Online Poker: where to start?

i'm interested in playing online poker for real money. i knew several people in the past (dont keep in touch with them any longer) who were good at poker and were earning nice 3 figure sums each week so i'd love to get to that stage. i know the rules of the game but other than that i dont know where to start. :redface:

i have read that the Harrington on Hold 'em books are a good place to start. i dont want to be forking out too much money for loads of books so i wanted some feedback on a good place to start. i heard that the 2+2 and flopturnriver forums are good but i dont understand most of the terminolgy they were using. even the beginner guides i dont understand. :redface:

where should i start?

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Reply 1

username234673

http://www.pokerlistings.com/poker-strategy-articles/texas-holdem-beginner has a lot of good reads for the beginner.

If I were you, I'd also set up a pokerstars / pkr / wherever you want to play account and play some "play money" games just to get used to their systems. You won't take to much from these tables in terms of strategy as they're often full of idiots that'll call a shove pre-flop with off-suit mid-pack runners or something similarly useless... :rolleyes:

Reply 2

owen1994

Original post by Movember

where should i start?

I play online poker and at the casino. The best way to learn is from your mistakes, therefore you have to play play play and write notes on how to improve for next time.

You should try look at the free courses on www.pokerschoolonline.com, they are very easy to understand even for beginners. You start with the core courses first, they start from very basic and gradually get more advanced. There are loads of short videos and even tests to make sure you understood what was on the video. After you have done all the courses, that foundation should be enough for you to start playing poker for money.

However, you must understand, every game of poker is different. Rookies at low stakes vs professionals at high stakes. And cash games are different to Sit N Go's (SnGs) and Multi table tournaments (MTTs)

If you have any questions feel free to ask. I am also trying to develop my skills so I can make a nice amount of money before Uni in the summer. I play to turn a £10 deposit ($16) into $50 then $100 -> $250 -> $500 and then $1000. It's going to be tough but I know I can do it if I work hard. Not all those that work hard succeed, but all those who succeed have worked hard.

Why the negs?

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 3

scotttb

Original post by Movember

where should i start?

Harrington on Holdem is good for starting, you could try the theory of poker (David Sklansky) and cardrunners.com.

Reply 4

Henwin

Why not try playing with friends for fun?

Online play money games give you a skewed kind of view of how it all works since the money means nothing so nobody cares much.

Reply 5

shyopstv

Original post by Movember

where should i start?

I would recommend getting an account on Pokerstars, by far the biggest of the online poker rooms out there then starting on their lowest stake cash game (5$ buy-in, 1c/2c blinds) and definitely watch the videos in the post above mine, if you take in everything from those, you should at least be able to pick off the crappy players of which there are quite a lot at the lowest stakes. Don't play at the play money tables for any reason other than to get used to the software, the players there play nothing like even the lowest stakes cash players. And don't sign up to PKR unless you want to watch flashy graphics and animations at the expense of actually playing hands and winning money.

The Harrington books are about tournaments which I personally wouldn't recommend if you want to make money, big tournaments will involve sitting around for hours on end to win 20c if you are lucky whereas single table tournaments are difficult because they are all about applying the correct Maths in the correct places, which most of the players that play them do meaning that it is hard for you to get much of an edge over them. He has written some cash game books but I have heard they are pretty bad and you can win and learn without reading any books. If you do decide to invest in anything, Poker Tracker will improve your game more than any book.

Also, do go back to 2+2 once you have learnt the terminology. Plenty of good advice there, some bad advice too.

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 6

HeyyImRyan

Definitely learning from mistakes. I've called all-in on the river with straight Queen high, failing to notice there's four clubs on the table. :frown:

You don't even need to spend money to start if you use PKR. Start on their smallest single-table games and you win like... $0.02 per one. Get up to about 20 cents and then move up to the next table type (less n00bs going all-in first hand -.-)

Pretty simple way of getting up to tournament buy-in standard, that way you have never lost a penny. Can't wait to get back into poker once exams are over, really looking to head to the casino in Stratford during the Olympics to slaughter the fishy tourists. :cool:

I also agree with the poster above. Tournaments = wasting precious cash. Even the world and european pros enter like...ten in a night? and reach final table of maybe one or two. It's a lot more luck-based because there are so many i d i o t s who will call your AA pre-flop and end up getting a straight :angry:

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 7

scotttb

Original post by HeyyImRyan

It's a lot more luck-based because there are so many i d i o t s who will call your AA pre-flop

You do realise this is a good thing for you right?

Reply 8

HeyyImRyan

Original post by scotttb

You do realise this is a good thing for you right?

It is when you take it out of the sentence, of course. The sentence finishes "and end up getting a straight", which is not a good thing at all :s-smilie:

No one in high stakes would call your AA with a 5/6u, unless they're trying to make themselves look a fish or gauge your tendency to bluff :tongue:

Reply 9

DudeRugs

play 1c-2c games on pokerstars (9/10max tables), start with $10 dollars. Consider that $10 your learning fee (put on $2 per game, 1 table at a time, 5 buyins).
Only play these starting hands: Ace jack, Ace Queen, Ace King, and and pocket pair from 99+

Pre flop (when no cards in the middle)
-Raise pre flop with any of these in any position. Don't ever call preflop (while you learn), instead reraise people with (JJ/QQ/KK/AK/AQ) or fold if others are raising and reraising. Its pretty safe to go all in no matter what with QQ/KK/AA/AK pre flop.

Flop (3 cards in the middle)
-If you raised pre flop - Raise on the flop, if you miss and they call, don't put another penny into the flop.

Turn (4th card in the middle)
You don't even want to carry on with thinking at this point, your option is to be happy to go all in or just check/fold.

This is pretty much very very very simple strategy if you have no clue how to play (It's mainly to make $10 last long enough to get a feel for the game). You won't play many hands, it will probably bore you but you will get a feel for the game and it will help you learn from peoples advice more.
While playing 1 table, read basic strategy. Start with pre flop starting hands and position. By the time you go broke you should be able to be profitable in 1c-2c games, or at least be able to understand guides better.

Tight = playing few starting hands
Loose = playing loads of starting hands
Aggressive = raising alot
Passive = check/calling alot

Try to play Tight/aggressive. Don't play many hands, but play them strong.
Also don't get angry if you get sucked out on. It happens. A lot.

Reply 10

scotttb

Original post by HeyyImRyan

It is when you take it out of the sentence, of course. The sentence finishes "and end up getting a straight", which is not a good thing at all :s-smilie:

No one in high stakes would call your AA with a 5/6u, unless they're trying to make themselves look a fish or gauge your tendency to bluff :tongue:

I only took it out of sentence because the rest was irrelevant, of course they sometimes outdraw you but a large percentage of the time they don't.

Reply 11

HeyyImRyan

Original post by DudeRugs

Agree with this post totally, but make sure you develop strategy fast. Tight aggressive against anyone with any skill is a great way of getting whittled out - it seems terribly fishy when you're folding a dozen hands and then suddenly raising pre-flop :wink:

I like playing tight aggressive, but assess the situation too. Sometimes if I know the others in the pot are idiots then I'll probably call a 2 or 3-bet just as a long shot/ so they think I'm an idiot.

It's always good looking like a fish, it means people are more likely to play loose against you or try and 4/5-bet you to get you to fold on the river (happens a lot, like poster said, you have to be confident you'll win and call, or just back down and take the pride beating but keep your cash).

Original post by scotttb

I only took it out of sentence because the rest was irrelevant, of course they sometimes outdraw you but a large percentage of the time they don't.

Oh of course! :smile:

But when it does happen it can have a pretty nasty effect on your stack, short-stacking is never a fun or happy experience!

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 12

benq

The world strongest poker community and school:

www.pokerstrategy.com/

Reply 13

shyopstv

Also, just as important as strategy: Be prepared to lose money. Even if you read all the strategy guides in the world, poker is to some degree a game of luck so you will lose sometimes. And if you play it more than just recreationally, you will lose often. Dealing with that thought in the right way will stop you from handing over more money from stupid, irrational plays.

Reply 14

benq

I would like to add my two cents to things that previous person wrote:

Original post by shyopstv

Also, just as important as strategy: Be prepared to lose money.

Play only on those money that you are ready to lose.

Original post by shyopstv

Even if you read all the strategy guides in the world, poker is to some degree a game of luck so you will lose sometimes.

On distance of 1k hands your winnings depend on 90% of luck and 10% of skill
On distance of 100k hands your winnings depend on 90% of skill and 10% of luck

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 15

TheDragonSlayer

go all in on your first hand your 100% guaranteed to win

Reply 16

ddrrzzeerr

You need to read the books to learn quickly. I don't think there is any point in watching tournaments on tv but hsp is good. Other than that it is just practice, the most important thing is not to get carried away if you have a good run and think you are better than you are. Also, learn omaha instead of holdem, there are loads of good holdem players, much more money in omaha.

Reply 17

CaligulazBaby

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 18

Henwin

In my opinion the best thing for it is practice.

In the last couple of days I've been playing $5 Tallin games on bet365. 10 players, prizes for the first 3 places.

I know how to play but I'm no expert, yesterday and today I've managed to make £25.

Even in the game I lost, it only cost about £3.50 to enter so it wasn't too much trauma.

I'd suggest starting there to be honest - if you just lie low and only play premium hands to begin with, you'll very easily end up in the last 4 and be in a good chance of at the very least getting your money back.

As far as I'm aware, many sites have the Tallin games - I've seen it on bet365, betfred and genting after being introduced to it by my dad (who does supplement his income with a tidy £1000 minimum each month through online poker!) as a starting point.

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 19

Tycho

Don't be lured into the illusion that everyone is making money from it or that it'll be easy. Most people lose money. This is not a disadvantage for you though, because clearly people need to lose money for you to make money - you just need to be better than them at it.

Don't risk what you can't afford to lose. You will lose lots of money before you start winning much, so don't let that destroy you financially before you are on your feet.

Be ultra patient. I always find that when I play Poker I win much more than I lose if I have tons of time to be patient and concentrate. When I rush I lose loads.

Never start a new game immediately after a heavy loss. Your mind will be thinking of trying to make back what you lost, and not where it should be - on the cards.

Good luck. :smile: