Russian Poker Strategy Guide

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Computed: 2026-02-26T13:30:23Z

1 Box

-0.43

-43 per 100 hands

2 Boxes

-0.42

-42 per 100 hands (per box)

1-Box Strategy

Hand	Action	EV
Straight Flush	BET	+609.0
Four of a Kind	BET	+251.4
Full House	BET	+95.0
Flush	BET	+71.2
Straight	BET	+60.0
Three of a Kind	EXCHANGE	+48.7
Two Pair	BET	+33.6
Pair (J-A)	BET	+20.2
Pair (7-T)	BET	+12.4
Pair (2-6)	EXCHANGE	+10.8
4-Flush draw	BUY 6TH	+9.1
Open-ended straight draw	BUY 6TH	+4.0
AK + strong kicker	BET	+0.3
AK + weak kicker	FOLD	+0.0
Gutshot straight draw	FOLD	+0.0
High card (weak)	FOLD	+0.0
High card (A or K)	FOLD	+0.0

2-Box Strategy

11 known cards (5+5+1 dealer)

Hand	Action	EV
Straight Flush	BET	+594.2
Four of a Kind	BET	+253.4
Full House	BET	+95.0
Flush	BET	+70.5
Straight	BET	+60.2
Three of a Kind	EXCHANGE	+49.0
Two Pair	BET	+33.7
Pair (J-A)	BET	+20.2
Pair (7-T)	BET	+12.4
Pair (2-6)	EXCHANGE	+10.9
4-Flush draw	BUY 6TH	+9.3
Open-ended straight draw	BUY 6TH	+4.0
AK + strong kicker	BET	+0.4
AK + weak kicker	FOLD	+0.0
High card (weak)	FOLD	+0.0
Gutshot straight draw	FOLD	+0.0
High card (A or K)	FOLD	+0.0

* = different from 1-box

Insurance

Insurance pays when dealer has no game, you lose, or push. You lose insurance only when you win.

Hand	Action	No Game %	Win %	Lose %	EV/unit
Three of a Kind	SKIP	42.4%	55.7%	2.0%	-0.113
Straight	SKIP	43.7%	55.7%	0.6%	-0.115
Flush	SKIP	44.5%	55.2%	0.3%	-0.104
Full House	SKIP	41.6%	58.3%	0.1%	-0.165
Four of a Kind	SKIP	40.0%	60.0%	0.0%	-0.200
Straight Flush	SKIP	43.8%	56.2%	0.0%	-0.123
Royal Flush	SKIP	43.6%	56.4%	0.0%	-0.128

Buy Game (dealer has no game)

Your Hand	Action	Buy EV	Take EV
High Card	TAKE ANTE	18.77	40
Three of a Kind	BUY GAME	45.47	40
Ace-King	TAKE ANTE	18.24	40
Two Pair	TAKE ANTE	37.77	40
Pair	TAKE ANTE	27.25	40
Flush	BUY GAME	61.59	40
Straight	BUY GAME	45.82	40
Full House	BUY GAME	62.5	40
Four of a Kind	BUY GAME	225.0	40

Full Text Summary

RUSSIAN POKER OPTIMAL STRATEGY
========================================
Based on 50000 Monte Carlo simulations

PROFITABILITY
  1-Box: -0.43 per hand (-43 per 100)
  2-Box: -0.42 per hand (-42 per 100)

1. INITIAL DECISION — 1 BOX
----------------------------------------
  Hand                         | Action       | EV
  -----------------------------------------------------
  Straight Flush               | BET          | +609.0
  Four of a Kind               | BET          | +251.4
  Full House                   | BET          | +95.0
  Flush                        | BET          | +71.2
  Straight                     | BET          | +60.0
  Three of a Kind              | EXCHANGE     | +48.7
  Two Pair                     | BET          | +33.6
  Pair (J-A)                   | BET          | +20.2
  Pair (7-T)                   | BET          | +12.4
  Pair (2-6)                   | EXCHANGE     | +10.8
  4-Flush draw                 | BUY 6TH      | +9.1
  Open-ended straight draw     | BUY 6TH      | +4.0
  AK + strong kicker           | BET          | +0.3
  AK + weak kicker             | FOLD         | +0.0
  Gutshot straight draw        | FOLD         | +0.0
  High card (weak)             | FOLD         | +0.0
  High card (A or K)           | FOLD         | +0.0

2. INITIAL DECISION — 2 BOXES (11 known cards)
----------------------------------------
  Hand                         | Action       | EV
  -----------------------------------------------------
  Straight Flush               | BET          | +594.2
  Four of a Kind               | BET          | +253.4
  Full House                   | BET          | +95.0
  Flush                        | BET          | +70.5
  Straight                     | BET          | +60.2
  Three of a Kind              | EXCHANGE     | +49.0
  Two Pair                     | BET          | +33.7
  Pair (J-A)                   | BET          | +20.2
  Pair (7-T)                   | BET          | +12.4
  Pair (2-6)                   | EXCHANGE     | +10.9
  4-Flush draw                 | BUY 6TH      | +9.3
  Open-ended straight draw     | BUY 6TH      | +4.0
  AK + strong kicker           | BET          | +0.4
  AK + weak kicker             | FOLD         | +0.0
  High card (weak)             | FOLD         | +0.0
  Gutshot straight draw        | FOLD         | +0.0
  High card (A or K)           | FOLD         | +0.0
  (* = different from 1-box strategy)

3. INSURANCE (pays on: no game, lose, push; costs on: win)
----------------------------------------
  Three of a Kind: SKIP (EV/unit: -0.113)
    No Game: 42.4% | Win: 55.7% | Lose: 2.0%
  Straight: SKIP (EV/unit: -0.115)
    No Game: 43.7% | Win: 55.7% | Lose: 0.6%
  Flush: SKIP (EV/unit: -0.104)
    No Game: 44.5% | Win: 55.2% | Lose: 0.3%
  Full House: SKIP (EV/unit: -0.165)
    No Game: 41.6% | Win: 58.3% | Lose: 0.1%
  Four of a Kind: SKIP (EV/unit: -0.2)
    No Game: 40.0% | Win: 60.0% | Lose: 0.0%
  Straight Flush: SKIP (EV/unit: -0.123)
    No Game: 43.8% | Win: 56.2% | Lose: 0.0%
  Royal Flush: SKIP (EV/unit: -0.128)
    No Game: 43.6% | Win: 56.4% | Lose: 0.0%

4. BUY GAME (when dealer has no game)
----------------------------------------
  High Card: TAKE ANTE (Buy EV: 18.77, Take EV: 40)
  Three of a Kind: BUY GAME (Buy EV: 45.47, Take EV: 40)
  Ace-King: TAKE ANTE (Buy EV: 18.24, Take EV: 40)
  Two Pair: TAKE ANTE (Buy EV: 37.77, Take EV: 40)
  Pair: TAKE ANTE (Buy EV: 27.25, Take EV: 40)
  Flush: BUY GAME (Buy EV: 61.59, Take EV: 40)
  Straight: BUY GAME (Buy EV: 45.82, Take EV: 40)
  Full House: BUY GAME (Buy EV: 62.5, Take EV: 40)
  Four of a Kind: BUY GAME (Buy EV: 225.0, Take EV: 40)