The Poker Mag

First of all, I would say for any players starting out in the game, make yourself aware of the hand rankings by playing poker for fun. I started out with Five Card Draw which helped me grasp the general rules of the game, and understand how the betting worked.

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If your ultimate goal is to play Holdem well, then there is no harm starting off in an online poker room playing for 1 and 2 cent blinds in a cash game either. Once you understand the basics however, I would not advise immediately moving up to bigger tables, because there is much more to poker than originally meets the eye, and you could find yourself losing chips fast. Do not feel worried about having to read up on the finer points of the game, as we all need to give our learning curve a boost sometimes. Most online sites offer tips and poker schooling for new players, and I would spend some time watching poker tournaments on television too. In this way, you will begin to see how very basic Holdem is played, and the contrast with poker at higher levels.

As most poker players will tell you, when you are starting to play the game seriously, it is better to play too tight than too loose. If you go to a local tournament as a beginner, I would say fold anything preflop that isn’t, either pocket sixes or higher, or (A,J) (A,Q) (A,K) (K,Q). The (K,Q) and (A,J) are marginal, but on the whole, these hands should be fine to see a flop with, as long as there isnt a big raise preflop. Other than that, raise when you hit the flop, and never be afraid to consult books or other players for advice.