Poker Tips?

If you want to be a player, wear a hoodie and shades. That way you can bluff and no one can tell you're lying via veins.

Jcr10:

The one thing I have going for me is I'm pretty good at shuffling/manipulating cards in order to give myself an edge, so I'm able to hang in there for these games. That being said, I have absolutely no intentions of cheating in this game. The last thing I want to do is get caught.

You cheat at your friends poker games? What the fck is wrong with you?

two plus two forums

you gotta poker when she least expects it

I misjudged this topic based on the title of the post

The best way to get better at poker is to start playing a lot of hands. Join Carbon Poker and just start playing for low money.

You could play Poker Stars for play money if you want as well, but I think that game is different. Playing for money changes things.

Doyle Brunson's Super System is considered the Bible of No Limit Texas Holdem

http://files.pokerakademia.com/files/65/65150.pdf

To practice, you should work on your mechanic's grip and bottom dealing at a private game held by the state police in upstate New York.

Obviously depending on the skill level in this game you are either a dog or a huge dog. You can spend a ton of time improving your game depending on what you are level you are looking to play at, but I'd generally recommend either the twoplustwo.com forums, or check out some of Jason Sommerville's streams on twitch (search for jcarverpoker). That should give you a good feel for ranges from each position, and how to think through postflop spots. Generally if you think the skill level of the game is much higher than your own, I'd just be three betting big and shoving pre a lot with hands that play well, and hoping to avoid a ton of postflop play.

Two key pieces of advice (intertwined) for beginner/intermediate players that can quickly boost your game:

1a - know what is a good starting hand 1b - know how position impacts the value of your hand

Just play tight and raise it up big when you get a good starting hand like pocket tens or better AK, AQ. Follow through with a bet on the flop if you get 1-2 callers otherwise be cautious and only bet if you hit your hand.

What whitecollar and Longandshort said. Knowing how/when to bet on starting hands based on your table position is most important early on imo. Don't be afraid to bet when you hit it big. Everything after that bet involves knowing odds and then the other players. Also stay away from bluffing if you have little experience. Advanced players can smell it and wreck you fast. Humans are creatures of habit and it can show on the poker table.

In general, avoid calling, especially if you're chasing some outs. Don't call bluffs either, just bet when you have close to the nuts. Play tight, and play in position (e.g. only play top hands under the gun, play almost all pocket pairs and AK AQ KQ etc. on the button). Play for value, don't try anything fancy like slow playing.

This is just a fun game. It doesn't sound like he's out to win or lose a lot.

But, the one thing OP should have learned from this thread is:** do not cheat. **

Don't take more than you can afford to lose. Don't bluff. Don't chase draws. Play premium hands only.

Watch the movie Rounders, that will teach you everything you need to know about poker.

Practice hands and really focus on your cards. As soon as you see your pair, memorize it and don't look at your cards again. Make this a habit.

Also if you play with blinds, make sure to not look at your cards and instead place your blind on top of your card. Never play more than you can afford to lose and play good hands only. Really, don't be the hero trying to cash on the big hands. Depending on the length of the game, try and figure out what the others are going for and learn how they play. Again they're not professionals so chances are, they'll make tons of mistakes as well.

Fuck the guy's wife to demonstrate how alpha you are; that at least will impress him

Know that small blind is first to play, dealer is last, and dealer button and turns go in clockwise rotation. It's extremely annoying when people try to play out of turn. Don't try to bluff for the sake of getting some action (or probably at all because you won't know how to). Good players play about 20% of their hands depending on if its a cash game or a tourney. Also, try not to sound/act as childish as your post and it's poker etiquette to fold your hands if you accidentally expose them.

Don't take it serious. Tell the guys that you're a newbie. Download Pokerstars and play on the free account for 20 mins to get the flow of the game and basic mechanics as that will help everyone out not having the explain. Shoot the shit but also know when a lot of chips go into the pot and you're not in that pot STFU. If you get lucky and win offer the winnings (or portion YMMV) up as the bar tab for the next bar/ place if that's the vibe.

What everyone said in this thread. One thing that I think you should really pay attention to though, is etiquette on the table. If he's a regular player, he'd be pissed to see someone ruining his game.

Just some tips from me:

• Don't act out of turn, as Yossif said, "know that small blind is first to play, dealer is last, and dealer button and turns go in clockwise rotation."
• Don't splash the chips on the table, just like you see on TV. Absolute no.
• Don't take forever to decide on what you're doing.
• Angle shooting and slow-rolling is a no-no; look this up.
• Be modest in victory and defeat (duh!)
• Don't talk about a hand if you're not in it! It annoys the lights out of me when my friend tries to talk someone else into calling or folding, or when he/she goes "fuck, I would've gotten a full-house on that flop!" - as you know this ruins the odds calculation and may influence other people's decisions.
• If you're going to show your cards after a hand's done, show it to everyone on the table. Never just to one person.

Other than that you should be fine, don't take it too seriously and chat the guy up, good luck!

You never want to play poker when you're tense, my advice is to have a few drinks to take the edge off. You'll find that once you stop second guessing yourself due to browning out, you'll start raking in the pots

haha some of the advice in this thread is pretty funny... the idea that you should never bluff in poker is one sure fire way to lose money.

Just read The Course by Ed Miller.

Why are some people telling OP not to bluff? Serious? Bluffing in poker is part of the game and part of the strategy used to win in this game. What should be told is that you can bluff, but to do it wisely, and not frequently especially for beginners. For example, don't bluff for the sake of fulfilling your negative emotion against the opponent, do it if it fits right to the situation/hand. This is common practice, AKA tilting. Position is key in poker. For ex, huge advantage of sitting to the left of an aggressive player where you are to act after that said player. Analyzing the players on their frequent betting patterns, types of hands they like to play is also very important. This all comes with some study and lots of live playing. Keep playing, rack up the experience, and just have fun.

there are specific times in poker when you should bluff. it's hard for new players to know when those times are, so it's probably more of a winning strategy for a newbie to just bet when he/she has a good hand.

I'm in the America's Cardroom $50K GTD today, $16.50 buy in - sitting in 69th of 804 remaining (1122 entrants), we are like an hour into it. 

Don't be the person who only ever bets high when they have a good hand. It quickly becomes a dead giveaway. 

I got 10th out of 4,122 entrants in the $50K yesterday. Unfortunately for only $343. This is the money I missed out on:

1MoneyPump 2$7,113

2jdsdog10 3$4,538

3mscfox$3,184

4blindspotpt 3$2,319

5RCM1TO$1,638

6jshap35$1,129

7Nico Texas 2$866

8$665

9DRAGONIGHT$495

So frustrating I made it so far and then couldn’t finish it. 

I'm playing this $125K right now and a $420K later......................... lezzzzzzzzzgooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

I'm again playing this $125K.................... in 145 of 1007................$420K laterrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr............... so sleepy

In 82 of 975 now................. in the $125K.............. 8pm is $420K start...........I'm pretty sleepy