Absolutely do not start playing with the play money sites. It will do serious damage to your game. My brother wanted to learn almost a year ago. This is what i suggested, and he has become a damn good player within the year.
First you need to read as many game theory books as possible. After reading and understanding the theory behind whatever books you decide to purchase, Visit a local live game and test your skills. Online has become a different beast in itself. Good luck!
First you need to read as many game theory books as possible. After reading and understanding the theory behind whatever books you decide to purchase, Visit a local live game and test your skills. Online has become a different beast in itself. Good luck!
1 thing ive come to figure...Over time anybody gets better at Poker as they play more. But if you look at the guys who come up fast thru the ranks most have not been playing very long....
Most have a gaming background be it Magic Cards or video games ,etc and being young they get a better education on general game theory quicker than the avg person will.
So to me its a lot like Golf. Just about anybody can do it but 95% of the players will never play more than the home course...It just seems that the top players are naturals at it while the rest just struggle to maintain avg.
Take Annette_15....Never made a deposit. Played freerolls till she got $9 and thats what she started with. Id have to go back and look but im pretty sure within 6 months she was taking down 4 and 5 figure scores.
So what id advise to a new player is play cheap and often. Just play as much as your time allows. Then be honest with yourself. Am i beating these games? Do i understand whats going on at the table? Can i be in that 5% ? If your answer is probably not then get you some books or coaching and see how far that takes you.
From then on play in games you can beat and leave the 1's you cant....
Most have a gaming background be it Magic Cards or video games ,etc and being young they get a better education on general game theory quicker than the avg person will.
So to me its a lot like Golf. Just about anybody can do it but 95% of the players will never play more than the home course...It just seems that the top players are naturals at it while the rest just struggle to maintain avg.
Take Annette_15....Never made a deposit. Played freerolls till she got $9 and thats what she started with. Id have to go back and look but im pretty sure within 6 months she was taking down 4 and 5 figure scores.
So what id advise to a new player is play cheap and often. Just play as much as your time allows. Then be honest with yourself. Am i beating these games? Do i understand whats going on at the table? Can i be in that 5% ? If your answer is probably not then get you some books or coaching and see how far that takes you.
From then on play in games you can beat and leave the 1's you cant....
Having a mentor/tutor who can explain to you what your doing wrong would quicken the learning curve.
In my first year, I spent 10 hrs a week studying poker theory and other people's Hand History analysis in order to fix my own leaks. You need to play but you need to set aside some time to analyze your Hand Histories so that you can plug up your leaks.
In my first year, I spent 10 hrs a week studying poker theory and other people's Hand History analysis in order to fix my own leaks. You need to play but you need to set aside some time to analyze your Hand Histories so that you can plug up your leaks.
Pick a type of poker:
holdem, stud, draw, razz, etc
Pick the style:
online, live(cash is also a completely diff style)
Build a bankroll. You don't want to have to worry about what is invested every time you play. Treat the amount like a unit. You never want to risk more than two to five percent of your bankroll on one session.
In your first 6 months or so worry about three things:
Starting Hands(position is important here)
Poker Math
Reading Opponents
Then you can move on and study the game more.
Study them as much as you can and in that order. I would say to study before you start playing but who wants to wait. I quit playing online and do much better in live games. Remember the poker you see on tv is edited. I know it sounds obvious, but people don't realize how many hands players fold between the hands they play. GL...
holdem, stud, draw, razz, etc
Pick the style:
online, live(cash is also a completely diff style)
Build a bankroll. You don't want to have to worry about what is invested every time you play. Treat the amount like a unit. You never want to risk more than two to five percent of your bankroll on one session.
In your first 6 months or so worry about three things:
Starting Hands(position is important here)
Poker Math
Reading Opponents
Then you can move on and study the game more.
Study them as much as you can and in that order. I would say to study before you start playing but who wants to wait. I quit playing online and do much better in live games. Remember the poker you see on tv is edited. I know it sounds obvious, but people don't realize how many hands players fold between the hands they play. GL...
