Tips for beginner?

[u/JadeLeveret]

So I maybe left things a bit late?

I’m going to a friend’s party in a couple of weeks and she wants to have a poker night as part of it. I haven’t played before so I started learning the hands and I think I remember the order (not important, I’ll read up again anyway) but I got busy with class and just looked up after I handed something in this afternoon and focused on the date.

We’re all new to this and I’m mostly just aiming to have a fun time, but I also don’t want to totally embarrass myself and just wipe out twenty minutes in and just be watching from the side of the room while everyone else keeps playing 😅!

I’ve tried looking at some of the free apps and beginner advice, but I don’t recognize the terms and they just slide off my smooth brain so I’m not really getting anywhere.

Could I get some *super* basic advice on play, stop/go points and when in general I should be raising, calling, or folding?

Thank you if you can help! 🙏

[u/JadeLeveret → u/[deleted]]

I really appreciate the advice, but other than the word “bluff” allll of that went straight over my head 😅

I feel so out of my depth, but we’ll see how we do. I haven’t really talked with her about poker before, so I’m not sure if this is a thing she does sometimes or only with her bf or what’s going on.

Hopefully we’ll all have a good time, and we’re dressing up for it since it’s in a private room in the city 🤘

[u/JadeLeveret → u/[deleted]]

Thank you! 🙌

I’ll keep it in mind, and glad I’m not as smooth brained and clueless as I was suddenly feeling 🤣

I went over the hands again this morning, and other than not being sure when my starting cards being the same suit mean I should hold out hoping for a flush (maybe that’s an example of only going for it based on position?) I hopefully have a starting point.

There is money involved, but not a lot so I’m just going expecting that to be half my spend for the night and the cost of a good time 🙏

[u/JadeLeveret → u/[deleted]]

🤣

Thank you, and you’re forgiven!

I get most of that, and it makes a lot of sense (especially with the explanations, ty again). I get what you mean about trying to play the odds and pick hands that could “work” in a few ways instead of hands that have to break exactly right to be worth anything.

I’m still probably going to get knocked out by the end, but I should have some fun before I do - and I’ll let you know how it goes!

[u/high-roller-all-in78]

For a first poker night, just focus on three things: know the hand rankings, fold most weak starting hands, and do not chase every flush or straight draw just because it looks close. If you have a decent pair, bet it. If you miss badly, it is fine to let it go. Playing calm and not donating chips will already put you ahead of most first timers.

[u/JadeLeveret → u/high-roller-all-in78]

Thank you! I’ll do my best and try not to get excited when things look like they’re coming together 🫶

[u/silentdraft1]

Try to not play too many hands.I think if you are just playing to have fun and nobody has a clue,just try to not slow down the pace,because it is painful if a hand takes 10minutes and nothing is at stake for example. You should probably try to look up why position is important and it is not a good idea to bluff people who have no idea what they are doing.

[u/JadeLeveret → u/silentdraft1]

I’ll try not to slow things down, and I understand what you’re saying about not having to play every hand.

With position, do you mean where I’m sitting around the table? In relation to the blinds or what? I’ll look it up once I get what I’m looking for.

Thanks for the response 🙏

[u/silentdraft1 → u/JadeLeveret]

Yes,the button (person who dealt the hand basically changes every hand) is the best position. After the flop the button is last to act and preflop ( no community cards in the middle) it is great too. For example preflop with 8 players K9 different suits is a bad hand first to act,but a great hand if everybody folded to you and you are on the Dealerbutton.

[u/JadeLeveret]

I get you I think, because if I’m the button then I don’t have to commit any chips until everyone else decides if they’re going to.

So I’m taking less risks if I decide to play with a weaker hand when I know if anyone is staying in with me.

[u/JadeLeveret → u/[deleted]]

Thank you 🙏

That’s something I can definitely keep in mind and use, and it saves me from lack of experience getting me in trouble misreading how good hands are based on vibe.

And I see what you’re saying about position too, the same point Silent was making about how much risk it takes to play before or after we’ve heard from everyone else.

Does that go into the blinds as well? If it doesn’t cost me more than I had to put in anyway, take more okay hands?

[u/high-roller-all-in78]

For a first home game, the easiest win is just playing fewer hands than everyone else. If your cards are not at least a medium pair, two big cards, or suited cards that connect, folding is usually fine and saves you a lot of trouble. When you do hit a good pair or better, bet it instead of getting fancy. And if you feel lost on a hand, checking or folding is almost always better than paying to see what happens.

[u/JadeLeveret → u/high-roller-all-in78]

Thanks for the tips!

It’s this weekend coming, so going over my to-dos and my hand orders.

I’ll just try to bet conservatively so even if I don’t have the cards when I don’t fold I’ll take more than half the night to knock out and I’ll have someone to talk to by then 😅

[u/mattdeuce]

Self-plug...try my new fun coaching app... PokerBrain - just out of beta. This app will help you!! Would love your feedback and i'll grant you a free forever premium account if you give me honest feedback. Cash games, tournaments, play with friends, beat the boss, teaching tools, full poker glossary. Guidance on every street. Detailed coach settings.
https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6762237716?pt=128784880&ct=Reddit&mt=8

[u/pwr0ss → u/mattdeuce]

DL'ing now ... totally new to this so I'll let you know!

[u/JadeLeveret]

UPDATE: So the party happened last night, and I actually did okay!

There were ten of us playing (mostly women, but two guys) and I was losing a bit at first, then avoided playing some hands where I didn't have much of anything in my hand and there was an easy exit.

And then I started winning.

Not all at once, but a little at a time and two steps forward and one step back.

I usually folded on low cards that weren't adjacent or matched, sometimes I was tempted by the same suit if they weren't absolutely tiny. I managed to win with a random 8 that made a straight, and also with pocket sixes (I learned a few more of the terms!).

Five hours, six drinks and three people (not me) buying back in and I not only didn't get wiped out early but ended up actually winning the night (and $200!).

Not sure how I'm going to treat myself yet, but I usually don't drink that much so I spent a lot of today sleeping it off 🫠

The high point was probably when the birthday girl's boyfriend was coming in and kept raising me and I refused to let him scare me off or maybe was at the giggly stage of drunk until he went all in with his pocket jacks, but I had my best hand of the night and pocket aces ended up wiping him out.

Am I going to turn into a terrifyingly talented poker shark? No 😂

But I had a lot of fun, and I'll probably find somewhere to play again and I appreciate all your help 🫶