the preflop. Following it, you will be able to immediately avoid many mistakes of novice players, and it will be much easier for you to start your career as a poker player. To receive the LEVEL 1 charts OF the full version together with the video course explaining them, register in one of any poker room from Poker University. If you need help, write to our manager.
Flop
If it was not possible to identify the winner on the pre-flop, the dealer opens the first three common cards — the flop. They can change the balance of power. Now the trade is opened by the player in the position of the small blind. If he has already left the game, the trade is opened by the first active participant of the draw clockwise from him. You can not be the first to say “call”, because there were no bet before you. Instead of this action, it becomes possible to transfer the move to the next player by announcing a “check”.
Thorne
If there were no bets on the flop or they were equalized, the dealer opens the fourth common card — the turn. This is followed by another round of betting, which takes place according to the rules of the previous street: the first word is left for the player in the small blind position (or the first active player clockwise from it if MB fold). The balance of power on the turn becomes almost complete, since the dealer has only one more common card to open.
River
The dealer opens the final common card in case there were no bet on the turn or they were equalized. The last trades are held according to the rules of the flop. Raise of bet here is either an attempt to knock out a stronger combination, or an attempt to pick up chips from the opponent.
Showdown (autopsy)
If the river failed to determine the winner, the dealer gives a showdown command. All the remaining players in the game take turns opening their closed cards. The dealer determines the winner by the seniority of the five-card combination. In Hold 'em, any number of community cards and pocket cards may be used to make a match.
There are only three options for forming a combination:
Two pocket and three community cards
This is the strongest and “hidden” option, because it is your pocket cards that make the combination unique.
Example:
You have:
On the table: 
Your combination is two pair (ace and king), and it is difficult for opponents to understand the exact strength of your hand. It is in such situations that you can most often win the maximum pot.
One pocket and four community cards
Your hand strengthens the combination on the board, but part of the power is already “visible” to all players.
Example:
You have:
On the table: 
You have a straight (A-K-Q-J-10), but any ten and any queen of the opponent give the same combination. The combination is strong, but less hidden.
Only five community cards
Your hand does not affect the final hand.
Example:
You have:
On the table: 
On the board, the straight is ready. All players use the same five cards. You cannot win the pot alone — the maximum is to share it with others. This is the weakest option because your pocket cards do not offer an advantage.
2. Possible combinations in poker
In poker, any combination always consists of exactly 5 cards. No more, no less. Even if, for example, only three cards are enough for your hand (for example, a set), the final hand is still formed from five. Missing cards are automatically added as the oldest remaining over. These additional cards are called kickers.
Kicker is a card that does not form a combination, but can decide the outcome of a hand.
Example:
On the table:
Player 1: Player 2:Both
have a pair of aces. But the first player has a king as the second card, and the second player has a queen. The king is older than the Queens, so the player wins with. In this example, the king and queen are kicker. If the kicker matches, the pot is divided. We will analyze the combinations in order of increasing strength: from the most frequent and weak to the rare and the most powerful.
High card
If neither you nor the opponent has a ready-made combination (pair or higher), the winner is determined by the higher card. The combination still consists of five cards — the five strongest cards available are selected from your hand and community cards.
Example:
You have:
On the table: 
There is no ready-made combination. Your best five: A, K, J, 9, 6. This is the "high card — ace" (ace-high). If the opponent, for example, loses, because the ace is older than the Queens.
Pair
Two cards of the same value. The combination still consists of five cards, so three over cards are added to the pair — kicker cards.
Example:
Player 1:Player 2:Both
have a pair of kings. Compare kicker: the first senior kicker has an ace, the second has a queen. The ace is older than the Queens, so the first player wins. If the kicker matches completely, the pot is divided.
Two pair (dopper)
Two different pair in one hand. If several players have two pair, the older pair is compared first, then the younger pair. If they match, the kicker decides.
Example:
Player 1:
Player 2: 
Both of the older pair have aces. But the first has the second pair — nine, the second — eight. Nines are older — the first player wins.
Set (thrips, triplets, triplets) (trips, triplets)
Three cards of the same value. If several players managed to collect the same set, the winner is determined by the kicker. If the first kicker is the same, the second kicker is compared.
Example:
Player 1:
Player 2:Both
have set of eights. The first senior kicker has an ace, the second has a queen. The first player wins.
Straight (straight)
Five cards with consecutive values without reference to suit. When comparing two strips, the winner is determined by the highest card in the combination.
Example:
— straight to the king.
If two players have collected a straight, the one with the highest card in the sequence above wins. Feature of the ace: it can be both the oldest card (10-J-Q-K-A) and the youngest (A-2-3-4-5). Important: the combination A-2-3-4-K is not a straight, but simply the top card of the ace.
Flush
Five cards of the same suit. The sequence of values is not important.
Example:
— flush.
If the flush is collected by two players, the winner is determined by the seniority of the card.
Full house
This is a hand consisting of two cards of one value and three more cards of the other. Three + pair.
Example:
— full-house, jacks and aces.
If two players have a full-house, the strength of the three is compared first, then the strength of the pair. Full-house with three ladies is stronger than full-house with three jacks.
Quads
Four cards of the same value.
Example:
— quads of nines.
If two players have collected a square, the dignity of the quads is compared. If it is the same, the kicker decides.
Straight flush
The second strongest hand in poker is five consecutive cards of the same suit.
Example:
— straight flush up to ten.
If two players have a straight flush, the one with the highest card wins.
Royal flush (royal flush, royal flush)
The strongest combination in no-limit Texas Hold 'em.
- Example: — royal flush.
This is a special case of a straight flush — from a dozen to an ace of the same suit.
3. Poker table positions
In poker textbooks, which were actively published in the early 2000s, it was told that the most important role in choosing the starting hand for the draw is played by the position at the table. Today, a little less attention is paid to this point, but understanding the positions still remains the basic criterion for a successful player.
The position is your seat at the table relative to the dealer button (Button).
The main rule: the later you make a decision, the more information you have. The player who acts last sees the actions of everyone else — which means he can make more accurate decisions. In the examples below, a table for 9 players (9-max) is considered.
Early positions (Early Position, EP, UTG)
These are the first players to say a word after the big blind. In 9-max, these are the first 3 places. In 8-max — the first 2.
Why this is a difficult position:
on preflop you open a trade
on postflop, you are more likely to say the word one of the first
there are many more players behind you who can reraise
Therefore, only strong starting hands are played from the early position.
Example:
If you have or, you can open with confidence.
If you have such a hand, it is better to fold it, because there is too great a risk of being under pressure.
Middle Position (MP)
These are the seats in the middle of the table — MP1, MP2 and Hijack.
Here the situation is already more comfortable:
some players have already folds
you have fewer rivals left
you play with the initiative more often
From the middle position, you can open a slightly wider range of hands.
For example:
, , are already valid options.
Late positions: Cut-Off and Button (dealer, dealer)
The two most advantageous positions for the draw are at the table.
Why:
on postflop, you are more likely to act last
see the actions of rivals
can pick up the pot more often without resistance
Button (dealer) is the strongest position in poker.
Example: if everyone has folds before you, you can even open a hand like
or, because there is a chance to take the blinds without a fight.
Small and big blinds (Small Blind and Big Blind, SB and BB, SB and BB)
These are special positions. Players have already placed mandatory bet in the bank and are forced to defend themselves more often.
The problem is that:
on postflop you act first
play "no position"
you have less information
Therefore, the decisions here are the most difficult.
Example: if you are on a big blind and someone opened up with Button, you need to decide whether to protect the hand like
or fold it.
Such situations require accuracy and understanding of ranges.
Remember a simple rule:
The closer you are to Button, the stronger your position.
The earlier you act, the more careful you need to play.
4. Types of poker
Poker is loved by many people around the world because its rules are simple and clear. And the second reason is the variety of formats. You will have the opportunity to choose one of the varieties of poker that suits you specifically: according to your character or mood.
Texas holdem
This is the most popular type of poker with a large margin. It is difficult to imagine that in the near future there will be another format that will displace holdem from the top of the poker Olympus. The vast majority of games are played in the unlimited version. There are no restrictions on the maximum size of the raise. You can immediately put all the chips in the center of the table by announcing all-in (all-in bet). Our site is completely dedicated to the game of this type of poker.
Omaha
The second most popular type of poker. Omaha rules are much stricter than Hold 'em. Here, strictly three cards from the general and two from the pocket cards are allowed to be used to make a combination. At the same time, there are several options for Omaha, where 4, 5 or even 6 cards are dealt. With more pocket cards, Omaha is a more dispersive form of poker. Downstrikes are more common here. There is practically no game in the unlimited Omaha. The tables are assembled in a pot-limit Omaha, as well as in an unusual format — Hi/Lo Omaha.
Draw Poker (five card poker with exchange)
An old version of poker, which has two modifications: with one and three exchanges. Each participant is dealt five cards by the dealer at once. The task is to collect the best combination in one or three exchanges. Change is allowed from zero to five cards at a time.
Stud
A kind of poker in which the handing process is not similar to the rules of hold 'em. There are several variations of the herd: 4-, 5- and 7-card, as well as high-low herds. Poker players are interested in the classic 7-card stud. At the beginning of the dealer's hand, the dealer hands each of them one card closed and two cards open. Then, in turn, the participants are dealt three more cards in the open, and the final one is dealt in the closed. The winner is determined by the strength of the 5-card combination.
Razz
This is a kind of herd. The distribution scheme does not change, and the winner is determined by the opposite rules — the owner of the weakest combination takes the pot.
Lowball
This is the opposite format of poker with an exchange. The task is to collect the worst hand in poker, taking into account flushes and straights. Thus, nuts in this game is a offsuit hand 2-3-4-5-7.
H.O.R.S.E.
This is a mixed version of poker that alternates between holdem, omaha, razz, stud, and hi-low stud.
Badugi
An interesting format, reminiscent of poker with an exchange. The task of each player is to collect a combination of badugas — four offsuited cards of minimal value.
- For example: n ats here are offsuited
Chinese Poker (Pineapple)
Another format, the handout course, which does not resemble holdem in any way. Pineapple is more like playing solitaire. The game was popular in the 2010s. Today, you can play Chinese poker online only in the Poker House.
5. How to master the rules of poker and learn how to win
Learning the rules is only the first step.
To start winning, you need to understand the logic of the game and develop systematically.
It was in the 2000s that money was easily earned in the poker industry. The good news is that poker is a skill. It can be developed. Today you will have to work hard and hard. Poker University will help you from the very beginning of your career to professional development at high stakes, as it is organized by the most experienced poker coach in the Russian-speaking space. Below you will find basic tips on how to start winning from the first hand.
Step 1: Explore the base
Start with the rules, combinations, and understanding of the positions at the table. Without this basis, any strategies will be useless. The site contains training videos and articles that will help you understand the mechanics of the game: from preflop to postflop. Don't try to learn everything at once. Master one topic — put it into practice — move on.
Step 2: Start playing risk-free
The first experience can be obtained without investments. The site has a schedule of freeroll — free tournaments where you can win real money without a starting deposit.
This allows you to:
get used to the dynamics of the tournament
learn to make decisions under pressure
understand your mistakes
The main thing is to register in poker rooms according to the instructions of the site in order to get access to bonuses and training.
Step 3: Learn to analyze your mistakes
Most newcomers lose not because of bad luck, but because of repeated mistakes:
- playing too many weak hands
- overestimate the strength of the middle combination
- ignore position
The analysis of the played hands is the key to growth. A strong player is distinguished not by the fact that he is not mistaken, but by the fact that he is able to draw conclusions.
Step 4: Use the learning structure
At Poker University, training is built sequentially: from basic materials to advanced courses.
We do not just give information, but build a system:
what to study first
what to secure
when to move to the next level
This saves time and reduces the number of typical errors.
Earn U-points — and invest them in development
U-points — internal currency of the site. They can be used to access professional video courses. Points are awarded automatically when playing in affiliate poker rooms.
This allows you to:
- receive training without direct investment
- gradually move to more serious strategies
- grow by limits systematically
If you have any difficulties (gaming or technical), please contact our support service. Experts will ask a few clarifying questions, understand the problem — and help to solve it as quickly as possible!
Poker is not a way to get rich quick.
This is a the long run game.
If you treat it as a profession, study and analyze the game — a stable result becomes a matter of time and discipline.
