LEARNING TO PLAY POKER

[geek84]

Good Morning Folks

I am thinking of learning to play poker.

Does it always involve money, or can you just play it for fun?

Are there different variations of the game? If so, what is the most popular version to learn?


Thanks

[NDA]

You don't need money - just play for gaming chips.

Texas Hold'em is probably the most popular.

I have played poker for ten years or so - a group of 8 boys, it's huge fun. The poker is always rather incidental....

It's worth saying that there's a big difference between a good poker player and an amateur like me! There are many nuances in the game and levels of skill.

[captain_cynic]

Texas Hold'em.is the most common hand of poker these days, five card stud is probably a distant second.

There's loads of online games where you can play for imaginary money (betting is a huge part of the game) and probably just as many offline ones where you can learn to play with no actual risk.

[Greedydog]

The problem with free games is that although they will introduce you to the mechanics of the game, without risk, player behaviour, which is at least as important as the understanding of the odds, is very different.

[CountyAFC]

Greedydog said:

The problem with free games is that although they will introduce you to the mechanics of the game, without risk, player behaviour, which is at least as important as the understanding of the odds, is very different.

A friend who thought he was hot st at poker, got laid off and decided to use his severance pay as stake money in some big televised poker tournament. He was gonna go pro, he said.

He got his arse handed to him.

He got divorced.

[Donbot]

Free poker doesn't have risk and people play without much care about losing chips.

Online poker is full of bots and betting programs. Though you can use online to practice betting patterns etc. and the standard of play is very high.

Your best bet is probably low stakes at a casino at a quiet table, or some sort of poker club. Just make sure the amount of money you go in with is an amount of money you are prepared to lose.

[geek84]

Thanks guys

[Blue62]

I play Poker for fun, can recommend "The education of a Poker Player' as a decent starting point, simple guide to most forms of the game.

[51mes]

Donbot said:

Free poker doesn't have risk and people play without much care about losing chips.

Online poker is full of bots and betting programs. Though you can use online to practice betting patterns etc. and the standard of play is very high.

Your best bet is probably low stakes at a casino at a quiet table, or some sort of poker club. Just make sure the amount of money you go in with is an amount of money you are prepared to lose.

When I play which is occasional and sporadic, I play for pennies online after finding the free games online senseless. If you loose a quid or two a night or are a quid or two up it's all good....

[T6 vanman]

Find a local pub that has a table or league,

I know ours are friendly to new players .... Or easy pickings as we call them

Local pub venues
https://www.redtoothpoker.com/venues/find

[geek84]

Many thanks for your responses, folks.

[Baldchap]

A decent casino will basically teach you, although this comes with some risk, of course.