Which poker games are best for beginners?
Perhaps you already know how to play poker. Or maybe you don’t.
In any case, this is the perfect time to try something different, including playing online poker for the first time or sometimes playing online poker for real money.
Previously, choosing a poker game was relatively easy because there weren’t that many games. Casinos usually offered cash games and that was it.
Nowadays, players can choose from several different games such as Hold’em, Seven-Card Stud, Pot-Limit Omaha, Short Deck, Razz and many others, as well as various game formats such as cash games, Sit and Go’s, tournaments, jackpots, bounties, etc.
So what is the best way for a beginner to start playing with such an array of options? It’s very simple, and below are some of the best ones.
No-Limit Hold’em
No-Limit Hold’em continues to be the dominant choice in the poker world, given the growing success of games like Pot-Limit Omaha and Short Deck Poker.
It’s fairly simple to see why Hold’em is arguably the most competitive and addictive game to play. Every player starts in Hold’em with just two cards, and then uses a community board that every player can see.
When you are a No-Limit Hold’em expert, you can always play the game wherever you are. For someone who likes the game of Razz or Badugi, it’s not so easy.
This is not to say that other games are of little value, some may be easier, but Hold’em is the best place to start your poker education.
Decades ago, beginners started with Limit Hold’em, but in recent years they have been moving straight to No-Limit Hold’em.
There seems to be no real risk playing No-Limit Hold’em directly. Hold’em actually has a little more uncertainty, but you have the option of playing small stakes.
No-Limit Hold’em is actually more fun than its cousin Limit Hold’em.
Video Poker
If you are a beginner in poker, but feel a bit overwhelmed by playing against real people, we suggest you start with video poker. Many online poker sites have a large selection of video poker games and you can start with Jacks or Better.
The game is simple. Start with a bet and five cards that you receive, each face down.
In Jacks or Better you play against yourself, unlike other poker games where you compete against the house or even other teams. Your goal is basically to win a hand in a hand ranking system.
Jacks or Better requires you to have a pair of jacks or any card better than jacks. You will get paid as long as you keep it up. You will earn more and more money if you take a stronger hand.
You will get paid as long as you rank. And the best part is that your first five cards don’t have to be your hand. In Jacks or Better, you can drop all 5 cards and swap them for new ones.
If you have a pair of jacks or other better cards, you’d like to keep them, but the convenience of swapping cards comes with a very good deal.
Tri-Card Poker
Unless you think 5 cards are too many to fill your head, try Tri Card Poker. This is a poker game where you only have three cards. You challenge the dealer in a winner-take-all game.
Start by placing your ante. Let’s say it’s $5, and you get three cards when you hit Deal. When you get a strong hand and you like it, just hit the Raise button, adding another $5 to the pot.
You will win 1:1 from both the ante bet and the raise bet, if your hand is stronger than the dealer’s hand.
Skip the big tournaments
Note that we’ve practically skipped multi-table tournaments, or MTTs, in this post.
MTTs are some of the toughest types of poker, where even the greatest players face long periods of time to make real money. The payout can be huge, but the break is longer.
For inexperienced players, MTTs are therefore a risky option. In 10 straight tournaments, you can always play well but still miss the money.
You are likely to play fewer hands because you have to hold your chips a little longer to be fully invested in the game.
There is a lot of uncertainty when it comes to big tournaments. You may have to wait for them to start, then wait for a strong hand and then wait again to make real money.
Also, there are times when it’s wise to play conservatively in big tournaments, but that’s not the best atmosphere to improve in poker.
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