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I just started playing poker, I’m not looking to play professionally or anything but it’s a fun game and I want to be decent at it. I have a steady job but I am wondering where should I start getting experience. Unfortunately I can’t play online or I would put in like $100 and play .01/.02 online.
Fortunately, I have a couple of casino’s near me, one mid limits and up (smallest NLH game is $2/$3 and weekends will get like 10 tables of that and 5 of $3/$5) and the other is a lower limit place (maybe will get 1 table of $2/$3 on the weekends, mostly $1/$2 and $2/$2 and Limit games) Both get tournaments, ranging from $40-$50 up to a $160 tournaments every week.
My question is where should I start to learn? Will I learn more in the time I spend at the small tournaments with the risk of bustin out in only an hour or should I be at the cash games playing conservatively?
Looking for some advice for yall, thanks.
I started on the tourney scene and then moved in to the cash games as I got more familiar with poker strategy and just the overall feel of the game. But honestly, everyone’s poker journey is different. The best advice I’ve ever been given is do whichever you find the most joy in. If tourneys are your thing and what gets you excited to go play, go for it. Cash games do it for ya, keep on grinding. Just know that you’re gonna be a fish when you start out wherever you go for experience. Everyone’s a fish at some point. Find the place you can enjoy swimming till you grow that shark fin. Just make sure you stay open to being a lifelong learner and you’ll be fine. In terms of learning, there’s lots of great content out there. A little bit of time studying off the felt will pay multitudes when your are on it. Good luck!
Like the guy told me at the Mirage in LV when I asked if they gave lessons like they do on Craps. He said get a hundred dollars worth of chips and sit down at the $1/2 table and I will get all the schooling I can handle! That is what I did and I did walk off with a profit….Just jump in some where and go for it…
I recommend learning a solid pre-flop strategy first. You can find lots of free online content that will get you 90% the way there. I’ve heard some say that 80% of poker is good pre-flop decision making. I tend to agree with this.
Best to start playing a tight strategy and learn patience early. Get your money in when you have the best of it and value bet like crazy… at least wen playing $1/2. Don’t try and bluff when learning… I should take my own advice on this!
I would suggest that rather than step up to a $1/2 game at a casino with your entire bankroll… that you try to organize some home games with your buddies… and implement some of the things you are learning through study. Home games play quite loose, but it will give you a feel for the live game.
Couple of good books that I recommend are:
Mental Game of Poker – Jared Tendler
The Theory of Poker – David Sklansky
I’d also recommend getting a free month of poker training at Crush Live Poker (activation code: YTA100). Lots of other good free content on YouTube also.
Good luck!
I like what T Ray said….if you have $100 you won’t be strapped to lose just sit down and watch and play. Play only premium hands and use your time at the table watching everything. It doesn’t hurt to read some strategy books or play for free online but jumping into the deep end will teach you to swim really quick or you will learn you don’t like water! I also would tell you to try playing in some tournaments. You can get more hours for your money on the table, I play almost strictly tournaments at Foxwoods and play from $60 to $200 buyins and I know what my total loss will be when I sit down (if I don’t cash!).
Best of luck!
I agree with learning pre flop strategy. Figuring out AQ offsuit under the gun is not the same as AQ offsuit on the button when everyone folds to you will set you up for success. Tightening my range and understanding position and position raises is what’s helped my game the best. Good luck.
My thought is play conservatively at the lower stakes cash game and wrap your brain around the basics of the game. If is easy to get overwhelmed with all the info out there with ICM and other tournament variables. 10-15 years ago it didn’t matter so much, but now there is so much info out there to sort through, it is so easy to bite off more than you can chew with trying to improve your game.
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