Starting With Small Stakes

By Brian Bavosa
5-8-06

When starting a new hobby, passion, or job, it is always a good idea to start off doing things small, and gradually increase your load as you progress. Playing poker is no exception. As I have previously stated, whether it is online, at a home game, or at a casino, it is always a good idea to play smaller stakes, before losing your shirt attempting to make “the big score.” When you do sign up to play, make sure you are using the best Full Tilt Poker Referral Code available.

The purpose of starting off small is simple. Often times, you will be at a casino table with other people in your same position: beginners looking to gain first-hand knowledge of how to play the game of Texas Hold ‘Em. Like anything else, when learning poker, “practice makes perfect.” Quite frankly, the more hands you see, the more you will remember certain patterns, the more you will see certain strategies, and the more you will learn the way the game is supposed to be played.

When I began playing this game, I often watched players and the way they bet. After a period of time, I began to pick up on “standard size” bets and raises, as was dictated by pot size and the cards on the board. For instance, with $20 in the pot, no good player would raise more than the pot limit before the flop. (In most small games anyway).

I know the “rush” may not be as big as say, a $5,000 buy-in tournament, but in order to earn your right to even play with the big boys, you best learn what you are getting yourself into first. And remember, it is not about the amount you are playing for when you first start, it is about a) learning the game, b) learning the cards, and c) learning how your opponents act and bet, (or at least, how they are “supposed” to).

In other words, it is to your benefit to start small at any level to figure out the who, what, when, where, why’s, and how’s of Hold ‘Em. Also, it is in your best interest to play for nickels and dimes, as opposed to thousands of dollars, so you don not lose your shirt on a hand that only you thought was gold. If beginners step into the high stakes game right off of the bat, they will learn a hard lesson, and usually be buying flowers for their wives with their last $20 on the ride home.

By starting small, everything is in your favor. You will learn more about Hold ‘Em by playing inn a friendly, small game, especially since most players and dealers are usually in a better mood, and open to conversation. Some of the bets advice I have ever received about the game of poker I did not get form any book, or video, but rather players themselves. And most of the time, they did not even know they were giving it to me. They simply thought they were shooting the breeze and making friendly conversation. Little did they know…

So, to recap, when beginning in the world of Hold ‘Em, take it slow, learn the game, and play small. Who knows, you may win a few bucks, and probably even save yourself a trip to the florist in the meantime.