Before You Play Poker

Before you play poker and can win at poker you have to learn how to play poker. As with anything in life, this can be done using several methods which include researching to gain knowledge then using that knowledge to play the game.

You are here at this website so you are on the right path. Gaining knowledge before you play poker by reading books, forums, and strategies of other players will greatly increase your ability to be a successful poker player.

Ok so where do you start. My first suggestion would be to pick up a few books on poker, read through them then apply the knowledge to the game. There are numerous games of poker and most common right know is No Limit Holdem, but I highly recommend you learn the proper fundamentals of poker before jumping right into playing this fast paced game. A poker player can lose a lot of money very quickly by not having the right poker knowledge or strategy. The books that took me from playing two cent/four cent poker to the one dollar/two dollar level are Lee Jones' Winning Low Limit Holdem and Ed Miller's Getting Started in Holdem and his combined work with David Sklansky & Mason Malmuth Small Stakes Holdem. These three books will provide you an excellent foundation for learning to play poker. David Sklansky's Theory of Poker is also a recommended read.

Now granted you don't have to read all of these before you play poker, but it is good to start reading them to grasp general concepts and strategy. Read a few chapters then apply what you have learned over the course of your next few sessions. As you play more and adapt your own style to the concepts learned you will be playing winning poker in no time.

Thus, by gaining knowledge before you play poker, you will find the game more enjoyable and will rapidly find yourself on the winning end more than the losing end. There is still more strategy on how to improve your game, and only time will help you achieve this.