Basics of Poker

DEFINITION: Wikipedia states that "Poker is a card game, the most popular of a class of games called vying games, in which players with fully or partially concealed cards make wagers into a central pot, after which the pot is awarded to the remaining player or players with the best combination of cards." (link)

We recommend three great books for those getting started.

• Poker For Dummies
  A thorough, readable introduction to many facets of poker.
  
  
• Fundamentals of Poker by Mason Malmuth and Lynne Loomis
  A short but effective introduction to poker.
  
  
• Hold'Em Poker by David Sklansky and Mason Malmuth
  
  The first definitive book ever written on the texas-derived world championship poker game.

For a roadmap on learning the basics, we suggest ....

• Start with Texas Hold'em, explore other poker game variations later when you've mastered the basics.
• Understand the Poker Hand rankings. Gain some confidence by making sure you know these inside and out.
• Understand the basic terms in poker. This will help you to follow the action and speak the same language.
• Learn the basics of betting, when to check, fold and raise. Understand why you should never fold when you can check.
• Learn which hands you should play and which hands you should normally fold. New players will play far too many bad hands, putting them at a disadvantage.
• Understand the significance of table position and why betting last has its advantages.
• Learn what it means to be tight or loose and when to recognize a tight or loose table.
• Learn what it means to be passive or aggressive.
• Understand Outs and Pot Odds and when the statistics are for and against you.
• Focus on you and your cards in the first phase. Don't worry about reading tells, bluffing and your opponents.
• Master the Poker Basics first before moving to the next level, advanced poker, which competing against your opponents.

Keep in mind that when you play with play money there's little incentive to fold, so bluffing doesn't work. Instead work on understanding the basics of the game.