Whats a good step by step lesson online on how to play poker?

Question

Whats a good step by step lesson online on how to play poker?

Answer 1

I'm highly against playing for "play" money.  There's a world of difference between play money and real money, even if it's just a little real money.

I recommend finding a site like poker stars which offers games with as little as 0.01/0.02 blinds and starting with limit poker.  Limit poker offers two advantages for a beginner:

A. You can't lose a whole bunch on a bad (or unlucky) hand.

B.  It gives you the time and simplicity to really get a grasp for the fundamentals (position, good starting hands, pot odds, hand odds, etc.)

The key, though, is to come in with a strategy.  Don't sit down thinking you're just going to figure it out as you go along.  Have a strategy prepared ahead of time and STICK WITH IT.  A solid starting strategy would be to play premium hands only (AA, KK, QQ, AK suited), and also occasionally playing strong hands in good position (on or near the dealer button playing JJ, TT, AK off-suit, AQ suited, AJ suited, KQ suited).

As you get more comfortable with the game and start to understand the odds and dynamics more, you can start opening up your hand range and playing more tricky (any pairs, Ax suited cards, KJ, KT, QJ, suited connectors like 65, 76, etc.)  I highly recommend NOT bluffing at the beginning stages.  It rarely works.

Answer 2

Well, you could sign up at http://wealthlion.com with just your e-mail address to pick up skills against millions of other players without risking your own money. You don't even need a credit card. I think this is a better way to learn. I always liked the "trial by fire" method. :)