How to learn poker?

Can anyone recommend any good books/sources on how to play poker? I have no clue and am looking to learn, only card game I've ever played (and enjoyed) is blackjack! Thanks!

For basic strategy I would buy a book and read through it. Something like Super System should do fine for you to get a basic grasp on the game. Once you have an idea of how it works you really just need hours and hours of practice. Biggest thing IMO is getting comfortable with the game and picking up what betting patterns mean. Once you've got 5-10 sessions in (in which you'll likely lose, if you're playing with competent players), I'd say you should sign up on the 2+2 forums and just read as much as you can. I've played the game for almost my entire life and still play 2-3 times a week. I still often see something happen or hear about a concept that is completely new to me on a regular basis. Good Luck!

For basic strategy I would buy a book and read through it. Something like Super System should do fine for you to get a basic grasp on the game. Once you have an idea of how it works you really just need hours and hours of practice. Biggest thing IMO is getting comfortable with the game and picking up what betting patterns mean. Once you've got 5-10 sessions in (in which you'll likely lose, if you're playing with competent players), I'd say you should sign up on the 2+2 forums and just read as much as you can. I've played the game for almost my entire life and still play 2-3 times a week. I still often see something happen or hear about a concept that is completely new to me on a regular basis. Good Luck!

 

What I found real interesting was someone sent me an ebook written by a successful WSOP player....huge, like a few hundred pages....

 

At the very end, the author basically puts in a disclaimer that the whole book was written with the premise that the table you play on was a bunch of players who play "tight, loose" (or whatever the jargon was that's common of legit player).

 

Loved how a deviation from "pro style" play could surprise legit players, but probably only for a little bit. It's sorta like chess where deviations from standard openings/lines are ultimately weaker but can catch unsuspecting players off guard.

 

 

Can anyone recommend any good books/sources on how to play poker? I have no clue and am looking to learn, only card game I've ever played (and enjoyed) is blackjack! Thanks!

 

A book will teach you how to play cards... Bets... Math... Basic strategy... Which will make you better than 90% of people out there... But to learn to play poker, which is really learning to improve your odds by making educated guesses based on the other person's behavior, youve got to play poker... A lot of poker... For money... (people's behavior changes when the have money at stake...)..

 

If you get good, you will be able to sit at a table and know when a pair of twos is the likely winning hand, and when your monster straight or set should be laid down (and then the real next step is developing the discipline to act on that knowledge, which is what separates the big boys from the rest.... I cant count the number of times Ive had a made hand, but I KNEW it was no good... But played it anyway because I just couldnt lay it down... Guess what... Most of the time I was right..)

A book will teach you how to play cards... Bets... Math... Basic strategy... Which will make you better than 90% of people out there... But to learn to play poker, which is really learning to improve your odds by making educated guesses based on the other person's behavior, youve got to play poker... A lot of poker... For money... (people's behavior changes when the have money at stake...)..

 

If you get good, you will be able to sit at a table and know when a pair of twos is the likely winning hand, and when your monster straight or set should be laid down (and then the real next step is developing the discipline to act on that knowledge, which is what separates the big boys from the rest.... I cant count the number of times Ive had a made hand, but I KNEW it was no good... But played it anyway because I just couldnt lay it down... Guess what... Most of the time I was right..)

 

The ebook I read had a table of pairs you should fold at all times, and many are hands most people would be hard pressed not to play. (like Jack/10 , possibly). I think it might not matter what the flop is either.

David Sklansky's books are very good to learn the basics. As everybody said, there is no substitute for actually playing the game. If there are any local poker rooms or casinos in the area, go there any play low limit games during peak hours. In AZ, the low limit games on a Friday or Saturday night have some of the tightest players and you can learn a lot very quick.

David Sklansky's books are very good to learn the basics. As everybody said, there is no substitute for actually playing the game. If there are any local poker rooms or casinos in the area, go there any play low limit games during peak hours. In AZ, the low limit games on a Friday or Saturday night have some of the tightest players and you can learn a lot very quick.

 

Thanks. That's basically what I'm aiming for. I just want a book to learn the basics such as which hands make which combinations, etc. I know that a royal flush is good, but what the hell is it? I know that a pair of aces is good, but why? . Once I learn that, off to the tables I go

Thanks. That's basically what I'm aiming for. I just want a book to learn the basics such as which hands make which combinations, etc. I know that a royal flush is good, but what the hell is it? I know that a pair of aces is good, but why? . Once I learn that, off to the tables I go

 

Sit right down here next to me son.... Lets play some cards....

A book will teach you how to play cards... Bets... Math... Basic strategy... Which will make you better than 90% of people out there... But to learn to play poker, which is really learning to improve your odds by making educated guesses based on the other person's behavior, youve got to play poker... A lot of poker... For money... (people's behavior changes when the have money at stake...)..

 

If you get good, you will be able to sit at a table and know when a pair of twos is the likely winning hand, and when your monster straight or set should be laid down (and then the real next step is developing the discipline to act on that knowledge, which is what separates the big boys from the rest.... I cant count the number of times Ive had a made hand, but I KNEW it was no good... But played it anyway because I just couldnt lay it down... Guess what... Most of the time I was right..)

 

^ Most likely the best answer to the OP's question.

So, is the game to learn Hold Em'? Seems like that is the variation everyone plays.

So, is the game to learn Hold Em'? Seems like that is the variation everyone plays.

 

Yeah, it's the most popular and my favorite.

 

Just can't get into the 5 and 7 card studs and the other variations. I would say once you learn how to be good at hold 'em, you can figure out how to be decent in the other games.

Sit right down here next to me son.... Lets play some cards....

 

 

You know, when I first started playing hold 'em I was a total rook who just knew hand strength and not much else in strategy.

 

I benefited a ton from beginner's luck, catching straights/full houses/etc on the river and pissing off a whole bunch of people for raising aggressively trying to chase these hands and getting them!

 

Eventually the luck runs out but you will now feel you belong and will start to learn the game.

 

 

Sit right down here next to me son.... Lets play some cards....

 

Challenge accepted

 

 

You know, when I first started playing hold 'em I was a total rook who just knew hand strength and not much else in strategy.

 

I benefited a ton from beginner's luck, catching straights/full houses/etc on the river and pissing off a whole bunch of people for raising aggressively trying to chase these hands and getting them!

 

Eventually the luck runs out but you will now feel you belong and will start to learn the game.

 

LOL. I know that feel.

 

Yes, for now the game to learn is No Limit Holdem. This game will teach you principles which you can later apply to all variations of poker.

Omaha is probably the next game you should learn as it is the game most thinking players prefer (not that it doesn't have a strong acceptance already).

The only thing holding back Omaha from being the game that everyone plays is the fact that amateurs often fear it because they have a massive lack of understanding of the game.

 

I don't know if you have any real interest in it, but if you have the opportunity try starting to play online. Even if you just play the "play money" games it will hugely improve your game after several sessions. Also you can utilize multiple tables. The more tables you play, the more hands you get, the more you learn.

 

my buddy just made the final 6 at the WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic, $1.3M for first.... patience!

Sit right down here next to me son.... Lets play some cards....

 

 

Challenge accepted

 

 

Sadly, RD specialises in strip poker.

 

Learning how to play poker and play blues piano are things I would like to do.

Sadly, RD specialises in strip poker.

 

Learning how to play poker and play blues piano are things I would like to do.

Learning to play poker, and learning to sing the blues go hand in hand...

my buddy just made the final 6 at the WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic, $1.3M for first.... patience!

 

Very nice!

 

So, I bought David Sklansky "Hold em' Poker" from Amazon, $4. Will give it a read next week!