8 Tips for Getting Started in Poker

To be successful in online poker, it is important to understand the fundamentals from the start. Knowing the fundamentals of the game will help in many ways: It will help you avoid losing your initial deposit; instill good habits and help you appreciate the game of poker as a skill game.

Educating yourself with poker forums and poker books, as well as taking advantage of poker bonuses as they can go a long way!

If you want to maximize your chances of success in online poker here are 8 tips for getting started.

1. Hit the Books

In order to really understand the core concepts involved in playing poker, I would recommend reading as many poker books as you can get your hands on. There are poker books for all types of poker games and are cash or tournament specific. Here is a collection of books that will get you started:

• The Theory of Poker
• No Limit Hold ‘em: Theory and Practice
• Doyle Brunson’s Super System: A Course in Power Poker, 3rd Edition
• Doyle Brunson’s Super System II
• Harrington on Hold ‘em Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments, Vol. 1: Strategic Play
• Harrington on Hold ‘em Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments, Vol. 2: Endgame
• Harrington on Hold ‘em Expert Strategy for No Limit Tournaments, Vol. 3–The Workbook
• Harrington on Cash Games, Volume I: How to Win at No-Limit Hold’em Money Games
• Harrington on Cash Games, Volume II: How to Play No-Limit Hold ‘em Cash Games

2. Learn Basic Strategy

Before jumping into online poker, you should have a basic understanding of poker fundamentals. As you gain experience you will learn how and when to deviate from the basic strategy but if you stick to the following you will be off to a good start:

Positional Awareness

In games like Texas Hold’ Em, where the betting order is set by the movement of the dealer button, your table position relative to the button is vital. You should be tight and play less hands when in early position, and be looser and play more hands in late position.

Understand the value of starting hands

When deciding whether to enter the pot you need to take your starting hands into consideration. As a beginner you will need to make tough decision once the flop hits depending upon what type and how many players are still in the hand at that point.

If you play a tight game (by playing less hands) but higher quality hands, then you will have easier decisions to make after the flop. This is beneficial especially when you are playing against looser opponents as you will have a better hand than them more often once you get to the flop. See here for a Starting Hands Chart for No Limit Hold’ Em

Bankroll management

The essence of bankroll management is to have enough buyins for the table stakes you are playing at in order to limit your chances of going bust. If you are playing $0.10/$0.25 No Limit Hold’ Em with a $100 bankroll, then you could “go broke” with a mere 4 buyin downswing. Here is a more detailed explanation of proper bankroll management.

3. Listen to Podcasts

When you are sick of reading, or stuck in traffic, you can still stay informed. Poker podcasts allow you to stay up to date with the latest in the poker industry from news and gossip to strategy and tournament results. Here are some reviews of the best poker podcasts.

4. Take Advantage of Signup bonuses

One way to build up your poker bankroll quickly is through poker room signup bonuses. Based upon your initial deposit, you can double your bankroll by accumulating frequent player points to unlock your bonus.

5. Use PokerTracker

PokerTracker is software that allows you to analyze your play as well as your opponents. It imports your hand history files as you play and updates it’s database in real-time. The PokerTracker HUD (heads up display) will give you key statistics about your opponents at the poker table.

PokerTracker Features

• Track your play as well as your opponents (Cash games and Tournaments)
• Chart your poker bankroll over time
• Replay hands to analyze your play
• Track your Starting Hands selection by table position
• More statistics than I could begin to list here!

6. Peer Support

Especially in the early stages of your poker life you should rely on peer support for advice and leverage the wisdom of crowds. Here are a few poker communities that are a valuable asset to any poker player:

1. Twitter Poker Tour Member Forum
2. Flop Turn River Poker Forums.
3. Two Plus Two Poker Forums.

7. Watch Poker Videos

Reading books and forum posts can be dry at times so there are some great poker video tutorial sites you can turn to in order to help your game. GrinderSchool.com offers a wide variety of poker tutorial videos covering cash games and tournament play. Free videos are available for you to check out before signing up. (If you like the videos, they offer coaching as well!)

8. Subscribe to Poker Economics

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Related posts:

1. Understanding the Gap Concept
2. M-Ratio Tournament Strategy
3. No Limit Hold ‘Em Starting Hands
4. Playing Small Ball Poker