Starting off

[timberman]

whats the best game to play when just starting out? limit, pot limit? or just staright into NL? thanks for any info.

[bolt pp]

nl

yw

[TightEnd]

lets tell our infrequent member why No limit, if you think that's right?

I am sure we can be helpful!

[Longy]

I would go with no limit as that is what the vast majority of people play, live or online. I wouldn't play no limit cash to start off with though, it is a game where a newbie can do a lot of money in very short space of time. Probably non turbo sngs (9-45 man) at low limit is where I would start just learning the basic mechanics of the game and limiting your exposure.

Tbh though just play what you think you are going to enjoy, don't start too high. Then learn as you go along, post hands on pha etc.

[creepy_benji]

Yea just start with no limit, you'd probably do better jumping straight into no limit than trying to make a transition from your limit game after learning that.

I don't agree with Longy though, I think no limit holdem cash is a really good place to new players to start off, you can deposit $50 and start playing 2NL (0.1c/0.) and build you roll slowly moving up the stakes and learning the game as you go, $50 isn't a lot of money to lose and if you do you won't lose it quickly playing at 2nl.

I think cash games are better for people with full time jobs too because you can player 2-3 hours a night have some fun and show some fairly decent winnings especially when you get upto .10/.25, whereas if you're trying to play multi table tournaments you could end up still playing at 3am when you need to be asleep for work, and then you'll play bad and bust etc. etc.

You may not have a fulltime job but I was just making the point in case you do.

I can point you in the direction of a few guides for beginners if you want, let me know and I will PM you.

Benji

[gatso]

I'm with benji on this one. if I was to start again from scratch it'd be at microlimit 6-max nlhe cash. sit 100xbigblind deep and you actually learn poker rather than sngs where you learn to push or fold or full ring cash where you learn to watch tv while you wait to get dealt aces.

much, much easier to move from 6-max cash to sng/full ring cash than to move the other way

and def wouldn't want to learn by playing mtts as it's too easy to go on a long cashless run that I'd imagine would be way too demoralising for a beginner. also time considerations as benj says

[creepy_benji]

....well i never said there was anything wrong with grinding full ring     i <3 FR

[gatso]

you should post more if you play fr. you must have hours to kill between hands

[Drain Alien]

whats the best game to play when just starting out? limit, pot limit? or just staright into NL? thanks for any info.

hi timberman
I think - like alot of things in poker (and life!) -  the answer is........it depends!

Have u ever played before (homegames etc) or r u a complete novice?

Wot sort of stakes r u thinking of playing?

I found 10 seater SNGs good when I first started

I personally don't like cash cos I prefer the end goal target of a tournament, and the changing dynamics that go with it.

starting with pot limit games can be less daunting than no limit

my advice would be to start small and see how it goes
(then increase the outlay if things go well)

Anyway, good luck whatever u chose

 

[AlexMartin]

Ring NL is dying, learn plo or HU.

[EvilPie]

Play live imo. Much worse players, 100% no bots and no tracking software to contend with. I know you can't multitable live but you don't need to when your EV is so much higher than online.

Starting out in online cash games now will be very tough particularly the full ring NL games as Alex says. Until you hit the higher stakes you'll just be grinding away for hours on end for a very small profit or possibly a loss.

As a starter to learn the game I'd try a local pub league such as Redtooth. You get to learn a bit and it's not going to cost too much.

If you want to jump straight in to online then start at the lowest stakes possible. In fact forget stakes just play freerolls. You'll get to see just how often AK wins a pot, how often you make a set and also how great it is to limp in to every pot to see what develops.

Post on PHA as often as possible but expect to get ribbed a lot by the better players. Believe me when people take the piss because you've done something it's because you really shouldn't have done it. If they are brutal then it's because it's a move you should never do again. Just learn and have a thick skin.

Good luck.

[RED-DOG]

I think it's worth keeping meticulous records.

Include as many stats as you can, i.e. Where you played, how long you played for, what the game and stakes were, how much you won/lost etc.

If you don't, it's very easy to kid yourself.

Good luck!

[gatso]

Post on PHA as often as possible but expect to get ribbed a lot by the better players. Believe me when people take the piss because you've done something it's because you really shouldn't have done it. If they are brutal then it's because it's a move you should never do again. Just learn and have a thick skin.

can we put this paragraph in the guidelines for posting on pha please instead of having people whinge every couple of months about how rude pha is?

[RED-DOG]

Post on PHA as often as possible but expect to get ribbed a lot by the better players. Believe me when people take the piss because you've done something it's because you really shouldn't have done it. If they are brutal then it's because it's a move you should never do again. Just learn and have a thick skin.

can we put this paragraph in the guidelines for posting on pha please instead of having people whinge every couple of months about how rude pha is?

These guys are often inexperienced newbies who are probably quite nervous/shy about posting on pha in the first place. IMHO, brutality is the last thing they need.

Is it impossible to teach and be polite?

[gatso]

that's what the learning centre is for