How did you learn how to play?

Jeffreybomb

Jeffreybomb

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 17, 2009
Total posts
36
Chips
0
As the subject suggests, I'm looking for methods people used in learning Texas Hold 'Em. I'm writing an article for a column geared more towards casual players and thought I'd approach the topic from a less-intimidating route. Certainly, a newbie accessing cardschat.com could be pretty intimidated by all the lingo and extras.

As for me, I played in free games online until I had the basics down. Once I was sure I could keep from embarrassing myself for the most part, I decided to take friends up on their offers of home games.

Fortunately, I had a buddy of mine help me grasp the concepts you normally don't have to worry about in an online setting. During my first game, nerves caused me to fold my hand when I could've just checked. Being with a group of friends meant nobody minded when another friend reached over and handed me my cards back, smirked, and said, "Just check."

Eventually, I felt confident enough to attend professionally-organized tournaments full of people I didn't know.

Thoughts? I'd like to quote some folks in this article with worthwhile pointers!
 
G

Gr3atness

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 26, 2007
Total posts
1,000
Awards
1
Chips
0
First was 5 card draw with the family, next I learned NLHE from TV around 2004/05, followed by play money online, then freerolls, and finally real money online.

Since then Ive played live NLHE with friends but was already playing real money online by that time.

Also, lol @ folding instead of checking, my cousin does that. :D
 
NoWuckingFurries

NoWuckingFurries

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Dec 18, 2007
Total posts
3,834
Awards
1
Chips
29
I saw poker programmes on TV a couple of years back, then came online to research it and found CardsChat.
 
P

Pokertron3000

Available for parties
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 27, 2008
Total posts
3,137
Chips
0
I have not learnt how to play yet and maybe never will but I am gonna strive to carry on trying.....
 
Last edited:
Egon Towst

Egon Towst

Cardschat Elite
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 26, 2006
Total posts
6,794
Chips
0
Five card draw with friends years ago, largely forgotten until browsing in a bookshop in (I think) 2003. I picked up a magazine about poker, became intrigued, bought it, took it home and read it.

I opened an account online at Titan (because they had an advert in the magazine, as far as I remember) and started playing Holdem. Lost money initially, so went back to the bookshop and bought all the books they had about poker strategy (they only had three). Read the books and started winning. I liked that better, so continued doing it since. :)
 
salim271

salim271

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Oct 27, 2009
Total posts
1,678
Chips
0
Facebook poker about a year and three months ago... feels like forever.
 
iamhukleberry

iamhukleberry

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 7, 2010
Total posts
273
Chips
0
i guess i really learned in jail..but i perfected my game online...i mean i will perfect my game online lol...
 
M

MAX101

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 7, 2007
Total posts
585
Awards
1
Chips
0
LOL, u got better friends then me, I started playing with my so called friends, who knew how to play and would make up their own rules as the game went along, things like 2 pair beat 3 of a kind, str8 beats a flush, I knew something was up because they would all just sit there and smile at each other, it finally just pissed me off, so I went on line and opened an account at party poker an started playing in play money games and I wrote down the rankings to lol, now I know I've gotten my money back with interest LOL, I can say I've gone the usual route by playing in play money games then graduating to freerolls building bankrolls on different sites, now I just play in cash games, sng's mtt tournys ring games but I prefer mtt's and sng's for some odd reason I'm a better tourny player then I am a ring game player, but I make most of my money in ring games lol? go figure!!! and this is all I got to say to my so called friends :p lol
 
robert_wrath

robert_wrath

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 22, 2007
Total posts
419
Chips
0
During my college years I needed supplementary income so Black Jack looked appealing to me. During my sessions of play, I elect to get up and walk around smoking and end up wondering toward the rail of the Poker Rooms. Curiosity beseeches me and one day I saw the 1997 U.S. Poker championship on ESPN. Shortly after that, the movie Rounders surfaces. The big fan of John Malkovich I am, had to go out and see it (was more of an Indie film at the time). At that point, I scurried over to Barnes and Noble and picked up my first book Ken Warren's Limit Texas Holdem. The rest is history.
 
Maid Marian

Maid Marian

RIP Baby BooBoo
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 2, 2009
Total posts
11,645
Chips
0
I learned last year from onebourbon...he played & I had no idea of any rules, so he threw me into the deep end of the pool...I'm a rather quick learner, so I quickly read about the rules & have come quite a long way since then! Onebourbon introduced me to CC & I read alot, especially threads started by Snow & watched videos by TPC. Now I am venturing out & playing games like HORSE and Razz....I still do the freerolls , but occasionally buy-in the CC games. I'm by no means a terrible player now, but I also still have alot to learn.:) I've won 3 CCChallenges and 2 challenges put out by Graf,,,the last one actually was a tie with polingpower...I don't think anyone thought that I would win that one!:p
 
ckickenking

ckickenking

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 2, 2010
Total posts
1,006
Awards
1
Chips
1
Best poker Book

I will guarantee if you read Dan Harington's poker books you will be way better. He has the best poker book ever. Volume I and Volume II. His poker books are rated best ever so far. My game step up two notch after reading them.
 
A

akcash

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 3, 2009
Total posts
109
Chips
0
The key in my opinion is to build a solid foundation, along with playing consistantly. Start with the most basic books andgradually work your way to advanced books,online topics, and video training sites. In the process, play every day even if its only 1 hour a day. Constantly try to learn new things.
 
claudel

claudel

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 13, 2009
Total posts
74
Chips
0
Firstly i played five cards draw at school with my friends, and after a period of time I found poker on the internet and since then i play daily. I <3 poker:))
 
72willpwnu

72willpwnu

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Jul 30, 2010
Total posts
12
Chips
0
I learned when I was like 8 playing with my grandpa for pennies(he always gave them back to me at the end of the game). But as far as learning for real it came from my husband. We used to play free rolls on line when we were younger. When I turned 18 I wen't with my Father in law to the "poker cave" his friend had. Needless to say I didn't do well. Then we got Poker Vt where my husband learned he was very good and could beat this game. From there he became a student of one of the pros. There he learned to crush the tables and to became a coach. And while he was teaching his students I was learning. I have spend the last year listening to hand reviews and watching him play. I now know almost as much as he does. I do not have the ability to crunch numbers like he can but that is why I 4 table and he 30 tables. That is my story.
 
TheKAAHK

TheKAAHK

CardsChat Elite
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 2, 2009
Total posts
5,266
Awards
8
CA
Chips
832
I first picked up the game in elementary school. Playing 7-stud for gum and quarters. When high school came along I leanred and played NLHE during my lunch hours and spares. Never took the game seriously until I seen Rounders. Then I bought Harrington on Hold'em and started playing online. Been learning the game ever since.
 
Crummy

Crummy

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Mar 22, 2007
Total posts
1,840
Chips
0
I turned on ESPN on night and saw the 2005 wsop and saw a commercial for bodog, so I instantly joined the site. I didn't know what I was doing so I started playing the free money tables. I then started reading about poker and figuring out what hands beat what, ect. Once I got this down I played a few freerolls. I then started playing for real money online and started playing at a local weekly tournament. Went to the riverboats for some live action, then Vegas a few times. Once I moved to Columbus I started playing at a local club. Still make trips to Vegas and the riverboats and play online. Still read and study the game everyday. There is always something to learn in poker.
 
jho

jho

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Sep 15, 2008
Total posts
1,450
Chips
0
With friends and play for money online.

At that time playing for cash was almost irresistible while at college when everyone else around you was doing so. It was also a huge thing on ESPN, my housemates and I would always watch the WSOP together when it was on.
 
forsakenone

forsakenone

Legend
Silver Level
Joined
Nov 24, 2009
Total posts
1,385
Chips
0
learned 5 card draw as a kid, in 2009 i saw texas holdem on tv, there was nothing better on so i watched for a while, i couldn't understand anything so i came up with the great idea to google "poker" because thhis game does not look like poker tho they call it poker :p (i had no idea there was other forms of poker other than 5 card draw) and google came up with pokerstars, play for free bla bla download, started playing playmoney and here i am.
 
M

mig2169

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 22, 2008
Total posts
423
Chips
0
my grandmother taughtme stud and it grew from there, when i was old enough to go into a casino i started playing limit and no limit.
 
Poker Orifice

Poker Orifice

Fully Tilted
Platinum Level
Joined
Jan 19, 2008
Total posts
25,596
Awards
6
CA
Chips
968
BOOKS... BOOKS... BOOKS!!!

For anyone starting off playing NLHE I would suggest reading BOOKS!!!

When I first started out (online) I posted questions in a few poker forums, asking for a list of most recommended reading for playing NLHE - Tournament play. From the responses I received (many of them) I narrowed it down to making Phil Gordon's Little Green Book my first pick (I'd read a few others from the local library prior to this one...ie. SuperSystem, PhilHelmuth's garbage, etc.).
I've read quite a few since then..... The book/method I'd suggest to this day for anyone getting started.... READ BOOKS, start off with Phil Gordon's 'Little Green Book'.
(as far as just getting the basic rules of play... this can be accessed anywhere. I was thinking you were asking 'how to play' though)
 
Poker Orifice

Poker Orifice

Fully Tilted
Platinum Level
Joined
Jan 19, 2008
Total posts
25,596
Awards
6
CA
Chips
968
I will guarantee if you read Dan Harington's poker books you will be way better. He has the best poker book ever. Volume I and Volume II. His poker books are rated best ever so far. My game step up two notch after reading them.

What other ones have you read?
HOH is a good read but for sure they're not rated as 'best ever'. They will give you a decent foundation in nlhe Tournament play & if you study them you should have no trouble beating the micro limits online.
There are far more in-depth books available for Tournament play though (HOH is a step in the right direction.... OP take note.. HOH would be recommended reading to follow the 'Little Green Book' for someone hoping to learn how to play this game of nlhe (tournament-style).

I'm not quite sure what your question is? (how did we/I learn how to play?... or.. from your own experience, what did you find most helpful in learning how to play??)
 
dwolfg

dwolfg

Visionary
Silver Level
Joined
Feb 23, 2007
Total posts
583
Chips
0
Books, blogs, forums like cc, videos from pros. Many different sources have contributed to my poker education. Knowledge is power and the more ideas and strategies you learn, even if you reject some, you better off you will be.
 
Sixes Full

Sixes Full

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jan 6, 2010
Total posts
119
Chips
0
I learned 5 card draw as a kid from other older kids. There was no real betting pattern, just someone raising a couple of play chips and everyone calling. (we didnt know how to fold back then). It was pretty much whoever had the best hand won and everyone got to see the losing hands.
In college i played some mixed games, i.e. Baseball, Follow the Queen, No Low Chicago, Dr. Pepper, Acey Deucey, etc as well as Spades, but never anything real sophisticated.
It wasnt until Moneymaker won at the 2003 WSOP ME that I started playing NLHE.
My work buddies and I began playing NLHE immediately. We figured if CM could do it then so could we. Boy was that an aspiration that needed work. I downloaded pacific poker on my work computer shortly after and began my experience online at the practice play mode. I was the biggest donkey back then. Now Im proud to say Im only a medium sized donkey.
I taught my gf how to play NLHE and we played HU(for no money, of course)when I wasnt at work. Soon enough I earned enough money to buy a computer of my own. I brought my new HP Pavillion home and immediately downloaded Pac Poker to resume my practice play at NLHE. I played MTTs until I finished 11th out of 1000. I then realized I wanted to play for real money( I thought I was good).
Since PacPok didnt offer real money play for USA i tried out UB. I didnt deposit, but played Freerolls and made it to round 2 for the National HU Champs qualifier. of course i lost, but was hooked at that point. This was when the whole cheating thing went down so I researched some other poker sites and found poker stars.
I registered and played some practice, but never really got into it. A friend told me about FTP and how he won some money playing freerolls, so I decided to try that site. I dl FTP about 2 years ago and started playing play money and got up to 1 million in 6 months. My gf and I went to Vegas and won a few dollars in cash game and tourneys so when we got back I deposited on FTP. Since then I have been winning and losing money online.
So now I want to learn more and improve my game both online and live, so i have come here.
Thank you everyone at CC for the helpful info. See you on the tables..
 
OnyxPanther

OnyxPanther

Enthusiast
Silver Level
Joined
Jul 30, 2010
Total posts
43
Chips
0
I started playing with family every now and then until I was about 14. This play had taught me hand rankings and how to play various games.

At age 14 or so I started skipping school and I would end up at home being bored until one day while skipping I decided to look for a card game to play on the internet and low and behold my search leads me to UltimateBet. From 14 to around 17 I played UB play chips and learned to love texas hold'em and even branch into omaha. During this play I learned the mechanics of betting and the power of postion and built the foundation for knowing odds in certain situations. I would like to add that I just recently learned how to count outs lol. By the time I turned 17 I thought I had mastered the game!!! I say this because I was playing the highest limit of play chips offered and had amassed over 7 accounts maxed out with play chips. I remember several times sitting at a UB playchip table with well over 20-25 million chips built from 200k but not sure exactly how many chips at the table because the table display maxxed at a little over 17million. UB playchip accounts capped at around 18mill as well so there were countless nights when I was done playing and had to dump chips back to the table. That is when I learned the true meaning of 'donk' and realized that at any given time any 2 cards could win a hand of poker. I had decided from my 'mastery' of holdem that when I turned 18 I would create a legit account and start playing the money added freerolls as I had no means of depositing and be a millionaire by 19. It didn't take long for me to realize that the only thing I had MASTERED was guessing table odds and being a chipbully with a crowd of super loose, or supertight non serious players because all the playchips in the world have the value of a paper penny when push comes to shove in the pot.

**timeframe-19yrs old to 26yrs old: POKER CHANGES DRAMATICLY WITH ITS NEW FOUND MEDIUM AND AVAILABILITY ON THE INTERNET.

I am 26 yrs old now and I am around $500 real in the hole over the course of 8 yrs off and on at 2-4 hours per session. That is if you only count deposits and not winnings lost. 6months ago I started playing again and deposited around 100-200real and lost it trying to jump from 10-20$ deposit to 5k$ cash before bed hahahaha. I have done this before but it was when I was an extremely loose player and the cards couldn't fail if you understand what I am saying ;) I have since decided that if I cannot win my way from 0$ by means of freerolls then I cannot win in cashgames much less excel and earn the crown jewel of poker http://www.bluffeurope.com/webmedia/images/274___Selected.jpg

So now I am refining and playing more often and more seriously in hopes that I will master the tournament format and be crowned among the greats someday.

I just wanna say THANK YOU to all of the poker websites and those that are proactive in trying to get poker legislated and more secure. I wanna say thanx to CardsChat and other poker forums for providing a medium and more rewards for players and TY GOD.

"Without the player, there is no game! and only 1 game has the most players in the world" by Brandon South aka OnyxPanther, aka DarkOwner, aka iRRelevant and most variations
 
Top