Tips for newbs (1 Viewer)

[Poker Zombie]

@Mrs Poker Zombie will be delivering a poker tips for beginners seminar this weekend at a local convention. We don't have any idea how many people will attend, but assume double digits. We also have no idea what level of experience to expect from the attendees, so we are assuming "I saw it on TV once" skill level. It will be done as a Power Point, but what information do you think would be most helpful to include? So far we have:

• Hand rankings
• Basic Rules
• Starting hands
• Importance of Position
• Etiquette
• Pot Odds
• TAG vs LAG vs Passive playing styles

Is there anything anyone here would suggest or remove?

 

[Mr Tree]

I think an understanding of position and hand selection are the two most critical elements for a new player. Maybe some standard bet sizing tips as well. I know that's very related to pot odds.

 

[Parrothedd]

Hey Zombie:

For those of us who can't make it, what do you think about making the PowerPoint available by email? I have some novice friends that are interested in learning more. I think this may be a great start!

JT

 

[Anthony Martino]

Common Rules Violations

(i.e. stuff people saw in a movie or tv show and think translates to real world poker)

Examples:

STRING BETS/RAISES

I call.............and I raise

SPLASHING THE POT

Why it's bad and you shouldn't do it

TABLE TALK

Ooooh, who has the [insert flush/trips/full house here]???? after the flop hits presenting those possibilities

CASH GAMES VS TOURNAMENTS

Explain the differences between the two

 

[Socraticd]

I run a game at work that has a lot of "saw it on TV and it looks fun" players. I print out hand ranking charts and have them available, and go over the basic rules/etiquette as things come up.

Some REALLY common things I see a lot are

• terminology - "bet" not "bid" "call" not "see"
• string bets - for some reason TV and movies ALWAYS have "i see your X and raise you Y." I cover this at least once a game and explain why it's a rule
• keeping bets in front of you until all betting actions for the street have concluded, rather than throwing chips into the middle (again, WHY tv and movies, why?) - explaining why this makes it easier, such as: "you call the blinds for $50, someone makes it $200. Which is easier? making the stack in front of you $200, or remembering you put in $50 already and putting out another $150?"
• bet progression, raising minimums - opening bet minimum is the current big blind, and subsequent raises are minimum of the previous bet/raise. 50 -> 100 -> 150, not compulsory "doubling" of 50 -> 100 ->200. This one seems to commonly trip people up.
• Keeping cards protected and/or on the table. Newer players seem to really love taking their cards off the table.

I'll think of more as I reflect on the last few sessions we've played.

As for strategy, I think the most appropriate things for a group that needs all the above instruction just to be able to sit and play smoothly and not feel uncomfortable or feel like an idiot not knowing the rules (the biggest fear, from my discussions about taking people to the casino with me, much moreso than losing money actually), are:

• absolute hand ranking and making the best 5 card hand - discussion of what a kicker is and examples of when a kicker does and doesn't play
• starting hand rankings - tier 1, 2, 3, etc... hands a'la https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_hold_'em_starting_hands#Sklansky_hand_groups
• How you make money playing poker - VERY high level concept of odds. Show how the pot can lay you X:1 and the odds of something happening are Y:1, where X > Y. I usually relate this to saying, "lets make a bet where we flip a coin. if it comes up heads i pay you $0.45 and if it's tails you pay me $0.55." Then I explain a flush draw with a pot laying me 5:1 and why that's essentially the same thing.

I'll touch on position and some of what I would consider to start to be more advanced concepts for a really beginning player, but honestly if they're really completely new to the game, just digesting the rules and basic etiquette is a little overwhelming for many. Getting into position, odds, TAG/LAG, etc... i have found yields a lot of confusion unless they're pretty driven and grasp those things pretty quickly. YMMV obviously

 

[Anthony Martino]

Yeah, for beginners I'd definitely focus on the mechanics of the game rather than strategy, player types, etc. Not to mention, I want to teach people to play, but I don't want them to play well

 

[manamongkids]

balancing ranges

 

[Socraticd]

Maybe also have a final slide recommending some good beginning books if people want to learn more? I have handed out about 6 copies of Winning Low Limit Hold'em by Lee Jones in the last couple months. That one has a soft spot in my heart as it taught me to beat the 2/4 and 4/8 games at Foxwoods to build my first bankroll. It doesn't directly apply to No Limit, but teaches the fundamentals pretty well, for most people, I think.

I may even have a copy of it laying around that she could give away if you want me to ship it to you

 

[ssanel54]

I play in a neighborhood game that attracts lots of new players, and I think two if the biggest points were mentioned above.

basic poker etiquitte/common rules

and bet sizing/pot odds

I also think its good to teach newbs not to try too hard to win every hand, but focus on maximizing their profits in the hands that they are most likely to win.

 

[Socraticd]

balancing ranges

 

[Mrs Poker Zombie]

Hey Zombie:

For those of us who can't make it, what do you think about making the PowerPoint available by email? I have some novice friends that are interested in learning more. I think this may be a great start!

JT

I don't mind sharing. Let's see how well it turns out.

 

[Anthony Martino]

I teach all the new players in my game that when they bust out they should grab $40 worth of snacks and drinks so they're at least break-even on the night.

 

[Mrs Poker Zombie]

Yeah, for beginners I'd definitely focus on the mechanics of the game rather than strategy, player types, etc. Not to mention, I want to teach people to play, but I don't want them to play well

If this was a sit and learn session, I would agree. But this is a panel and not a "learn to play" session, which means they are expecting discussion of strategy, player types, etc beyond the basics.

 

[Mrs Poker Zombie]

Maybe also have a final slide recommending some good beginning books if people want to learn more? I have handed out about 6 copies of Winning Low Limit Hold'em by Lee Jones in the last couple months. That one has a soft spot in my heart as it taught me to beat the 2/4 and 4/8 games at Foxwoods to build my first bankroll. It doesn't directly apply to No Limit, but teaches the fundamentals pretty well, for most people, I think.

I may even have a copy of it laying around that she could give away if you want me to ship it to you

Now I know what to read next. The panel is this Saturday, not really time to ship, but thank you.

 

[Socraticd]

Oh bummer. I could Prime one to you ;-)


But yeah, it's a great intro book. A little dated, and specifically deals with structured limit, but it laid out very well.

 

[Anthony Martino]

If this was a sit and learn session, I would agree. But this is a panel and not a "learn to play" session, which means they are expecting discussion of strategy, player types, etc beyond the basics.

Ah, gotcha. Oooh, one thing I find REALLY annoying that newer players do is they will call a large bet with smaller denomination chips, which just slows down the game. Like, If someone bets 300 they'll take the time to count out TWELVE of the $25 chips instead of just tossing out three $100 chips.

On the strat end you could go over basic odds that happen frequently such as pair vs pair (80/20) or something like Ace-rag vs KQ (60/40 roughly), pot odds, implied odds, etc.

 

[kirchhausen]

That could be Chippy, but you'd have to double the Age, VPIP, PFR and 3B.

 

[lnlver]

How long will this last - one hour, two hours, etc? Tournament setting or cash game?

In this order:

1) hand rankings

2) basic rules/etiquette

3) starting hands

4) importance of position

5) strategy - when to bluff, semi-bluff, ship, bubble play, pot odds, firing three bullets

6) analyzing playing styles, opponents' opening/calling ranges, table image

7) button play, small blind vs. big blind play

You may have to get her over to several conventions to cover the entire subject, all expenses paid of course!

 

[Poker Zombie]

We have the room for 1 hour (I believe). It will be followed up with a celebrity poker game - which reminds me, I need to build a 2 hour blind structure...

 

[Anthony Martino]

With only one hour you'll be hard pressed I believe to get into much in the way of strategy discussions. You may also want to touch on verbal being binding and certain actions that should be binding (such as someone rapping their hands/fingers/knuckles/cards on the table indicating a check, a lot of players do this when they're thinking and don't intend to check, but it's a common error with new players)

edit: And also acting in turn and how out of turn actions are handled

 

[Shaggy]

The biggest leak I see with total noobs is calling too much. For Hold'Em, this is basically starting hand selection and the continuing on the flop with little chance to improve. This is really a pre-cursor to pot odds and bet sizing.

 

[manamongkids]

We have the room for 1 hour (I believe). It will be followed up with a celebrity poker game - which reminds me, I need to build a 2 hour blind structure...

celebrity game?????????????

who are the celebs

 

[Ben]

celebrity game?????????????

who are the celebs

I want to know this too. Where was my invite???

 

[Mrs Poker Zombie]

celebrity game?????????????

who are the celebs

I want to know this too. Where was my invite???

Visit geekmediaexpo.com/guests/ to see who all is at the convention as a guest, myself included. No actual clue yet which are participating in the game itself as some are slow to check and reply to email.

 

[gopherblue]

Teach 'em hand rankings, basic mechanics of how the game is played and etiquette. But good lordy, don't teach them anything about strategy, importance of position or pot odds.

 

[courage]

You could cover some poor etiquette and rules violation with a single video clip from WSOP this year of stealthmunk talking during a hand and trying to induce Butteroni to raise or shove over Negraneau's river bet.

I dont think he received a penalty but he should have. Unbelievable.

 

[courage]

OP sounds like this should be renamed NLHE Tips for Beginners. So maybe mention there are various forms of poker. Other games as well as cash, tournament etc.

 

[manamongkids]

i hope marble hornets plays, good luck with that poker face

 

[Anthony Martino]

OP sounds like this should be renamed NLHE Tips for Beginners. So maybe mention there are various forms of poker. Other games as well as cash, tournament etc.

Since it looks like a NLHE tournament happens right after this lesson I would assume they'd want to focus completely on NLHE tourney tips and avoid discussing other types of poker, cash vs tourney. That's assuming this lesson is designed to tie in with the charity tourney.

 

[Poker Zombie]

Since it looks like a NLHE tournament happens right after this lesson I would assume they'd want to focus completely on NLHE tourney tips and avoid discussing other types of poker, cash vs tourney. That's assuming this lesson is designed to tie in with the charity tourney.

It might be worth a point to mention that there are other forms of poker, including a difference between cash game and tournament strategies, but focus on just tournament poker. 1 hour is not a lot of time, so we may have to cut out the section on the finer points of SOHE.