It’s been awhile since I’ve had something about the basics. Probably because, I wrote most of that stuff when I was learning it myself (which wasn’t that long ago). But, in my home game, we regularly have some new players who genuinely want to play better poker. The home game ends up being an improvement ground for our regular players, some of whom now play at the casinos, for real money online and in tournaments. Considering that most the regulars at my home game only started playing a year ago… well, that’s pretty good.

So… I thought I’d go over some of the basics for new players… this is advice I give a player who is sitting down at their first poker table at my home game.

First. I recommend playing tight. Only play really quality hands. AA, KK, QQ, JJ, TT, 99, 88, AKs, AKo, AQs. Also, 88, 77, AQo and AJs are okay to play pre-flop, but only in late position. With 66 through 22, you’re looking to flop a set. If you don’t, fold. You’re not experienced enough to play these hands any other way.

Stay away from the trouble hands, KQ, KJ, KT, K9, QJ, QT and JT. A lot of players, especially new players, think that any two faces cards are a great starting hand. These hands are very hard to play, mostly because they’re easily dominated. Even if you flop a pair with these hands, you could be drawing very thin to AQ vs. your KQ. Do NOT play these hands without experience. You have to know when your beat to play be able to successfully play these hands.

Also, another thing to watch out for is AT and under (suited or unsuited). Many players fall into the trap of thinking any Ace is good and then promptly lose all their money when an Ace on the flop gives them a pair to someone else with an Ace with a higher kicker. Avoid playing these hands if you’re new. Period.

With Ace-rag suited, you’re looking to flop a flush or flush draw (or on the rare occasion, 3 of a kind). Anything else, even pairing your Ace, and you should be folding. Keep in mind though, that Ace-rag suited is best played from late position with limpers ahead of you. Facing a raise or in early position, these hands should be folded.

Second. You have to learn position. In early position (soon after the big blind), you have to play tighter as there is more possibility that someone left to act after you has a better hand. In late position (closer to the button or on the button), you can play looser… if everyone has folded to you on the button, you can raise with nearly any two cards. Just remember, that if one (or Buddha forbid, both) of the big blinds calls, you need be extremely careful after the flop.

Third. I recommend that new players VERY rarely bluff. Don’t worry if you’re folding everything under the sun… you’re not experience to know the right context to bluff under. Like a space shuttle launch, the conditions have to be just right to bluff. Until you get more experience, you don’t know what conditions make more successful bluffs than others.

Finally. There’s a lot that goes into to poker. Don’t try to complicated it too much. Keep it simple at first and you’ll enjoy it more. These strategy is designed to get you started, not to be something that you keep if you get more into it. If you want to get more involved in learning the strategy of poker, check out some of my other articles:

What are the odds?
Understanding pot odds
Continuation Bets
Value Betting
Bluffing

Until then, enjoy the game and I’ll see you at the tables.

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