Even if this game part of LoM is called “Poker”, you do not need to know anything about playing Poker. You do not even need to know anything about playing with cards.
There are some similarities with Poker in real life, but in general it is much easier in LoM, be assured.

To get started is very very simple.
(But for those who really want to get into it – to master it – the game provides lots of possibilities for you. You may learn lots of strategical and tactical skills on a high level, if you like).

Arriving in EW, you click on one or more cards, they will turn around and you will see either an event or a monster to fight.
You can shuffle, if the cards are not to your liking. In that case you start over, but 3 moves in EW are gone (there is a counter: “Actions remain”)
If you click on the monster of your choice, the battle will start. (The following screen is from a simple scripted fight in the university):



MC (with 190 HP) is on the left, the Monster (M) on the right. Allies (max 3) are in the top left. There are also several menu buttons on the top left. “Gems” gives you an overview about your gem sets. “Discard” we will talk about later. “Help” gives you an overview about the ranking of the different Poker hands (card lines), and about where your gems are. “Auto” gives you a suggestion about your next move.

Here you can see the gems you own, and in which slots you have placed them. You can sort them into the registers I II and III. On the right there are spare gems which you are not using in the moment.

As long as you did not move any cards from hand to table, you are able to choose a register a/o change places of gems.

Later, during fight, you still can look at the gems, but you cannot move them any more.
Close with “X”.

Next picture comes when you click on “Help”. It is the ranking, in case you forgot. In any place where you see cards, there also could be Jokers.



Close with “Resume”.

If you hoover over the “Auto” button, the helpful AI makes a suggestion. You see 2 cards in MC’s hand that are uplifted. These are the cards which the AI proposes for certain places on the table (board). You can see them somehow transparent. If you click on “Auto”, this is the move you accept. But you still can do something else.



Doing so, you grab a card from the hand and place it on the table. Same with a second card. To get a line of cards, it has to include 3 cards in the middle (middle cards are 9=3*3). The line can be vertically, horizontally or diagonally.

The following picture shows, that I have placed a Straight (A 2 3 2 5) vertically, as “Auto” suggested. M did a Straight diagonally after my move.



I got a hit, lowering my HP, but Dylan is healing me (always look out if you can use your Allies before you move cards).

Now “Auto” suggests to place 8 and 2 to do a horizontal Pair. But the 2 is possibly needed for the first row.



I do not follow the AI suggestion, but place a 9 instead of a 2. After me, M got a 3 in his hand (I could not see this in his hand before) and places a 3s (3 of a kind) with the value 3 diagonally.



It’s my move again. I am able to place a Pair somewhere (or even 2P), but after that, M would have the chance to hit me 3 times: With one normal card line (crossing the middle), and 2 border lines.

In such a situation (with very rare exceptions) I prefer to discard. That means I do not place any cards, click on “Discard”, and get 5 new ones.

M places a Pair horizontally. Now usually I have the chance to finish 2 vertical border lines.

Unfortunately – in this special occasion - I have no 4, no 3, no Q, no Pair and no Joker in my hand. I cannot even create a Pair in the horizontal line.

This happens very rarely, and - if at all - mostly in the beginning of the game. But it is good to have this demonstration effect. Like that you will also be prepared to rare exceptions.



Reluctantly I leave this horizontal line (and the 2 vertical border lines) to the M and do something else (vertical line) instead.

“Autoplay” suggests a Pair of 10, and I follow this.



M has a 4 and gets a Pair of 4. Additionally he gets 2P (6 and 9) with the right vertical borderline. And he was close to get a Straight with the left vertical borderline.



Now my turn again. Dylan heals.

One line is left. Fortunately I got a Joker into my hand. Placing the Joker in the bottom border line, coz there is a Pair of 3 already, and with the Joker it will become a 3s.

Into the top borderline I can put any card, I take the 9 to add a Pair of 9. After this triple hit, M is killed. Otherwise, the game would create another fresh table and continue.



For wining most battles, to care for getting all 4 borderlines is essential. Unless you have really bad luck you normally will succeed with that. Later you will have plenty of Jokers, and then it’s no problem anyway.

After the battle, when you win, you will increase your experience (according to the toughness of the monster). This will level up MC and you can choose stats. And you will get some reward (gems, money…).

When you lose, you will not be killed (no game over 😉 ) but you have to run as fast as you can. This finishes your visit in Elsewhere (EW). Therefor best is to start with easy Ms and leave the tough ones for the end of your visit.

There are lots of different events in EW:

Rest (at the campfire): Some story building events (upgrading of allies, or at least some events who explain the different characters of your Allies more, for better story understanding).
Very important: If your HP’s are down, you can (partly) regenerate them.

Bella is also very useful while your team is at the campfire. She is able to lead you for another 5 moves in EW. Having 15 moves instead of 10 is quite a difference, 20 instead of 15 (with X) is still useful, but less (in additional %).

Treasures: Here Bella will help finding (special) ingredients, as soon as she is available.

Shrines: Some story building events. And sometimes you will find some ingredients, or gems or little money, but Bella will not be able to help in shrines.

Monsters: Look out if you are strong enough for the Ms which you are encountering. Some of the high-level Ms, you will meet sooner than you can handle a fight against them. You still can shuffle all cards if you prefer, and hope for “more acceptable” ones.

Coming back to the old world (OW), look into your gem suit. If you got some gems as rewards, sort them in your suit, according to your strategy.

Next morning come back to have more fights again in EW, unless you have lessons or other events on your calendar.

Hope, this helps in the beginning. For more hints, look into the other guides for advanced playing, if you like.

And don’t forget: There are lots of hints in the Wiki -

https://loveofmagic.fandom.com/wiki/Walkthrough

Have fun. 😊