[MattH]

So .. I have learnt the basic rules of holdem about 3 weeks back.. signed up for a few accounts on the various online sites and been playing in the play money areas.. and I will be taking part in one of the shark cage beginner tournies on pokerroom.com over the weekend.

What I want to do it get a good solid framework to work from to improve my play. I am playing poker for a hobby/fun rather than looking at it as a possible income.. but I still want to be able to play a good game

Any suggestions on any books/websites to look at as a total beginner..

Cheers

Matt

[KudzuKing]

Welcome, Matt!

I'd recommend to you the 2+2 forum for lots of poker info.
Also read Lee Jones' book, and Ed Miller's , too!

Lee Jones

Ed Miller

[Quintz71]

Yes, deffinately read at least a couple books about poker, check with your local library to see what they have to keep from spending money on them (this is if your on a tight budget like me).

And then play, the more you play, the better you'll get. And be very observant of your opponents on when/how they bet, you can learn alot from them.

[CaptLego]

What game are you playing? The Lee Jones book is pretty good, but only for limit. If you're playing no-limit, and especially if you're playing no-limit tournies, I'd suggest getting Harrington on Holdem (volumes I and II).

[MattH]

Hi..

Where is the 2+2 forum ? (edit : ok I found it !)

I have been playing limit... though the tournies are NL I believe.
Last night I tried out on the pay tables (25c/50c limit) and went through my $10 in half an hour.. went back to the play tables and had a great run and was $400 up.. if only it was real huh

I'll check out the books.. many thanks..

Matt

[jojobinks]

the only books you'll need to read for NL tournies are the two harrington books.

maybe theory of poker...

[tomb1]

BINGO on Harrington I & II.

The author says they are not for beginners, but other than a little bit of lingo... most everyone who's watched a little poker can figure everything out in the book.

Read Book I and the first section of Book II, then play tons of hands and you'll learn quickly.

[johnnyjersey]

highly recommend sklansky - holdem for advanced players. it was the first book i read and you dont need to be advanced. there is a glossary for poker terms of art if necessary. If you're just starting out...i think the same principles still apply for tournies - obviously there are a few differences... but that is my 2 cents

[bolgenmod]

If you are really a true beginner (and starting 3 weeks ago would seem to make you qualify as that), you might try beginning with Ed Miller's Getting Started in Holdem. It is a great book -- wish it had been around when I started -- that is both clear and easy for beginners, but also has some excellent points I'd not seen emphasized in other beginners books. And it covers both limit ring games and beginning tournament strategy.

After GSIH, I would try Lee Jones Winning Low Limit Holdem, but be sure to get the most recent edition, the 2005 3rd edition (I've seen the 2nd in bookstores as recently as two weeks ago). This new edition has a section on no-limit sngs, but is otherwise focused on limit holdem. Again, Jones is clear and easy to understand.

And then you might want to step up to Miller (and Malmuth and Sklansky's) Small Stakes Holdem. This might just be the new low-limit bible (certainly the 2+2 boys think so: 2+2 is a publishing company run by Malmuth and Sklansky, if you didn't know...). It advocates a style that might produce some bankroll swings, but those swings go both ways, if you know what I mean. It is, however, solely about limit ring games. It's a much more complex book than Getting Started or Jones.

Harrington on Holdem is an excellent book, but it's mostly for no-limit tournament play (although I understand that the first parts certainly apply to no-limit ring games -- which I don't play). And it's more advanced than the other books I listed above.

Re 2+2 (which is a great forum): many of the 2+2ers are wannabe and even real pros. They take their game VERY seriously. And they can get nasty. I'd advise reading a lot over there, but lurking instead of posting until you feel comfortable (I lurked for about a year!). The Home Game forum on 2+2 is perhaps the nicest. The online forum is justifiable nicknamed "The Zoo." Read the FAQs (of the particular forum -- there are lots of them) before you post there. They also have a beginners forum on 2+2, and a lot of the (nicer) more experienced players make a point of checking in there once and a while to help the newbies. So there's gold in those forums, but you have to mine it.

And, btw, I too play for fun and (often) a little profit, so I think I know where you're coming from and hope I've helped. Good luck!!

[MattH]

Excellent.. thats very helpful...

Out of interest which of the online poker sites are recommended for playing on say on their free tables.. are they all much of a muchness ?

Cheers

Matt