What You Will Be Taught

• Poker Fundamentals: Familiarize yourself with the fundamental rules and hand ranks in order to be able to play poker and have a solid foundation.
• Game Civility and Jargon: Learn the fundamental poker civility and commonly used lingo so that you feel at ease at the poker table.
• Fundamental Strategies for Beginners: Learn easy strategies that can help you make correct decisions for the first time playing poker and increase your winning potential as a beginner player.
• Bankroll Management: Learn the importance of establishing a budget and managing your bankroll to give a consistent and fulfilling poker experience.
• Online vs. Live Play: Consider the advantages and disadvantages of playing poker online for the first time versus playing live, and see which might be best for your first experience.

To get straight to it.

You haven't got time to sit around for 30-hour classes or wade through a dense poker theory manual. Boring. You just need to know what to do when you sit down at the poker table — how not to be a klutz, how to win at a hand, and how to avoid getting stacked by that yapping moron who won't shut up.

Whether you’re headed to your first casino tournament, playing a home game with friends, or just want to stop bleeding chips online, this guide is your answer. Also you can check out Gambling-Giant.com ratings of best casinos.

Why Most Beginners Lose at Poker

Most beginners pick up poker from someone they know — a friend, a dad, a college roommate. Here's the catch: if you're new to poker, you have no way of knowing whether the person you're picking it up from actually knows how to play poker. And they probably don't.

That's why so many beginners pick up terrible habits. You learn to play way too many hands, chase bad draws, and bluff in ridiculous spots.

As someone who has taught hundreds of beginner poker classes, the following is the good news: you're better off starting fresh and learning from here.

No experience is infinitely better than bad experience. We don't need to fix your mistakes. Let's get it right the first time.

Let's Discuss How the Game Actually Works

As you play No-Limit Texas Hold'em, all the players receive two concealed cards (known as hole cards) and tries to create the best five-card hand out of any combination of those two and five face-up community cards on the table.

You pair your concealed hole card to the open community cards. But poker is less about matching and more about betting. You "win" a hand either by having the highest five-card combination or by making the other players fold.

That's the general idea. Now let's talk about beginner poker strategy.

Rule #1: Fold. A Lot.

Want to be a winner at more poker hands? Start folding. That doesn't sound quite right, does it? Nonetheless, tournament poker professionals fold 80% of their hands preflop. That means you can sit there for an hour and not play one hand. That's not boring — unless you get bored with making money.

Folding more preflop is the fastest way to increase your profitability.

Here's why it matters: everyone else plays trash. The simplest way to win at poker is to play higher hands than everybody else.

If you're losing at poker, here's why. You're playing too many hands. Tighten up, fold more, and get instantly better. Boom.

Rule #2: What Hands Should You Actually Play?

If you're new to poker, here's your first filter.

These are called Broadway cards, and sure enough, they're stars. They get good pairs, top pair with good kickers, and create the best straights and flushes.

That's my dirty and quick rule that's magic. It's restrictive, but it keeps you out of trouble. Newbies lose most often because they get left with second-best hands.

Rule #3: Suited Cards Aren't That Special

Just because your cards are the same suit doesn't mean they're good.

J is not a playable hand. Don't be fooled by the matching suits. Suited cards add only 2–3% to the strength of your hand. That's all.

If you're counting on drawing to a flush, here's the truth: you will hit a flush only 0.84% of the time. And if you do have a flush draw on the flop, it only comes in by the river 35% of the time.

So unless your cards can also make strong pairs or straights, fold ‘em.

Rule #4: Understand Position (And Stick With It)

One of the most powerful tools in poker is table position. That means where you’re sitting relative to the dealer button.

Those who play last have the advantage because they observe what other people play before themselves. Therefore, if you're "on the button," then you're in the best seat in the house.

"Think about it this way: the later your position, the more hands you can play. The earlier your position, the tighter you have to be.".

In early position (early to act), play only your strongest hands like solid pairs and high Broadways. Play more creatively in late position.

Rule #5: Learn Preflop Charts (Or Flashcards Like Me)

When I was first starting out playing poker, I made 180 color-coded flashcards so that I could memorize which hands to play in which positions. Green stickers for "raise," red stickers for "fold." That's how committed I was to learning starting hand ranges. Because, again, preflop folding is key.

Fortunately, you don't have to be a complete nerd like me. But even glancing at a simple preflop chart of which hands to play in each position can make you better than 90% of the folks playing against you.

Raise when your chart says to raise. Fold when it says to fold. Preflop charts work best when obeyed.

Rule #6: Know Your Math (Without Doing Math)

Poker is a game of numbers — but I'm not telling you to grab for a calculator during your hand.

Instead, memorize some key numbers:

• You'll miss the flop 2/3 of the time
• Flush draw makes by the river: 36%
• Open-ended straight draw: 32%
• Gutshot straight draw: 16%
• Flopping a set with a pocket pair: 12%
• Flopping two pair: 2%
• Pocket pair against two overcards: 51% (a coinflip)

These are your baselines. They tell you when you're likely ahead — or drawing dead.

Rule #7: Be a Pot Odds Master

If you have $100 in the pot and a $25 bet in front of you, now you have $125 in the pot and it's going to cost you $25 to call. That's 5-to-1 pot odds.

If you have a flush draw (36% probability of making), you only require about 4-to-1 odds to make calling profitable. As 5-to-1 is superior odds, therefore, you should call.

That's the math of making good choices.

Poker is about making the correct move time and time again… even when you lose the hand every now and then. You may not always win a hand even when 80% of the time you will. But if you keep repeating that same thing time and time again, you should be winning overall.

Rule #8: Tell a Story With Your Bets

All your moves at the table — betting, raising, checking — are all part of your narrative. Raise pre-flop? You're telling the table, "I've got a good hand."

Bet a few streets, and you're telling an even more plausible story that you've got a good holding. Bet once or twice? Less plausible. Bet three times? Now we're talking. But watch out — if your opponent keeps calling your big bets, well, then they're writing a story as well. They clearly think that their hand is strong enough to get through.

Final Thoughts: Don't Play. Observe.

Poker is not a guessing game. It's not about who "feels lucky" or is the biggest alpha at the table.

It's a mind game employing logic, probability, psychology, and self-discipline.