Poker Learning Tools
I am frequently asked if there is an easy way to learn how to play casino games like blackjack or video poker. Although learning to play correctly is not easy, there is a practical approach that will make the learning process enjoyable.
If you want to learn to play a casino game, I always recommend three essential tools to get you started. These will help form the foundation of your knowledge of the game. The three essentials are:
1. A book to teach you the basics and the rules of the game.
2. A tutorial software program that allows you to play, practice, and learn the game at home before risking money in the casino.
3. A video to show you how the game is played and to help reinforce what you learned in the book.
I knew I would use this approach to learn casino poker but I wasn't sure which game to learn first or which products were best to teach me what I needed to know. I wanted to get some expert advice. Since I was on my way to Las Vegas I contacted the Gambler's Book Shop to see if they could advise me. I met with General Manager Peter Ruchman and Marketing Director Howard Schwartz and discussed my project with them. Peter is an excellent poker player and advised me to learn how to play Texas Hold'em. He explained that it was more popular than stud and there were plenty of low-limit games available. I have played stud poker before, but since I have never played Hold'em I knew I was in for a real challenge. I asked Peter which products would be most helpful to a beginning player and he gave me his recommendations.
I picked up a book, two videotapes, and a software program. Now I had the tools I needed to start my poker education. I read the book on my flight back home and had a good grasp on the basics of the game.
There are two other things that you will need in your quest to learn casino games that cannot be purchased in a store. They are patience and discipline^. These traits are important no matter which game you are trying to learn but they are vital to playing winning poker.
Tags: casino game, casino games, casino poker, online pokerRelated posts
The Poker Journey Begins
I have tried every game on the main floor of the casino. When a new game comes along I at least give it a cursory try. Although I had played poker, I had never played in a casino poker room.
I had the misconception that casino poker was mostly no-limit games for professional players. This perception was bolstered by stories in the media about high stakes tournaments like the World Series of Poker in which players put up thousands of dollars just to enter. The truth is there are many low-limit games being played by average people every day in cardrooms around the country.
Poker is a game of skill. In the casino you are playing against the other players instead of the house. You will find all types of players in the cardroom. The skill levels of the players vary from the beginner just having fun to the skilled professional. By practicing and gaining experience some players win consistently.
I firmly believe that a player of average intelligence can learn to be successful playing in the casinos if he takes the time to educate himself about the casinos and the games. In my articles, I advocate that players take the time to learn all about the game they wish to play before venturing into the casino and risking any money at the tables.
Since I had never played casino poker, I thought this would be a good opportunity to practice what I preach. I planned to show that by using a disciplined approach I could be successful. I started to document the process that I used to learn how to play Texas Hold'em. I had originally planned to write a few articles about the experience, sharing the knowledge that I learned, including my successes and mistakes, with my readers.
After achieving success with playing Texas Hold'em it was suggested that I publish a detailed account of how I learned to play the game. This book is more than a text about how to play Texas Hold'em. It is also a journal of my journey from the kitchen to the cardroom
I was not sure which poker game I wanted to learn to play first, so I took a ride to the casino to check out the poker rooms. I live close to Foxwoods and the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, so I had the opportunity to observe players in two poker rooms in the same afternoon. Both casinos offered two games for low limit player. Seven-card stud with $l-$5 limits and $3/$6 Texas Hold'em. I was familiar with seven-card stud but Texas Hold'em was completely foreign to me.
I took the time to talk with a few players of each game and I was given conflicting opinions about which game is better for new players to learn. As expected, each player thought his particular choice was the best. I decided to hold off choosing my game until I could gather some more information.
Tags: casino poker, online poker, poker game, world series of poker