General rules of poker. Sports poker Is sports poker prohibited in Russia or not?

(maniac, fish, rock and others).

A player using the ABC poker strategy is easy to read for an experienced poker player. With this approach and table starting hands It is recommended to use mainly for beginners playing at micro-limits.

Below we will consider 3 situations when an ABC game can bring relatively good results.

Playing with a short stack

Most professional players play with maximum stacks, and therefore prefer to use meta poker, focusing on large pots and high stakes. However, not always cash fans can afford to buy up to the middle level of the table. It is in this case that the poker player needs to turn to the good old ABC poker, which allows him to make a stable profit and move towards big win in small steps.

In the ABC strategy, the main emphasis is on selective play of strong hands and a calm attitude towards the aggression of opponents with hands of average strength. Thanks to these qualities basic strategy you will be able to make money on opponents who are ready to invest in the pot with questionable hands in response to your aggression. An adequate assessment of hand strength on different board textures will help you once again not succumb to the provocations of your opponents and save your funds.

Playing at a table with only “shorts” using the ABC strategy can generally become very simple, because many poker players tend to take risks more easily small amounts and make mistakes more often.

Availability of showdown equity

IN Lately Showdowns have become rare in no-limit games. Most often, players fold on the flop or turn, and the last person to bet wins the pot. If the game is for small money, then income before showdown becomes more likely, and in this case the ABC strategy will again come in handy.

By focusing on playing a strong range of hands preflop and value betting hands with top pair and better postflop, you will be able to feel comfortable on the late streets and be much more likely to take the pot at showdown.

No bluffs

This is the main reason for using the ABC strategy at any level of proficiency in the game. If your opponents are betting mostly with strong hands and checking with weak hands, you should probably do the same.

Of course, you may think that this behavior is passive and deprives you of initiative in the game, but checking after you can give you much more information than it seems at first glance. So, by checking in response to the flop KT4, you seem to be asking your opponent the question “Do you have a king in your hand?” Checking on the turn will mean a negative answer, but the bet should confirm your guess.

Of course, strong opponents can exploit your checks and give you false information, but against weak opponents this line of play will be very effective.

Check all weak hands and wait for information from your opponent. One more check will mean a weak hand and you will have to act accordingly. So, with a strong hand like top pair, you can safely check to showdown, but with weaker hands, you should bet to take the pot before showdown.

He has won the hearts of millions of people around the world, many of whom are now dreaming of how in the near future they will begin to earn huge sums or win a major tournament, providing themselves financially for the rest of their lives. This is fueled by annual stories of poker stars winning millions of dollars at events such as the WSOP or WPT.

Surely, if you are at least a little interested in poker, you have heard the phrase “sports poker” more than once, but you probably do not quite understand what it means and what is the difference between sports poker and non-sports poker.

First, let's define the term "poker" itself:

Poker is a popular card game that can be played by 2 to 10 people (meaning at one table). Depending on the type of poker, players are dealt from 2 to 7 cards, from which they need to make a winning combination.

Well, that's it in a nutshell.

Now, let's find out what sports poker is:

Sports poker is an intellectual card game in which players compete with each other, according to duly approved rules, in the ability and skill to calculate various probabilities and chances of collecting winning combination, evaluate the tactics and strategy of the enemy’s game.

Thus, in sports poker, the main thing is not the money/chips earned, but what place the player takes. In other words, sports poker is tournament poker. Speaking about sports poker, we can draw an analogy with tennis tournaments. Their participants also make a certain contribution at the beginning of the tournament, and then compete in skill. The best players receive prize money as a reward for winning.

Poker is a game of incomplete information. For example, when playing chess, you see all the opponent's pieces and can use this to build your own strategy. At the same time, in poker, the opponent’s cards are closed, which means the task becomes more difficult.

Poker in Russia was recognized as a sport on March 16, 2007 and was such for more than two years - until July 20, 2009, when the Minister of Sports and Tourism of the Russian Federation Vitaly Mutko deprived it of this status. It is worth noting that Russia became the first country to recognize poker as a sport.

How does sports poker differ from regular poker?

To begin with, we note that sports poker only includes poker tournaments. That is, players can compete in skills, abilities and knowledge of strategies only in tournaments, and this is easy to explain. The fact is that when playing cash games, the player’s main task is to obtain a stable income over the longest possible period. At the same time, the main task of a player in sports poker is the need to take the highest possible place.

So, at cash tables, players play for real money. That is, once at the table, a player can either lose or win an unlimited amount of money (of course, it is limited, but only by the financial capabilities of the players themselves). This is the difference between regular poker and tournament poker. The fact is that in fact, players in tournament poker play not for real money, but for chips. The buy-in they make acts as payment for entering the game, but the game itself and advancement in the standings depend on the chips the player has accumulated. It is due to this that sports poker can be legalized in some countries, but regular poker at cash tables cannot.

Sports poker rules

In fact, there is no such thing as rules for sports poker. If we talk about the rules of poker in general, they depend on the type of game, but not at all on the discipline.

If we talk about the rules of the game in tournaments, they vary from event to event. There are many tournaments. Some allow you to make rebuys and add-ons (buy more chips if the player has lost the entire stack), in some the blinds grow every three minutes, there are also deep-tournaments (with deep stacks) and many other types, each of which has its own rules.

The essence of sports poker is to first get into the prize zone (ITM), and then try to get as high as possible in the standings. That’s why it was called “sports”, since it involves rivalry between players.

History of sports poker

It’s easy to guess that the history of sports poker is closely intertwined with the history of poker in general. Let's start with official appearance poker as a game in 1872, when Robert Schenck, the US Ambassador to Great Britain, compiled a written set of rules for the game. At that time poker was enough popular game in taverns and other similar establishments, but they only played cash games.

The first professional tournaments began to be held in 1970, so this year can be considered the official date of the birth of sports poker. It happened as follows. Jack Binion, a man who simply loved poker, announced a competition between the best players USA, the winner of which will receive the title of King of Poker. Only six players took part in the tournament, but despite this, the competition lasted for 7 days. All this time, the participants competed with each other in various varieties of this card game. The winner was chosen by voting and was Johnny Moss.

Since the tournament caused a lot of admiration among the public, Jack Binion decided to make it regular and called it WSOP (World Series of Poker), which today attracts tens of thousands of participants at its tables.

The very next year, in the second WSOP tournament, 14 people played, and every year the number of participants continued to grow.

Thus, sports poker arose on the same day as the World Series of Poker and we have Jack Binion to thank for this.

International and national sports poker associations

As the popularity of sports poker grew around the world, various associations began to appear that held local tournaments on their territory. They took responsibility for competitions, development of uniform rules and much more. So, what international sports poker associations exist?

• World Federation of Poker
• Poker Tournament Directors Association
• European Poker Sports Association
• Ladies Poker Association

These are the four main world organizations that regulate all poker-related activities and are also responsible for hosting international competitions.

In addition, there are national sports poker federations and they exist in almost every country:

• United States Poker Federation - USA
• Federation of Sports Poker of Russia - RF
• Belarusian Federation Sports poker - Belarus
• Fédération Française des Joueurs de Poker - France
• Australian Poker Association - Australia
• Dansk Poker Forbund - Denmark
• South African Poker Association - South Africa
• And many others.

Where can you play sports poker?

If you are just starting to learn poker or have only played cash games until now, but have now decided to start playing sports poker, we hasten to please you: you don’t need to do anything special for this. The easiest way to start playing sports poker is online.

First of all, you need to choose a suitable poker room that offers a wide selection of multi-table tournaments with different buy-ins and structures. It can take a long time to look for such a poker room, but without a doubt, today the best site for playing tournament poker is PokerStars.

We recommend that you pay attention to the 888 Poker $88 bonus upon registration, because it is issued mainly in tournament tickets, accordingly, you will be able to play sports poker for free, as well as increase your bankroll for future tournaments.

Sports poker in Russia

Sports poker began to actively develop in Russia after the collapse of the USSR, when casinos and gaming clubs began to appear in most cities. From the very beginning, poker was considered gambling and most players agreed with this, but there were also those like Dmitry Lesnoy who actively fought for the legalization of this game.

Is sports poker banned in Russia or not?

In 2006, Dmitry Lesnoy founded the Russian Sports Poker Federation, and the following year it was recognized as an official sport. Unfortunately, today sports poker in Russia is not receiving proper development due to the fact that the government does not recognize it as one of the sports. According to the Federal Law, since 2009, poker in any of its forms has been prohibited in Russia: sports, cash, online or offline - it doesn’t matter. Today you can play poker in Russia only in special gambling zones, which are Russian Federation there are six: Sochi, Crimea, “Yantarnaya” (Zelenograd), “Primorye” (Vladivostok), “Siberian Coin” (Altai), “Azov-City” (Krasnodar Territory).

Only by visiting one of these gambling zones will you be able to legally play sports poker. Of course, there are many underground casinos and poker clubs throughout the country, but their activities are illegal and, if you do not want problems with law enforcement agencies, it is better not to visit them.

Despite this, Russian players regularly participate in European and world poker tournaments. Such famous personalities as Ivan Demidov, Vitaly Lunkin, Alexander Kravchenko, Alexander Kostritsyn, Maxim Lykov, Kirill Gerasimov, Andrey Pateychuk and others are frequent participants in the World Series of Poker and from time to time take prizes in the events of this series.

You can also read additional materials on this topic in the article

What you need to do to get started play poker for free? Familiarize yourself with the rules of poker. Choose a poker room where you plan to start your career as a poker player. Register in the poker room, indicating the code giving the right to poker bonus. After this it will be possible download poker for free and start playing.
What's in poker for free, and what kind of money?
Play online poker for free really simple, like any game on the Internet online poker There is a free option, this is a game for chips (free money, play money, free poker money). To do this you just need to open an account for free game in the room, such a gaming account usually has simplified registration, and then download poker for free and you're in the game. Only in this case, your winnings will also be only free poker money.
How play poker without money, but for money?
The most interesting question is how is it possible play poker for free and still have the opportunity to win money? There are several possibilities for poker games online for free- And freerolls.
No deposit bonus poker (no deposit- colloquial from English No deposit bonus poker) Very common in online poker and represents free start-up capital in a poker room that allows a novice player to try his hand at real game, without risk or damage to your own wallet.

Freerolls FAQ:

Freeroll ( freeroll- colloquial from English freeroll) - This free poker tournament with a cash prize. The best way start making money playing poker.
What types of freerolls are there? Freerolls There are private and public.
What are the advantages of private freerolls? Private freerolls- This poker tournaments, organized for a limited number of players, access to which can be obtained by ticket or freeroll password.

Many bookmakers do not set as their goal huge earnings and a large list of events, concentrating on certain sports and specific countries. In most cases, the choice of competition falls on football, since this game is already a global heritage, which is loved and respected by all peoples of the world. Bookmaker "Offside""decided to go down the beaten path, creating another resource that is aimed at attracting small group betters for leisurely and not very profitable bets on football. Interest major players « Offsidebet“There’s nothing special, so this company is just another clone in the big “Internet soup.”

Bookmaker "Offside" - description of the company

According to official documents, offsidebet.com is a rather old player, since this bookmaker (bookmaker) was created in 1997. Initially, the office offered its services to Europe and the countries of the former CIS, but in the end it almost completely turned its attention to domestic betters. For 11 years now, it has continued to actively offer its services to players in Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus and Russia.

The Offside bookmaker is a subsidiary of another large gaming company – Entertainment International Group Ltd. This is not the last “owner” of the office; even this association belongs to the old 2x2bet office, which has occupied a significant place in the “digestive chain” of domestic betting for a long time.

Offside has a license to carry out gambling activities, it was issued by the government of the island of Curacao. Previously, the office’s visitors were not only domestic betters, but also European ones, however, this “raspberry” did not last long. Over time, Offside betting points (betting points) in the UK, USA and Israel were banned and were successfully closed. In 2011, the office acquired its own website www.offsidebet.com, and began accepting bets via the Internet. Despite the fact that the bookmaker had a significant number of bettors in the CIS countries, they are currently actively closing them due to the transition to a fully online mode.

It is worth noting that “Offsidebet” scatters its efforts beyond bookmaking activities; the resource is extremely active in offering other online entertainment services – poker, roulette, slots, board games. The total number of additional entertainment exceeds 20 positions, but is constantly growing. This “broad focus” takes so much energy from the bookmaker that the main activity can offer potential clients negligible opportunities.

Bookmaker "Offside" - description of the resource

“Offside” is probably the only resource on the RuNet that independently selects bettors for registration. That is, you won’t be able to register just like that, you must receive an invitation from a member of the “club”, pass the administration check, and only then start playing. This is quite unusual, since other bookmakers register everyone indiscriminately. And many even have a special bonus program that gives cash prizes for each “friend brought” (referral).

Among the features of the Offside website, it is worth noting the following functions:

• design. The site is professionally designed and has a beautiful green design. There are no complaints from bettors, everything is done beautifully and stylishly;
• navigation. Everything is fine here too, the Offside website has good navigation. The main news and tables are located in the main menu, the blocks are arranged according to their meaning, everything is clear and accessible;
• multilingual. In addition to Russian, the bookmaker’s website has been translated into several other popular languages;
• availability of additional entertainment. In addition to bets, the site can offer more than twenty interesting bettors online games, like slots, machines and casinos;
• mobile version. For players who prefer to place bets with mobile devices, there is a special lightweight version of the resource.

SECTION 2.

2.1. PURCHASES (BUY-IN)– minimum amount to enter the game.

2.1.1 The minimum number of chips (money) that a player must have in order to sit at the gaming table he likes is determined by the club management.

2.1.2. In a tournament, the size of the entry fee is determined by the tournament organizers.

2.1.3. Players must purchase game chips as cash is not accepted in the game. Each gaming table has its own minimum amount, with which a player can take a seat at this table.

2.1.4. Additional purchases to your money-chips can be made in any quantity during the break between hands.

2.2. INCOMPLETE PURCHASE

A player who wishes to make an incomplete purchase must purchase chips worth at least half of the full purchase (Buy in) in this type of game, provided that he has already paid for the full purchase earlier.

2.3. MINIMUM RATE

2.3.1. Each game has its own minimum bet unit. The size of the minimum bet unit for each game (ANTE or BLIND) is set by Management.

2.3.2. The minimum bet during the drawing is equal to either the size of the “big blind” in games with a BUTTON, or the size of the forced initial bet in varieties of STAD POKER, with the exception of “all in” bets. If the “big blind” or the forced initial bet exceeds the bet of the player who bet “all in”, the next player must accept this bet in full, except in cases where the fight is heads-up.

2.4. CHIPS ON THE TABLE

2.4.1. This rule applies to all types of poker. Only those chips that are on the table can be used during the drawing. The player is not allowed to place additional chips and/or cash on the table during the drawing. The player does not have the right to remove chips and/or cash from the table until he has completed his gaming session.

2.4.2. Between hands, a player can add any number of chips to those already on the table in front of him. If he wants to add chips (buy more, take them out of his pocket or take out a loan), he must do this between hands, announcing to the other players: “This much is playing.”

2.4.3. A player can remove chips from the table only after finishing his game.

2.4.4. All players have the right to see how many chips their playing partners have. Any player has the right to ask and receive an approximate answer to the question of how many chips a particular player has in the game.

2.5. ERRORS DURING DISPLAY (MISDEALS)

The following circumstances cause an error to be declared in a hand, provided that the error was noticed before the two players acted. (If two players make another move, the hand must be played to the end).

(a) The first or second card in the hand was dealt face up or was revealed by the dealer in error.

(b) Two or more cards were shown by the dealer.

(c) Two or more incorrect cards (face up) were found.

(d) Two or more extra cards were dealt at the start of the game.

(e) The player was dealt the wrong number of cards.

(e) A card has been dealt in the wrong order (except for a face-up card, which may be replaced by a burned card).

(g) The button is out of play or in the wrong position.

(h) Cards were dealt to an empty box or to a player not participating in the game.

(i) During the distribution, a player participating in the game was missed.

The game is considered to have begun when two players, after making mandatory bets, begin the game (begin to act based on the cards they have in their hands). In button games, the game is considered to have started when two players, after betting in secret, begin to play. Once the game has started, a mulligan can no longer be called. The hand will be played to the end and the money will not be returned to the player whose cards were not dealt according to the rules.

2.6. PASS (DEAD HANDS)

2.6.1. Your cards stop participating in the game if:

1. You abandon the game or announce your intention to abandon when faced with the need to bet or increase

2. If you throw your cards forward, thereby encouraging the other player to move after you.

3. In stud poker, when you open your cards, you remove your cards from the table, turn your cards face down, or shuffle the top and bottom cards together.

4. The cards dealt to you are not enough for this particular game.

5. A player who takes action without looking at the cards takes responsibility for discovering an incorrect card.

6. You open your cards without answering the last bet.

7. The time for placing a bet or increasing it is limited, and a certain time limit has expired.

2.6.2. Cards discarded are declared “dead”, however, in exceptional cases, if the cards are clearly separable, they, at the discretion of management, may be returned to the player if they were discarded as a result of incorrect information conveyed to the player.

2.7. VIOLATIONS

2.7.1. In games with a BUTTON (SHARE), if it is discovered that the BUTTON in a previous hand was not placed correctly, its position and blinds will be corrected in the new hand so that each player is given the opportunity to play in each of the positions in the circle (if possible ).

2.7.2. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS PROTECT YOUR CARDS with your hand, chip, or other object placed on top of the cards. If you failed to protect your cards and they were discarded, or the dealer accidentally removed them, they will not be restored.

2.7.3. A player who knows that a deck is defective must report it. If the player instead tries to win the pot by taking an aggressive line, the player may lose the right to receive a payout and may be required to keep the chips in the pot until the next hand.

2.7.4. A card found face up in the deck (boxed card) will be ignored and replaced by the next card after it.

2.7.5. If one or more cards are missing from the deck, this does not affect the outcome of the hand.

2.7.6. If before the first round of betting the dealer deals out an extra card, it is returned to the deck and used as a burn card.

2.7.7. The procedures for dealing with a face-down card vary depending on the type of poker and are given in the section specific to each game.

2.7.8. If the card was revealed due to the fault of the dealer, the player is not given the choice to accept or refuse the card. The situation will be resolved in accordance with the rules for this particular game.

2.7.9. If you drop one of your cards on the floor, that card still takes part in the game.

2.7.10. If the dealer deals the cards prematurely, before all bets have been made, these cards do not take part in the game, even if the player who has not yet made a move in the game decides to fold the cards.

2.7.11. If in a cash game a player opens cards while under a bet, then his hand is automatically declared “dead”. In a tournament, the cards remain “live”, but at the end of the hand the player receives a penalty.

2.7.12. The dealer must take the cards of the absent players one by one. In a tournament, cards are taken immediately after the starting cards have been dealt to all players (cards are taken regardless of what position the missing player is in).

2.8. RATES AND INCREASE IN RATES (CALL & RAISE)

2.8.1. In limited games, if there are three or more players in the game, it is possible to place a bet and three raises.

2.8.2. If there are only two players in the game, the bet can be increased an unlimited number of times. This applies any time there are two players left in the game.

2.8.3. Any circle bet must be at least equal to the previous bet or increased. The increase can be done from a minimum possible step up to the maximum possible increase in a given game, unless the player intends to bet all of his remaining money (all in), which does not exceed the maximum possible increase. The minimum increase (step) is equal to the value of the last increase in that particular game.

2.8.4. A verbal statement defines your actions and is a commitment. If, in turn, you verbally state that you will pass, check, bet, call, or raise, you must take those actions.

2.8.5. Deliberate moves out of turn are not allowed. A player who has declared a check (check) cannot, in turn, make a bet or increase it in this circle. A move or verbal statement not in turn may be considered binding if the player to whom the move passes does not Bet or Raise after the violation has been recognized.

2.8.6. To retain the right to move, the player must stop the game by saying "time" (or equivalent word). If you have not stopped the game, two or more players have already made a move after you, you may lose the right to move. You do not lose the right to move if the player in front of you missed a move, this only happens if you did not take action when, according to the rules, it was your turn to move. That is, if you were waiting for the player in front of you to make a move, and three or more players behind you made a move, this still does not deprive you of the right to move.

2.8.7. The player who bets or calls by depositing money into the pot is bound by this action.

2.8.8. It is not allowed to increase bets in several stages (add chips). The increase is made as a one-time action, or the amount of the increase is announced in advance.

2.8.9. If you throw one chip into the pot that is larger than the bet and do not call a raise, you are considered to have called the previous bet.

2.8.10. If a player wants to increase the bet, he must say “Raise”, “plus”, or silently place a bet in one motion, which is at least greater than the amount of the last increase in this particular game. If the player makes a silent increase, but the amount of increase he gave is less than half (50%) of the minimum possible increase, then his action is accepted as a “Call” response, and the dealer gives the player his change. If this increase is more than half or equal to (50%) of the possible increase, then the player’s bet is accepted as “Raise” and the player must deliver up to the amount of the minimum increase.

2.8.11. Players can make increases after "all in" even if the "all in" is less than the minimum increase. But the increase can be made by players sitting after the player who made “all in”, and the player(s) who made their move in a given betting round can only deliver up to “all in”. But if, after all in, any of the players sitting after him have raised, then the player(s) who bet before all in can raise. Also, all players, without exception, can make a raise if the player’s “all in” is a full raise (raise) in a given game.

2.8.12. If the dealer mistakenly misses one player and immediately moves to another, and after this missed player two actions occurred, then the player who was missed (and who did not react in any way to the dealer’s mistake) loses his word (i.e. if everyone “check ”, then this player will automatically “check”).

2.8.13. If a player places a bet out of turn, then depending on the actions of the players in front of him, the bet will either remain in the pot or can be removed. And it means: If the player whose word is to Check, Pass or Call on the previous bet, then the untimely placed bet must remain in the game. If, however, the player whose word is made the first bet “Bet” or an increase in “Raise”, then the player who placed the bet at the wrong time can remove it and make any other decision. This rule applies only to tournaments, in cash games the bet placed outside the queue remains in the bank, except if the player acted on the basis of incorrectly received information.

2.9. WORDS AND GESTURES ARE RESPONSIBLE

2.9.1. A verbal announcement is accepted along with the action if the player intends to play BET, CALL, RAISE, CHECK or PASS. Any player who, by word or gesture, expresses the intention to make CHECK, BET, RAISE or PASS, is obliged to stick to his word.

2.9.2. The word is responsible. That is, the player who declared “Pass” cannot “change his mind” and place a bet. His hand is considered "dead". In the same way, the player who said “Call” or “Pot” (Bank) is obliged to put money into the bank.

2.9.3. Verbal announcements regarding the opening of cards are not permitted. At the end of the draw, only the revealed cards are taken into account, and not the players' announcements.

2.10. SHOW DOWN

2.10.1. "The cards speak for themselves." The dealer helps determine the hand, but players are responsible for keeping their cards until a winner is declared. Although verbally stating a hand is not binding, intentionally making a false statement of a hand in order to induce another player to fold winning cards is unethical and may lead to bank confiscation.

2.10.2. Before the dealer gives the winning pot to the winner, he turns it face down and removes all losing cards.

2.10.3. If a player, seeing the cards of his opponent(s), agrees with his loss and folds his cards face down to “Pass”, then none of the players at the table has the right to look at these cards, unless the player himself shows them. An exception is that if the tournament is all in and call, then the cards of both players are revealed, even if it is the river and the player who made the call sees that he has lost.

2.10.4. If during or after a deal you show cards to another player, any player at the table has the right to look at those cards. Cards shown during a deal to a player not participating in the pot can only be shown to all players after the end of the deal.

2.10.5. If everyone checks in the final round, the player who acted first (the player sitting after the button) is the first to show his cards; in any other case, the player who last took active action by placing a bet or increasing it is the first to show his cards. If there is a second pot (side pot), the players participating in it must show their cards before they are opened by the player who put the last money in the main pot.

2.10.6. In cash games, if during the “showdown” the player(s) fold their cards face down into the “Pass”, thereby agreeing with their loss, then the player remaining with the cards is declared the winner of this particular game and does not need to show your cards.

2.10.7. In tournaments, when all rounds of betting have been completed in a hand, in order to win any part of the pot, the player must place all cards face up on the table

2.11. BET IN THE “DARK” (BIG & SMALL BLINDS)

2.11.1. Each player must be given the opportunity to be in the dealer position (Button), and fulfill the total number of obligations for bets in the dark (Small & Big blind). Any of the following methods can be used for this:

Moving button – The button always moves forward in the circle to the next player and the dark bets are adjusted accordingly.

Dead Button - The Big Blind is placed by the player who must place it in the hand, the Small Blind and the Button are placed accordingly, even if this means that the Small Blind and the Button will be placed in front of an empty chair, giving the same player the final move in two consecutive games.

2.11.2. The player(s) betting small & big blind has the right to increase the pot in the first round of betting.

2.11.3. In a game with two bets in the dark (Small & Big blinds), in which there are only two players left, the “Small blind” is placed to the player “sitting on the button”.

2.11.4. A player starts the game with "Big blind" if he:

Enters the game, placing a “Guest Blind” equal to the Big Blind.

Sits in the “Big Blind” seat.

Changes to another seat, getting up from the “Small” or “Big blind” position

Changes to another seat, while moving away from the Big Blind.

2.11.5. The game is possible without “Small blind”, but it cannot do without “Big blind”.

2.12. DARK (STRADDLE)

2.12.1. Straddle may or may not be allowed according to the opinion of management or by agreement between the players.

2.12.2. A straddle can only be made by the player immediately behind the big blind.

2.12.3. A straddle can only be equal to twice the big blind, no more, no less. In 5-card stud, the size of the “dark” can be equal, from the bank to twice the product of the bank, and the player sitting closer to the “button” has the advantage of betting the “dark”.

2.12.4. The “straddle” is considered “live” and gives the last word to the player “in the big blind” in the first round of betting.