If you look for information on more exotic versions of poker, you may not find much more than the basic rules or the way they are played and you are left to figure out a strategy on your own. Since Holdem is the game of choice for so many people, there is plenty of useful information for you to consider even before you start playing.
There are a number of excellent books about it, written by professional players and gambling experts. These will provide you with the theoretical background you need to become a winner and enable you to gain full understanding of the game. If you join some poker forums, you will also have access to more specific information regarding the playing of a certain hand against a certain type of opponent, practical advice about improving your game, managing your bankroll and moving up or down levels. Of course, this also enables you to ask your own questions, and try out different solutions suggested by the more experienced players. Playing Texas Holdem online is a good idea for the beginners, because they have the chance to learn the game by practicing for free.
This is a great opportunity for those who don’t have anyone to play with live, or simply don’t want to waste their money at the local casino by gambling before they know all the rules. The practice mode in online poker rooms is all about learning Holdem is played and getting comfortable with the game. However, it is not the best place to learn and apply actual strategies, since there is no money involved, and people can afford to play recklessly, without the fear of loosing their hard-earned dollars. When you understand what you have to do and are familiar with the hand rankings, you should move on to the real money games and start applying a basic strategy. Since there are so many people eager to play Holdem, online casinos try to accommodate everyone from the high-rollers to those who have a very small bankroll, so you will be able to find games with extremely low limits.
This is ideal for the players who don’t have much money to spend on poker, or those who are not comfortable with risking large amounts from the get-go. Although playing for cents might not be the most exciting thing you have done, it is recommended that you start small as a novice to the game. Many players loose their initial bankroll despite having read the books before playing the game. This is not to say that you shouldn’t learn, quite on the contrary, but theoretical knowledge only goes so far. It cannot replace actual experience and practice, and this is what you need to focus on when you play the low limit games. With such a large competition out there, no book can prepare you against the wide array of opponent types you are likely to encounter.
Discovering how the people you play against think and anticipating their moves is a skill you will have to develop on your own. Luckily, with Holdem games available 24/7 and with crowds of people gathering to play at the poker rooms, you will probably be able to find a table with at least a few fish that you can beat. Calculating odds is one of the most important aspects of the game, but many new players find it difficult at first. Even if this is a lot easier to do for Texas Holdem than for games such as Omaha or Seven card stud, it can still be frustrating for a newbie. If maths is not your strongest side, you can always use a poker odds calculator to help you with this. There is a wide choice of such software on offer, you can buy or download one for free, and there are products specifically developed for Holdem as well.
Many of them will give you advice on how to play your hand, but you should only use this to learn. If you just blindly follow this advice, you won’t be improving your skills and other players will easily figure you out. On the other hand, if you truly pay attention and try learning the odds, at a certain point you will be able to just look at the table, and instinctively know what the best move is. Of course, you shouldn’t expect this to happen overnight. Online poker rooms and casinos have many attractive bonuses and promotions fro players, and this is an advantageous situation for beginners, who are likely to loose money at first. If you play Holdem online, try to clear any bonus that is worth while and that you are eligible for. Playing with the casino’s own money and using a rakeback program can help you get through the first phase and if you learn fast enough, you will soon start earning money.
All things considered, playing Texas Holdem online is a very good choice for a beginner poker player. The rules are easy to learn, and there is a great wealth of information you can use to improve your performance. The game is available all the time, and there is no shortage of people to play against. Even though there is a lot of competition, this also means that you have many options when it comes to choosing a table with opponents you can beat. The rest is a matter of perseverance and practice and just how good you become is entirely up to you.
