In the original game, there is one player. The player must place a mandatory first bet before the dealer gives them any cards. This mandatory first bet is called the Ante. Only after this does the dealer give five cards to the player and also to themselves.
It must be noted that the first card of the dealer is played face-down, giving the player a half-advantage by revealing one of the cards of the dealer. This is a common rule in Russian Poker. For more information on gameplay and strategy, check out our russian poker casino review.
After the cards are dealt and the player evaluates their chances, they have several options for what to do next:
- Fold – The player must fold their cards and lose the Ante bet.
- Call – The player places a bet equal to twice the Ante. The hands are compared.
- Buy a sixth card – For an amount equal to one Ante, the player is dealt a sixth card.
- Exchange cards – The player may exchange any number of cards. The number of cards does not matter; the cost is always one Ante irrespective. This gives the player a chance to improve their hand.
Having made their final decision, the player acts. If they buy a sixth card or exchange cards, they then again have to make the decision to either fold or call.
According to Russian Poker rules, if the player calls, then the dealer and the player both reveal their hands and match them. The following are the possible results:
- If the dealer does not qualify with a qualifying hand, then by default, the dealer loses and the player is paid an amount equal to his Ante.
- If the dealer qualifies, then the dealer's and the player's hands are matched.
In the latter case, the win is to the stronger hand. If the dealer's hand is stronger, the house wins the entire pot. If the player's hand is stronger, they are paid according to the strength of their combination and the value of the Call bet.
Rules of Russian Poker are interesting as well as fun, so because of that, most players prefer to relax with this game. Victory is always more tasty, but in order to do that, players must play the game with an optimal strategy rather than blind chance.
Remember that Russian Poker allows doubling combinations. The second combination must have a card that differs from the first combination. In case the two combinations are equal, the kicker will determine who takes the win. This rule applies to other poker varieties too. In the event that the two combinations are totally identical, the round is a draw and the two sides get to keep their bets.
Players may also choose to buy the dealer's hand. This is at a price of the player's initial Ante. If the player chooses this, the dealer draws an additional card from the deck, and the hands are compared again.
What You Need to Know About Combinations in Russian Poker
Combinations in Russian Poker are the same as in poker. The only unique combination is Ace-King, where the suit does not matter. It is a qualifying hand in Russian Poker.
Payouts in the casino are paid according to a standard schedule. For example, if the player wins and has a high combination, he is paid a number of Call bets according to the following schedule:
- One pair or Ace-King – 1x Call
- Two pairs – 2x Call
- Three of a kind – 3x Call
- Straight – 4x Call
- Flush – 5x Call
- Full house – 7x Call
- Four of a kind – 20x Call
- Straight flush – 50x Call
- Royal flush – 100x Call
Let's Have a Look at an Example
A picture is worth a thousand words, and it's the best way to clearly understand the rules of Russian Poker.
Assume that a player has two 4s, an 8, a King, and an Ace in his hand. During showdown, the player is paid for the two 4s and Ace-King hand. The player receives two Call bets in total.
Another example: A player has three Jacks and two 8s. Then they decide to buy a sixth card from the dealer, which is another Jack. The player now has a Four of a Kind (J-J-J-J) and a Full House (J-J-J-8-8). In this case, the player can receive 27 Call bets.
Of course, there are many various situations that can happen. These are just a few sets of possibilities a player can collect. Most importantly before sitting at the table is studying and obtaining a thorough understanding of casino rules of Russian Poker.
