Absolute beginner - advice please

Zascar

Hey all, I know the basics of how to play poker, had a few little games on drunken nights with my mates but I generally don't like to get involved cause I might as well just hand over my wallet and save myself the grief. I'm not into gambeling at all, however I do find the game very intersting and would like to learn more about it.

I've been watching lots of late night poken on tv recently so gradually learning more, but now I think I want to learn to play properly.

A few questions:

What is a good website to practice play? I've used a few but which is the best for beginners who are still struggeling to know whats going on?

Are there any decent poker games I can download that are the same but have computer opponents (so everyhting moves faster)

Can anyone recommend a website or pdf etc for a decent beginners guide to get up to speed?

For the moment I'm only interested in Texas Holdem as that seems to be the most popular.

Thanks

Mr E

Most of the main poker clients (full tilt, poker stars, party poker etc.) allow you to play for 'play' money. Won't cost you a penny, and you'll be able to practice for as long as it takes to get more familiar with the game.

cooker3

www.pokertips.org is a very good site for beginners.
Go to the strategy section and you learn a good bit.
All sites have play money sections but you will be playing against other people not computers.
Tbh poker is gambling, if you don't want to gamble then you shouldn't play but give it 6 months and a year and your views on gambling may alter

Good luck

Mr.Plough

Read this. Will take you a while but its a good place to start.

Edited by Laf.

Zascar

cooker3 wrote:

Tbh poker is gambling, if you don't want to gamble then you shouldn't play but give it 6 months and a year and your views on gambling may alter.

I would be more interted in the "Game" than playing purely to win money. Going into a game where you are the wrost / least experience player is just stupidity gambeling, and that is what I have no interst in. Once I am at a level where perhaps I can hold my own and perhaps have a change at not loosing my shirt, then yes it is very possibly my opinions will change.

So what sites do you guys play on, which sites have the best interfaces etc?

Any more good sites I should look up?
Thanks for your help.

ROCKMAN

Paddypower runs beginner tables SnG , Cash , Freerolls and MTT
Low stakes..

I know its not a great site but it
may be a good starting point

cooker3

Zascar wrote:

I would be more interted in the "Game" than playing purely to win money. Going into a game where you are the wrost / least experience player is just stupidity gambeling, and that is what I have no interst in. Once I am at a level where perhaps I can hold my own and perhaps have a change at not loosing my shirt, then yes it is very possibly my opinions will change.

So what sites do you guys play on, which sites have the best interfaces etc?

Any more good sites I should look up?
Thanks for your help.

I am all for reading up and learning and reading about the game, it's something you should always do no matter what level you are at but players at lower levels are awful, if you deposited say 50 and played .01/.02 then by reading a poker forum it would instantly make you better then 90% of them, most people can't play at those levels and take it seriousley but you sound like you could do it. Just something to think about
But whatever you feel comfortable with it.

Lafortezza

Hi Mr Plough, I've edited your post because it looked like it contained a link to download Sklanskys Theory of Poker.
I very much doubt this is legal, therefore boards could get in trouble etc etc.

If I'm wrong drop me a pm and I'll put it back.

Theresalwaysone

I could not be considered a "good" player however here is my 2c:

1. Don't play "play money" tables, it breeds bad habits, it screws up your understanding of the game i.e position, bet sizes, playing in the blinds. It causes more problems than it solves. YOU WILL LEARN NOTHING.

Stick 50euro or so into a site and play micro limits. Organise a weekly game with mates. READ. I think there is a thread somewhere about books and websites or so but off the top of my head here are what everyone advises.

Harrington on Hold 'em
Sklanksy's Theory of poker
Super Systems (all volumes)
Also if your not into the more formal writing of sklansky ( he gets very mathematical and the book is more aimed towards limit hold'em) read:

Phil Gordons Little Green Book
Phil Gordons Little Blue Book

He wouldn't be considered an expert but both books are good for beginners and offer a less boring, journalistic style of writing. The little Blue book is more of a story book, him telling of situations and hands he found himself in. It was very good to get me more interested in the game and the thinking behind it.

2.Again, poker is fundamentally a game of playing the person, a computer wont help and if you pay attention you will find it too easy to beat after a while. It will bore you. AND Poker is a very social game, for people, not computers.

3.2+2 is the best website, hard to navigate and find your way around but like most things your persistance will pay off. pokertips.org is also good I think.

Chucky the tree

This is a useful contains essential basics.

http://www.notedpokerauthority.com/articles/7-easy-steps-to-no-limit-holdem-success-step-7-keep-your-head-in-the-game.html


Agree with TAO, avoid play money tables - its a wast of time.

I'd buy Small stakes holdem by Slanksy Miller & Mellmuth - Its limit holdem book but is still great for NL beginners.

I would be more interted in the "Game" than playing purely to win money. Going into a game where you are the wrost / least experience player is just stupidity gambeling, and that is what I have no interst in. Once I am at a level where perhaps I can hold my own and perhaps have a change at not loosing my shirt, then yes it is very possibly my opinions will change.

So what sites do you guys play on, which sites have the best interfaces etc?

Any more good sites I should look up?
Thanks for your help.

The only way you will learn is by playing though, and starting at NL 2 is the best way too learn. Start playing full ring tables aswell, avoid 6 max for the time being.

Zascar

I've been trying a few of the online sites and why is it that its somtimes impossible even to get on a table, you have to join waiting lists etc!

I've tried PartyPoker, PokerRoom and PaddPower, not mad on any of them.

Any recommendations for better ones?

ianmc38

cooker3 wrote:

Tbh poker is gambling, if you don't want to gamble then you shouldn't play but give it 6 months and a year and your views on gambling may alter

To the untrained eye perhaps. Classifying poker as general gambling is a pretty naive view imo.

cooker3

ianmc38 wrote:

To the untrained eye perhaps. Classifying poker as general gambling is a pretty naive view imo.

Well obviously it is something skillful in the long term but the way the op phrased it, it sounded like he doesn't like to gamble in anyway and I was trying to say that in order to play it there is some gambling involved.

buck65

Lee Jones book on playing low stakes hold em is a good primer- I'm reading it at the moment.

Heisenberg.

This post has been deleted.

zuutroy

lafortezza wrote:

Hi Mr Plough, I've edited your post because it looked like it contained a link to download Sklanskys Theory of Poker.
I very much doubt this is legal, therefore boards could get in trouble etc etc.

If I'm wrong drop me a pm and I'll put it back.

FYI, there's a live link to the book on the AH poker thread.

Instead of starting a new thread I'll add to this one. I too have just started playing. I play on betfair purely because I used the site a lot for gambling. I started with play money and found it a waste of time. I then went to cash tables for very low stakes and didnt find it much better.
I've started to play in $2.50 NL tournaments and find it much more enjoyable and have learned an amazing amount in a short time (I even beat the No.1 ranked low stakes player for June today!). My question is at what pace should you move up the levels....I've just won 3 in a row, but I think it's still way to soon to move up. How many on average out of 10 should be winning before you go to the next buy-in level?
Thanks.

Ace2007

gambling and poker are not the same- when u gamble in most sports, you rarely know the outcome, while in poker you will have a fair idea as to the betting what u are up against, and wheater or not you are going to win...:)

zuutroy

OK?...I wasn't suggesting a link between the two....just that I use BF Poker, because I'm familiar with BF Sports.

Zascar

I'm more against 'Betting' for the sole purpose of winning money. I don't put poker in the same class. It is a game of skill, albeit with much uncertainty, but money is part of the game, helps decide the winner, but imo the main aim is to win the game.

Chucky the tree

Zascar wrote:

I'm more against 'Betting' for the sole purpose of winning money. I don't put poker in the same class. It is a game of skill, albeit with much uncertainty, but money is part of the game, helps decide the winner, but imo the main aim is to win the game.

If its not about the money then just stick with the play money tables.