The best bit of advice you were given or have read

[Woodsey]

I have recently been daft enough to try and teach my wife to play poker and it got me thinking this thread might be useful for other new players.

What was the single best bit of advice you were given or read when you started the game?

For me it was from one of David Sklansky's books, something known as the 'gap concept'. The basis of it is, once you know your starting hand ranking/values, you only call a raise if the hand you have is better than one you consider should have been raised from that particular position. Of course if you know the players on your table and how they play this can be adjusted, but for new players this is sound advice and well worth a read in my opinion.

Over to everyone else

Now where has my wife gone.........

[turny]

best advice i ever had was "never try to teach a woman to play poker" 

[Acidmouse]

Or let them play with your account...

[NoflopsHomer]

I think we can do better than a woman bashing thread.

[MrSpeed]

Best bit of advice......

Tight is right.

Think i basically got this from reading 'Play poker like the Pros' by our friend Phil Hellmuth. This was the first poker book i ever bought myself or read.

Playing tight for a beginner is a good starting point then you can learn to loosen up.....better than the other way round which will prob cost u too much cash!

[Nem]

Never eat yellow snow

[AdamM]

Do everything for a reason. think about the desired result FIRST and then figure out the best way to get it with your actions.

not so much advice given, as a lesson learned through time at the table.

also, fold AA if Thewy has yet to act in a preflop pot

[NoflopsHomer]

Do everything for a reason. think about the desired result FIRST and then figure out the best way to get it with your actions.

not so much advice given, as a lesson learned through time at the table.

also, fold AA if Thewy has yet to act in a preflop pot

 

Shouldn't it be fold ATC if you think Thewy has undercards or an underpair?

[RED-DOG]

1: Don't worry about the small stuff.

2: In the grand scheme of things, it's all small stuff.

[Sark79]

Don't drink salt water

[RED-DOG]

Don't kick your granny while she's shaving

[Graham C]

LOL

On subject, I recently started Harrington vol 2 and I liked the bit about when you are short stacked just get your chips in first.  Can't remember what he called the principle, probably something like First In but I've found that useful.  I tended to wait for premium hands when short stacked and ended up getting blinded away but Harrington has taught me better - I owe him a beer

[NoflopsHomer]

First-in Vigorish?

[Newmanseye]

know why you are betting, know the DESIRED result, learn the rule of 2 & 4, Read caro's book of tells, its a perfect BASIC grounding on tells.

Always remember to control your aggression

[Graham C]

First-in Vigorish?

That's the one