Newbie - Needs some advice

QUESTIONS:

1- Alright I'm just starting out playing poker. I can't really afford to play all real money games in order to practice, but playing "play" money games isn't any good for me. What is a good way of playing real money games that I won't spend a ton of money on, but the winnings are worth the risk.

2- Does anyone know of a really good online poker book for begginers?

3- How can I use position to my advantage?

4- Best begginers advice you can give...

Try the Beginner Tournaments at Bodog. These are STTs with buyins from $2.20 and have a special payout structure aimed at newbies. There is a Bodog link at the top of the page.

The "Articles" (tab at top of page) include sections on books and on position and deal with these topics more fully than I reasonably can in a short post.

Best beginner tip - you are playing too many hands. Every beginner does. Chill out, sit back, play tight.

Here are my 2 cents:

1 - Play Sit n Go's. You can find most sites have them starting at $1. This way you can play for 1-1 1/2 hour on just that dollar. You can learn to play for cheap and winning or placing can boost your bankroll otherwise you are out $1. You can play alot of poker for $20.

2 - Read our article section. We have lots of articles on everything for beginner to more advanced players to read. http://www.cardschat.com/poker-strategy.php

3 - position is used because you get to act after seeing the other players actions (check, bet, fold etc.) If you act first you have to fear the reraise etc. You check you then risk giving away a free card. When in position and see someone check or bet, you now have an idea of their strength and can fold, call or reraise accordingly. You will see alot of people win in position just becuase they can bet after seeing their opponent show weakness with a check.

4 - Read books and articles. Once introduced to a new concept, play. You will eventually see the situations described in the book and it will make more sense to you.

P.S. You are now in the top 10% just for joining a forum. Most players have read a few books and play off of just that. This forum is a living/breathing community that will always challange your thinking about what is the right thing to do in a poker situation. You will learn more here than in a couple of books.

Simple Go to the 5k buy in tables and rock on and win 20k should start u well

Failing that Try the micro tournies as the play in them sux and it will help u learn some tings

I have to agree with Egon on this one. Bodog's Beginner trnys pay out top 5 instead of top 3. So your chances of making at least your money back are good. As far as poker books for beginners, I found that the best way to learn is with experience. A few pointers, that have worked for me:
1-Splash around...Limp in when its cheap with marginal hands. You can turn a nothing hand into a monster.
2-Stay out of the way...If you have AQ or AJ or KQ or a big hand and someone raises you all in, they prolly have you beat. Its a judgement call on what kind of read you have picked up against that player, and if you are willing to risk your chips on a race.
3-HAVE FUN...Poker is fun and should be fun for you and others.
4-Willing to lose... Dont play stakes you arent comfortable playing and dont put your chips in if you arent ready to lose them yet.
Hope this helps you in some way or form.
May all your hands be live and pots be Monsters.

You can't say play money games aren't good. You are still practicing your poker skills against extremely loose, aggressive, but don't-know-what-they-are-doing players. These players actually show up a lot in your future home games. If you do well in the play money table you will probably win in your home game!

my advice is to play tight