Again, dear readers, I would like to emphasize that poker is an intellectual game, and the stereotype of a player trying to bluff his opponents at the expense of a huge bet and keeping a straight face is a thing of the past.

Just like algebra, say, poker has its own Fundamental Theorem. Poker differs, for example, from chess in that poker is a game of incomplete information. In chess you see your opponent's entire position, in poker his cards remain face down.

It is easy to understand that if the game of poker was played on open cards, then each of the players would have an exact, absolutely mathematically verified solution at every moment. It would be enough to use a calculator - and each of us could become an ideal player.

The opposite statement is much more important - any player who deviates from the theoretically optimal game reduces his expectation (profitability), while simultaneously increasing the income of his opponents.

Actually, this is the essence of poker - in a game with incomplete information, the winner is the one who makes fewer mistakes, who makes the best impression of the opponent’s cards based on his moves, and who better hides the real strength of his card.

That is, the Fundamental Theorem of Poker can be formulated as follows:

Every time you deviate from the optimal play (as with open cards), they win. Conversely, every time you play a hand as if you could see their cards, they lose.

The same statement can be formulated in the opposite direction:

Every time your opponents play a hand differently from how they would have played it if they saw your cards, you win. And every time they play the hand, it's as if seeing your cards means you lose.

In principle, this theorem is universal and applies to all varieties of poker. It is quite obvious, but its meaning is so important that we advise you to read it several times to fully grasp the essence.

Here are examples of applying this theorem in practice. Let's say you're bluffing on the river. That is, if your opponent calls, then you lose. However, if you think a little, then your opponent has been stupid! After all, if he knew that you were bluffing, if he knew your cards, then the optimal play for him would be a raise, not a call!

So, even though you lost the pot, you actually won. This means that, having played a large number of similar situations, you will have to remain in the black due to the constant mistakes of your opponent.
Or here's another example.

Imagine that you reach the flop with a suited pair like 9-8 clubs, and your opponent has K-10 offsuit. The flop comes 10-6-5. Your opponent is now older than you, and, knowing your cards, he should try to push you out of the pot or make you pay as much as possible to buy the next card.

Now imagine that you responded to your opponent’s attack by calling - and an ace comes out on the turn. Your situation actually got worse (on the flop your chances of winning were about 20%, but on the turn they were only 9%).

Now look what prank may follow. Even though your chances have decreased, you can go on the attack yourself on the turn, pretending to have an ace in your hand. Now, according to the Fundamental Theorem of Poker, if your opponent saw your cards, then his correct decision would be to raise. However, he will most likely be really scared that you have an ace and will simply call. And this is no longer an optimal game, which means you have already won - not because you reached the river relatively cheaply, but precisely because your opponent made a mistake!

And if your opponent folds, firmly believing in your ace, then you will win the entire pot immediately, and your opponent's mistake will be simply monstrous.

It is clear that there are no perfect poker players. Even the greatest players make mistakes. The difference between great players and beginners, in fact, is that they clearly remember the Fundamental Theorem of Poker and make mistakes less often than their opponents. This is what makes them great.

It's always better to make your own mistakes in practice mode rather than in a real game. Therefore, we invite you to the website www.pokerage.ru, where you can take part in a poker problem competition with interesting prizes.