This will help improve your skills at the poker table. When you play poker, keep in mind that you are playing against human beings who want the same thing as you - to win money!

This part of the poker school aims to give you the confidence to play low-limit poker for money and enjoy it. After going through the fundamentals, you should be able to play Texas Hold'em with a basic understanding of the game as well as of the tools necessary to enjoy the game and, hopefully, to win.

Create account

In order to play at NorgesAutomaten Poker, you need an account with NorgesAutomaten. You can use the same NorgesAutomaten account for Poker and Casino.

After creating an account, you can play with play money. If you want to play with real money, you need to deposit money in your NorgesAutomaten account. We support a number of different payment options. You can view these by selecting ‘Payment options' in the menu on the main page.

You choose a user name and a password and need to log on every time you want to play. You also need to create a poker alias. Your alias is visible to the other players at the table.

Continue to:
Installing the poker client

Installing the poker client

NorgesAutomaten Poker is played with a special client application that you download and install on your computer. The application connects you, allowing you to play against others over the Internet.

The application runs on all computers with Windows and an Internet connection.

Click here to install the poker client:

Continue to:
Playing directly in your web browser

Playing directly in your web browser

If you would like to play poker, but don't have access to your own computer, you can play the java version directly in your browser. You can log on to the Java version from the poker page at the website and use the same account by logging on as you normally do. A new window will open. The Java version does not have all the features of the client, but it is a perfect alternative if you want to play in the workplace, at an Internet café or at a friend's.

Continue to:
Playing the poker client

Playing the poker client

You will probably play the most in our downloadable poker client. It has all the functions and graphics to create an exiting poker experience. To help you get started we recommend that you read how to play with the poker client. Start with the Lobby.

Continue to:
The lobby

The lobby

The lobby presents two types of poker - ring games and tournaments. You choose which one to display with the buttons on your top right.

Ring games

In the lobby, you choose which table to play. All tables are divided into different categories, depending on which game is being played and at what level.

The information about a table is as follows:

table name
the type of money used (real/play)
limit $10-20 means that the maximum raise allowed is 10 $ in the first two betting rounds, and 20 $ in the last two.
number of players and number of seats. 7/10 means that there are seven players seated at a table for ten.

If the table has a small padlock, it is a private table that you need permission to play.

If you highlight a table, you will see more information about it in the box to the right:

the names of the players at the table as well as their chip stacks
the average pot
the pace of the game (number of hands per hour)
the share of players who see the flop

Choosing a table

In order to play at NorgesAutomaten Poker, you need to choose a table. You can play with play money or real money. The rules are the same, and so is the game, but you should expect the game to be played differently when real money is at stake.

To go to a table, highlight the table in the list and click:

3 Tournaments

Tournaments are shown in a similar list to the tables of ring games. They are sorted according to the types of tournaments available.

The main types are:

Scheduled. Large tournaments with up to several thousand players distributed over a large number of tables and with a maximum of ten players per table. The players are knocked out (lose all their chips) and the remaining players are moved around to maintain an even distribution between the tables.
Sit & Go. Single-table tournaments that start as soon as the table is full. They can be played with both play money and real money.
Cannot find resource 'poker.school.menu.how.to.lobby.tournaments.text2.3'

A tournament normally has an entry fee that goes toward the pot and a (smaller) fee that is collected by the house. The prize is often money, but it may also be a ticket to a bigger tournament, either online or live.

Continue to:
The table

The table

Click on an empty seat

You can opt to watch the game for a while without joining. When you want to play, just click one of the empty seats. You do not have to bring all your money to the table. The foot of the window displays the maximum amount allowed and the minimum amount required. Enter your amount and click OK. You now have a seat at the table. Click "Sit in" in order to get cards in the next hand.

Continue to:
Table features

Table features

Act when it is your turn

When it is your turn to act, clickable buttons will appear in the window. They state your available options in any given situation.

Act before it is your turn

Before your turn comes, if you want, you can tick the relevant box before it is your turn to act. By using these boxes you can speed the game up for everybody. If you tick a box, that decision will apply when it is your turn to act, without your having to do anything else.

Chat

In the bottom right-hand corner is a window where everything that happens in the game can be seen in writing. This window also functions as a chat room for the players.

The poker chat often uses special terminology. Some of the more common abbreviations used to comment on the game are:

Nh = Nice hand
Vnh = Very nice hand
GG = Good game
Txs = Thanks
Gb = Good bet/good bluff
Nb= Nice bet/nice bluff
Lol = Laughing out loud

Continue to:
Session browser

Session browser

Our poker client has a built-in session browser. It is a feature that logs all your sessions. Through the session browser, you have access to individual statistics that help you analyse your game.

Detailed statistics

In the session browser, you can see your statistics every time you log on to NorgesAutomaten Poker. For every session, you can review detailed statistics of the different tables you played at during that session. The statistics can be broken down into every individual hand you have played. This makes the session browser a very useful aid for developing your game and analysing why you win or lose.

Continue to:
Player notes

Player notes

When you play NorgesAutomaten Poker, you can make notes and categorise different players in order to know how to deal with them next time you sit across them at a table.

By right-clicking a player, you display a Player notes menu. After you have categorised the player, the mark will be visible next to the player's name in the lobby. This will help you choose tables where players you know you can beat are seated. Or avoid tables with red-flagged players.

Continue to:
Private tables

Private tables

All users at NorgesAutomaten Poker can create private tables. Please, respect the rules governing the table or, if you are the "owner" of the table, create your own rules.

Playing at a private table

There are two kinds of private tables, private and unregulated. The unregulated tables are exactly like the public ones, with the only difference being that they were created by a player. In order to play at a completely private table, you must be approved by the table's owner. The private tables are recognised by the small red padlock next to the tables in the lobby. When you open the table, you will be asked to send a request to the table's owner. If you wish, you can also attach a small message. The owner of the table will receive your request and, if you are accepted, you may sit down at the table.

Creating a private table

First, select the tab "Private Tables" in the lobby. Next, you click the green button marked, "Create Private Table". Then you select a table from a long list of several types. You can choose the number of players, if the table should be completely private or unregulated, as well as the game speed at your table.

There are three different speeds:

Normal - same as the standard tables.
Adaptive - the time allowed for consideration is dynamic, and the table adapts to the players' behaviour.
Turbo - turbo tables allow very little time for consideration and is best suited to players who like fast games and have stable Internet connections.

Adaptive or turbo tables have green flashing icons next to them in the lobby.

A description of the table is optional. The description is displayed in the lobby when someone selects the table.

Click the "Create" button when you have set all parameters for the table, and create the table. Note that it may take a couple of minutes before the table is visible in the lobby.

Before any player wants to sit at your table, he/she must first ask for your permission. You can choose to accept or reject such a request.

Continue to:
Private tournaments

Private tournaments

Any player at NorgesAutomaten Poker can create his/her own tournament. The player who creates the tournament determines what conditions apply. It can be a Sit & Go or a Scheduled tournament. The tournament director also decides whether it should be open to all {1} players, or locked and password-protected.

Setting up a private tournament

In order to create a private tournament, select Tournaments and click the "Private" tab. Then click "Create Tournament" to state how you want your tournament to be played.

You can set the following parameters:

Sit & Go or Scheduled
Game type
Limit type
Money type
Buy in
Players per table
Max entrants
Min entrants
Blind level speed
Prize structure
Rebuys
Password

Continue to:
Client abbreviations

Client abbreviations

NorgesAutomaten Poker uses several standard abbreviations. They are used both during the game itself and in the chat room, and we recommend that you use them in your comments as well.

Abbreviations and symbols in the lobby

HE = Texas Hold'em
7S = 7-Card Stud
7S8 = 7-Card Stud Hi/Lo
OH = Omaha
OH8 = Omaha Hi/Lo
Red padlock = private table, you need permission from the table's "owner"
Red and green flashing light = training or turbo speed at the table (faster than normal)

Card abbreviations

These are shown in the chat window during the ongoing hand and game. They are also shown when a winning hand is declared.

Spades: s
Hearts: h
Diamonds: d
Clubs: c
Ace: A
King: K
Queen: Q
Jack: J
Ten: T
Nine - Two: 9 - 2

Thus, Ace of spades, Queen of diamonds, Queen of hearts, Four of clubs and Two of spades are written: As Qd Qh 4c and 2s, respectively.

Continue to:
Fundamentals of poker