Is there any good poker system for me to learn how to play step-by-step?

[louis007]

I'm really looking for a poker system that will tell me what to do step-by-step.

I never played poker before but I want to learn...

Please give advice.

[bpb]

Read Getting Started in Hold'Em by Ed Miller

The majority of the books on poker at your local bookstore aren't worth the paper they're printed on. This one is. Start with this book, then progress to the other books recommended by this one.

[Reef]

read as much material as you can and play as much as you can. It takes experience to get better. Don't think yourself to be God's gift to poker within the first few months.

[KasinoKing]

read as much material as you can and play as much as you can. It takes experience to get better. Don't think yourself to be God's gift to poker within the first few months.

... or ever!

Poker is a VERY dangerous game.
There are 100,000's of online players, and I reckon only 1 or 2% of them make long-term profit.
Play for fun with small stakes, and limit your deposits.
Poker IS great fun - but please be careful.

Just my 2c.

[Zoozie]

There are 100,000's of online players, and I reckon only 1 or 2% of them make long-term profit.

It is commonly accepted that this number is more like 10%.

If you are are an average player you will lose, since you also have to beat the rake. The long time winners I know have read a lot more poker books/study than just Ed Millers book, but it is definately a very good start. But if you play very low limit it is easier of course.

With very low limit I mean max:
0.25/0.5$ FL or 0.15$/0.30$NL (30$ buy-in)
I feel that going over this limit will give noticable better opponents.

Also you need to learn to use PokerTracker+PokerAce if you want to find the errors in your play and improve you play.

I believe this is a good advice for the waste majority of new players, of course there are a few naturals. If you want to play 1/2$ NL (200$ buy-in) you better be prepared or be prepared to kiss a lot of money goodbye.

[louis007]

I see thanks for all the advice... at the moment I am only playing for fun on the rooms

I'm going to get learning...

I tought there was a step-by-step system you could follow to play isnt there one?

What about these auto play bots do they work?

[arccos]

I see thanks for all the advice... at the moment I am only playing for fun on the rooms

I'm going to get learning...

I tought there was a step-by-step system you could follow to play isnt there one?

What about these auto play bots do they work?

I haven't ever seen a "learn Texas Hold'em in 24 steps" or anything like that. I learned from the book Internet Texas Hold'em: Winning Strategies from an Internet Pro. It was decent for a total beginner. I don't know if it was the best, but at least it wasn't too dry. Other, more experienced players can probably recommend some more books. Once you get beyond that, I enjoyed Doyle Brunson's Super System 2 to see if there are any other poker variations I would like to play.

Auto play bots? Like Winholdem? If you're talking about bots that you set up and play all day for you against live opponents, it doesn't quite work like that. You have to "program" the strategy in the bots, it doesn't work against anyone other than the worst opponents, and when you get caught, you'll be banned from the poker network.

If you're talking about training software, like Wilson's Turbo Texas Holdem, it's good for improving your game, but not too useful for brand new players.

*Sigh* To be new to poker again, before all the bad beats, wasted bonuses, and tilting. Enjoy the ride.

[louis007]

A friend of mine told me you can calculate probabilities. I really want to start with a step-by-step system.

Has anyone ever used this http://www.holdempirate.com ?!

[QuickLearner]

Bpb's advice was the best. Ed Miller's "Getting Started..." book is a great place to begin and you'll find recommendations in there for further study.

You asked about odds calculators, so I'll give my opinion. They work as advertised, but aren't nearly as helpful as you'd think. In many cases, the decisions you need to make can't be reduced to only probabilities. You will need to take the habits and styles of your opponents into account as well. Probability is one factor, and the calculators can help with that, but if you rely on them too much your play will become predictable to your opponents and they will take advantage of it. Some of those calculators are pretty expensive; I'd advise spending your money on a library of good poker books. The probability tables are in the books and the math is simple; you will quickly outgrow your need for a calculator if you do a little studying.

Forget about the bots. They are illegal and getting caught using them will get you banned from your poker room. The room will also confiscate your bankroll. Even if they were legal they wouldn't be a good investment of your money or time. They are expensive, require hundreds, and maybe thousands of hours of fine-tuning (during which you'll be losing your money at the tables while experimenting) and will never be more than a break-even tool for you. You'll never make your investment back.

Watch out for the play money games. They're a good way to learn how the software works, but a bad way to learn the strategy of poker. Even the lowest-level real money games play differently. Expect the games to tighten up significantly when you move to real money.

You're going to have fun as long as you learn that there aren't any systems, tools, or bots that can make you a success. If there were, the game would disappear. Study, practice, study, practice.....

[dominique]

Playing at pogo.com is free and fun and you can play against robots if you don't feel ready for actual people.

You could read some of the huge amount of stuff about poker on my site, it's free too and I have some pretty good players write for it.