Starting your poker journey?

Here’s some advice to help you build a solid foundation:

Start with solid hand selection: Most beginners play too many hands and end up in tricky spots.

• If you can’t remember a chart at the table, follow the rule of thumb: “Tight early, looser late.”

Respect position: Acting last lets you gather info and control the pot size.

• Open only premium hands from early position; add speculative hands (suited connectors, small pairs) when you’re on the button or cutoff.
• When in doubt, choose position over marginal cards.

Bet with a purpose: Beginners often “freeze” and just check/call.

• Before every action, ask yourself: “Am I betting for value or as a bluff?” If you can’t answer, check/fold.
• Size your bets to put real decisions on opponents: ~⅔ pot for value, ~¾ pot for bluffs that need folds.

Learn basic odds: Quick mental math keeps you from chasing.

• Practice the Rule of 4 & 2: after the flop, outs × 4 ≈ % chance to hit by the river; after the turn, outs × 2 ≈ % to river.
• Compare that % to the pot odds you’re getting before calling.

Bankroll discipline: Protects you from going broke during normal variance.

• Keep a cash‑game roll of 25–30 buy‑ins for the stakes you play; 50+ buy‑ins for tournaments.
• Set a stop‑loss: if you lose 2–3 buy‑ins in a session and feel tilted, cash out.

Table awareness: Reading people isn’t magic; it’s tracking patterns.

• Tag the table: tight/loose, aggressive/passive, calling‑station.
• Sit to the left of the most aggressive player when possible.

Avoid fancy plays until the basics are second nature: Low‑stakes fields rarely require high‑level bluffs.

• Value‑bet relentlessly versus recreational players.
• Use semi‑bluffs (draw + fold equity) rather than “pure air” bluffs.

Mindset & tilt control: Emotional leaks cost more than strategic ones.

• Accept variance: bad beats are tuition, not tragedy.
• Take five deep breaths after every big pot—you literally reset your heart rate.

Study smarter, not longer: Focused review beats marathon videos.

• After each session, write down three hands that puzzled you, then run them through a free solver or discuss on a forum.
• Read one classic (e.g., “Elements of Poker” by Tommy Angelo) and one modern solver‑oriented source (e.g., Jonathan Little’s training site).

Learn (and respect) etiquette: Good games thrive on mutual respect—especially in friendly saloon games like yours.

• Act in turn, keep chips visible, verbalize bets clearly.
• Tipping the dealer keeps the game cheerful and flowing.