Delenia
Legend
Loyaler
Mostly, be patient.
Start out only playing your best starting hands. (you can add more risky hands as you get more experience)
Go through the CardsChat 30 day Poker School. (The school & many other recourses are on this page: https://www.cardschat.com/poker/strategy/)
Start out only playing your best starting hands. (you can add more risky hands as you get more experience)
Go through the CardsChat 30 day Poker School. (The school & many other recourses are on this page: https://www.cardschat.com/poker/strategy/)
bremp555
Enthusiast
Silver Level
That’s a great question, because starting out in poker the right way can save you a lot of time and frustration. In my opinion, beginners should focus on building strong fundamentals first, and only later dive deeper into advanced concepts. Here are five tips that can really make a difference.
First, play tight and aggressive. One of the biggest leaks for new players is playing too many hands. It’s better to fold often and wait for stronger starting hands. But when you do decide to play, raise instead of limping. This way you build the pot when you’re ahead and also apply pressure when you’re not.
Second, respect position. Position is one of the most underrated concepts for beginners. Being “in position” (acting last on each betting round) allows you to see what others do before you make your decision, which makes the game much easier. As a general rule, play fewer hands in early position and expand your range when you’re on the button or cutoff.
Third, bankroll management. Variance is real, and even good players go through losing stretches. If you’re playing tournaments, a common guideline is to have at least 50–100 buy-ins for the stakes you’re playing. For cash games, something like 20–30 buy-ins is safer. This discipline keeps you in the game and lets you focus on decisions instead of money pressure.
Fourth, bluff less than you think you should. New players often believe bluffing is the most important part of poker, but without a solid understanding of ranges and opponent tendencies, bluffs can just burn money. Stick mostly to value betting with strong hands at first. Later on, as you understand situations better, you can add balanced bluffs to your game.
Finally, study and review regularly. Playing is important, but studying away from the table is just as crucial. Review tough hands, watch training content, and if possible, track your results with tools or even a simple spreadsheet. Understanding expected value decisions and learning from mistakes will help you improve much faster than just grinding hands without reflection.
Poker is a game of skill over the long run, but short-term variance can trick you into thinking you’re doing something wrong or right when it’s just luck. That’s why consistency, discipline, and reflection are key.
By the way, are you planning to focus more on tournaments or cash games? The approach can be slightly different depending on your goal, so knowing that could help give you more specific advice.
First, play tight and aggressive. One of the biggest leaks for new players is playing too many hands. It’s better to fold often and wait for stronger starting hands. But when you do decide to play, raise instead of limping. This way you build the pot when you’re ahead and also apply pressure when you’re not.
Second, respect position. Position is one of the most underrated concepts for beginners. Being “in position” (acting last on each betting round) allows you to see what others do before you make your decision, which makes the game much easier. As a general rule, play fewer hands in early position and expand your range when you’re on the button or cutoff.
Third, bankroll management. Variance is real, and even good players go through losing stretches. If you’re playing tournaments, a common guideline is to have at least 50–100 buy-ins for the stakes you’re playing. For cash games, something like 20–30 buy-ins is safer. This discipline keeps you in the game and lets you focus on decisions instead of money pressure.
Fourth, bluff less than you think you should. New players often believe bluffing is the most important part of poker, but without a solid understanding of ranges and opponent tendencies, bluffs can just burn money. Stick mostly to value betting with strong hands at first. Later on, as you understand situations better, you can add balanced bluffs to your game.
Finally, study and review regularly. Playing is important, but studying away from the table is just as crucial. Review tough hands, watch training content, and if possible, track your results with tools or even a simple spreadsheet. Understanding expected value decisions and learning from mistakes will help you improve much faster than just grinding hands without reflection.
Poker is a game of skill over the long run, but short-term variance can trick you into thinking you’re doing something wrong or right when it’s just luck. That’s why consistency, discipline, and reflection are key.
By the way, are you planning to focus more on tournaments or cash games? The approach can be slightly different depending on your goal, so knowing that could help give you more specific advice.
