Best Types of Poker Games for Beginners
Source: Pixabay No Attribution Required
There’s just something about poker. It’s a perfect blend of excitement, critical thinking, logic, the reading of human emotions, and staying calm under pressure. It’s the probability, math, strategy, but also a whole bunch of luck.
There’s really nothing quite like it. And the game is just as good, whether you’re at a major tournament aiming for the big bucks or sitting around a smoky table with your closest friends and a six-pack.
The problem? You’re a beginner. You’ve left it late, never really got into poker. But now you want a slice of the action, but don’t know where to start. Fear not, if you want to dip your toe in the poker waters, these are the best types of games for beginners.
No-Limit Hold’em
There are a bunch of reasons No-Limit/Texas Hold’em is the most popular game in the world. No-Limit is effectively the same thing as Texas Hold’em, except for the betting rules, which stipulate a seemingly scary lack of limits. Nevertheless, it’s the best game for beginners to focus on:
Study materials. If you want to learn the game, the availability of material on No-Limit Hold’em is infinite. You could spend your entire life watching YouTube videos about this type of poker, and you would never run out.
Other beginners play it. It’s always nice to play the game with people of a similar skill level, no matter what you’re playing. And it just so happens No-Limit Hold’em will have plenty of newbies to keep the game fun.
You can learn online at low stakes. No-Limit Hold’em/Texas Hold’em is undoubtedly the most popular poker game out there, which is why online casinos put such a strong emphasis on the game and varieties thereof. This is great for the beginner, as you can join a table playing very low stakes. You’ll learn in a real-money environment, without putting the farm on the line. Pretty much any online casino has a solid Hold’em game, just make sure you read reviews such as Casinotopsonline.com about reliable options before signing up.
You will be able to compete anywhere. Whether you’re playing with a random table at a party, a major tournament with television coverage (hey, you get there!), or just playing casually with your buddies, if you know No-Limit Hold’em, you’ll be able to compete.
Draw Poker
On a technical level, draw poker is probably the easiest entry point for the beginner. The difference between Draw Poker and Texas Hold’em is that you will be dealing with just your own cards. Community cards, which add a whole other element to poker, are entirely absent in most varieties of Draw Poker.
It’s super easy to learn, and you’ll be up and running within a day. If you already know the rough rankings of individual cards and the combinations (i.e. royal flush is what you’re going for here), you'll be golden.
The problem with Draw Poker, and why it isn’t at the top of the list despite its ease, is that it’s just not that popular. Few land-based establishments will even offer the game, and people grow out of it pretty quickly. There are better (and more fun!) options out there.
Nevertheless, if you’re an absolute beginner, there’s no harm in starting out there. But stick around for just a couple of days to get the basics down, and then move to something else.
Pot Limit Omaha
Some will say this type of poker game is a little too complicated for initiates. And they do have a point; it’ll take you a little while to get the hang of it. But once you do, boy is it fun…!
Pot Limit Omaha is different in that you get 4 (instead of 2) cards. This means that it’s an all-action style of poker, it’s a lot more fun, and it’s very ‘swingy’ as well. In terms of betting, you’re limited to the ‘pot’ (hence the name), which means your bet or raise can only go up to the total size of the pot.
The advantage of this type of game is that it doesn’t have as many players (compared to say Texas Hold’em), which means it’s a little easier to find your niche as a reasonably good competitor. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll have a significant advantage over the average player.
Remember, Learn as You Play
It’s not just about picking the right game as a beginner. If you want to remain a very casual recreational player, no problem, take the games as they come. But you won’t really progress as a poker player.
No matter the type of poker table you sit at, whether ‘real life’ or virtual, take each round as a learning experience. Consider each step you take carefully, observe the other (good!) players, and figure out why you lost or won.
Do this, and you’ll quickly move from absolute newbie to at the very least a solid player. And that’s often all you need to have a fun night with friends or at the casino.
Poker in Las Vegas
Poker in Rozvadov
Poker in London
Poker in Bratislava
Poker in Brussels
More interesting and useful articles from the world of poker you can read in our blog. Also search for poker clubs in the country or city, get to know about upcoming poker tournaments or cash games at PokerDiscover.com
If you liked the article, don’t forget to share it with your friends