dj11
Legend
Silver Level
Don't be in a hurry. With a topic title like this you will be getting responses for days, maybe even weeks. Potential, because of a good title choice is this could get to be a very good thread. Patience.
Oddly, that could be a decent answer to how to play poker too. Don't be in a hurry. Most noobs are too eager for some action. They have maybe watched some TV poker and figure anything can win, and when their 63 offsuitt doesn't win they chaulk it up to a bad beat.
We all know that isn't the case and the noobs have to learn to be patient. A hand with true potential WILL COME! Preflop, even AA is only a hand with great potential. Now sometimes, a player can play the garbage hands and run hard with them and win a few hands here and there but its when they do it too much that they run the risk of running into that hand with true potential.
Mostly the feel for how often you can do this and how to react to resistance only get fine tuned over many thousands of hands. Many brand new players, too eager to play, will lose their money in 10's of hands, get a bad taste in their mouth for poker and leave without ever even seeing 1000 hands.
So my advice to them is to fold more. Fold a whole lot more, and watch what is really happening on the felt.
Oddly, that could be a decent answer to how to play poker too. Don't be in a hurry. Most noobs are too eager for some action. They have maybe watched some TV poker and figure anything can win, and when their 63 offsuitt doesn't win they chaulk it up to a bad beat.
We all know that isn't the case and the noobs have to learn to be patient. A hand with true potential WILL COME! Preflop, even AA is only a hand with great potential. Now sometimes, a player can play the garbage hands and run hard with them and win a few hands here and there but its when they do it too much that they run the risk of running into that hand with true potential.
Mostly the feel for how often you can do this and how to react to resistance only get fine tuned over many thousands of hands. Many brand new players, too eager to play, will lose their money in 10's of hands, get a bad taste in their mouth for poker and leave without ever even seeing 1000 hands.
So my advice to them is to fold more. Fold a whole lot more, and watch what is really happening on the felt.
TheNoob
Visionary
Silver Level
Not really strategy as such. Just a few thoughts not in any particular order.
1. bluff very little.
2. He's not bluffing (but he might be).
3. Your pocket AA or KK aren't as good as you think. Learn to fold them
when you have to.
4. Position, position, position.
5. Play fewer hands.
6. Don't be predictable. Mix up your play.
7. Understand the best you can do is make the correct decision for each
situation you are faced with. In the long run, winning or losing a particular
hand makes no difference. All that matters is that your decision to bet, not
bet, or the size of your bet is the correct one.
8. Don't cry about "bad beats". Sometimes they hurt, sure. Just shake it
off and move on.
1. bluff very little.
2. He's not bluffing (but he might be).
3. Your pocket AA or KK aren't as good as you think. Learn to fold them
when you have to.
4. Position, position, position.
5. Play fewer hands.
6. Don't be predictable. Mix up your play.
7. Understand the best you can do is make the correct decision for each
situation you are faced with. In the long run, winning or losing a particular
hand makes no difference. All that matters is that your decision to bet, not
bet, or the size of your bet is the correct one.
8. Don't cry about "bad beats". Sometimes they hurt, sure. Just shake it
off and move on.
SavagePenguin
Put the win in penguin
Bronze Level
Only bet with good cards.
"Good cards" vary depending on position and the action that has already taken place.
If someone has raised, then you need an even better hand than normal to call or raise them (this is called the gap concept). In other words, I will open (betting when it has been folded to me) with Ace/Ten 100% of the time on the button, but if someone under the gun (early position) raises I'll often just fold that hand. I fold because if there is an Ace on the flop it will either scare him off or he'll have an Ace with a better kicker. So I can win small, or lose big when I call him down with my top pair.
Mixing up your play is over-rated in micro tournaments. Especially early on. When you get to the final table, and especially HU, then you can make some of the trickier moves, because by then there are a greater percentage of better players. But otherwise, just don't bluff and make the calling machine's pay.
The big thing is patience though. It's amazing what can happen when you sit back and wait for opportunities.
I think a lack of patience is the biggest killer of new poker players.
Wait for big hands. Sometimes they don't come, and then you'll need to gamble (shoving a fairly wide range when short-stacked) but a big part of success is to wait for a big hand, and then make someone pay when he over-extends himself on a weaker hand.
"Good cards" vary depending on position and the action that has already taken place.
If someone has raised, then you need an even better hand than normal to call or raise them (this is called the gap concept). In other words, I will open (betting when it has been folded to me) with Ace/Ten 100% of the time on the button, but if someone under the gun (early position) raises I'll often just fold that hand. I fold because if there is an Ace on the flop it will either scare him off or he'll have an Ace with a better kicker. So I can win small, or lose big when I call him down with my top pair.
Mixing up your play is over-rated in micro tournaments. Especially early on. When you get to the final table, and especially HU, then you can make some of the trickier moves, because by then there are a greater percentage of better players. But otherwise, just don't bluff and make the calling machine's pay.
The big thing is patience though. It's amazing what can happen when you sit back and wait for opportunities.
I think a lack of patience is the biggest killer of new poker players.
Wait for big hands. Sometimes they don't come, and then you'll need to gamble (shoving a fairly wide range when short-stacked) but a big part of success is to wait for a big hand, and then make someone pay when he over-extends himself on a weaker hand.
S
sendittoken
Enthusiast
Silver Level
New to poker
Pray a lot....Be prepared to witness many odd playing characteristics from many different types of players. What you see online is very different from watching highlights or tournaments on TV. Be patient and play your best hands for the most money.....Good luck from sendittoken...
Pray a lot....Be prepared to witness many odd playing characteristics from many different types of players. What you see online is very different from watching highlights or tournaments on TV. Be patient and play your best hands for the most money.....Good luck from sendittoken...
Arjonius
Legend
Silver Level
Learn to play a solid ABC TAG style first. The benefit is that you're likely to face fewer tough situations, and overall, the ones you do find yourself in may even be somewhat less difficult. As your knowledge, skill and feel for the game improve, you'll become better able to address marginal situations.
Stu_Ungar
Legend
Silver Level
You have asked such a big question that noone is really going to sit down and write you the book long response required.
Best thing to do would be to read lots of articles and pose much smaller, easier to answer questions relating to specific situations.
SavagePenguin
Put the win in penguin
Bronze Level
The best beginner strategy is probably to read Harrington on Hold'em Volume 1, then Harrington on Hold'em Volume 2. Then do exactly what the books say, until you're comfortable expanding your game.
And by read I mean study, as if you were preparing for a test in school.
And by read I mean study, as if you were preparing for a test in school.
B
BetPreFlop
Enthusiast
Silver Level
Thanks All for such a wonderful replies...Its great to be here in poker stars...
It is really helpful and great reading all replies)
It is really helpful and great reading all replies
)
PattyR
Cardschat Elite
Silver Level
Thanks All for such a wonderful replies...Its great to be here in poker stars...
It is really helpful and great reading all replies
do u mean great to be here in cards chat???....this is not pokerstars lol
G
gerjal
Rising Star
Bronze Level
hello good as the best strategy depending on who you are playing is to say if it is a freeroll tournament or real money tournament, freeroll for many players go crazy there and it takes patience to play the best hands that you think are always pending the table on how many players are betting, position, eg if several players bet and got nothing back out, if there are few players who bet and you have good cards and are in good positions end up. For real money tournaments played conservatively at first because everyone wants to come to collect or the bubble, play good cards to play with the same slope of the position that these is not like that up in early position you're the first one to do it the last when you've seen those with a stake.
Daniel72
Legend
Bronze Level
Study beginner articles, videos, forum posts. Read some books mentioned above (Harrington, Phil Gordon etc.) There´s so much material and information in this forum alone - there is no excuse for beeing a bad player
serendipity
Rock Star
Silver Level
This is the best advice in the thread so far. As a beginner, you want to master tight ABC poker before you try to do anything fancy. Mr. Harrington has about as tight a style as any pro I have ever seen. Read, study (I would suggest volume III as well, since it is full of poker problems and solutions -- it is perfect for studying) and apply.
For an even tighter tournament strategy, try the website poker strategy. (they also offer a $50 bankroll to non USA residents who can pass a quiz about the strategy they teach).
10058765
Legend
Loyaler
Not really strategy, but more a mental thing.
This is for tournaments, I'm not really a cashgame player yet.
If you're not able to win (most don't as a beginner and loads never will) study, read,watch,ask,discuss,get experience, find out what you're doing wrong,get those leaks outof your game and so improve.
If you do win a big tournament however, do NOT think you are there and are the best player in the world.
I made that mistake myself.
As an absolute beginner (quote Bowie) I won kinda big prize and immediately thought I could be a pro.
WRONG...
I just didn't realize I just got very lucky and had (still have) to learn a lot.
Stay critical about your play, even if you win.
If we have patience and are open to info and suggestions from other people and if we are studying the game and our own play, we can be heroes (quote Bowie), NOT just for one day.
note, post a hand using a converter and you immediately can be HERO.
This is for tournaments, I'm not really a cashgame player yet.
If you're not able to win (most don't as a beginner and loads never will) study, read,watch,ask,discuss,get experience, find out what you're doing wrong,get those leaks outof your game and so improve.
If you do win a big tournament however, do NOT think you are there and are the best player in the world.
I made that mistake myself.
As an absolute beginner (quote Bowie) I won kinda big prize and immediately thought I could be a pro.
WRONG...
I just didn't realize I just got very lucky and had (still have) to learn a lot.
Stay critical about your play, even if you win.
If we have patience and are open to info and suggestions from other people and if we are studying the game and our own play, we can be heroes (quote Bowie), NOT just for one day.
note, post a hand using a converter and you immediately can be HERO.
R
Ricky747
Rising Star
Silver Level
ABC. TAG.
Fold more.
Don't get too high or too low. It's all a learning experience.
Once you've played some more, you'll have more specific questions to ask. For now, go out and play a bunch (at low limits where you can shrug off losses) and then you'll be asking more questions.
Fold more.
Don't get too high or too low. It's all a learning experience.
Once you've played some more, you'll have more specific questions to ask. For now, go out and play a bunch (at low limits where you can shrug off losses) and then you'll be asking more questions.
T
tony80
Rising Star
Bronze Level
The problem with beginners playing poker is they run out of patience in just a few moments. Try waiting for a real hand than succumbing to your urge to finally play something. Watch out what other players do; don’t just sit around when you folded a hand pre-flop. That’s why dealers are usually good players, they have tons of experience how players act with different hands. But on the event that you actually get a good hand, don’t over react, don’t play aggressively all of a sudden, you’ll just drive other bettors away. Again, learn how other players move.
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