Understanding the Time Commitment for Learning Poker.

For those who are newcomers to the game, you might wonder how long it takes to get the hang of it all. poker The encouraging news is that the process may not take as much time as you fear — particularly if you have a solid strategy in place.

At the age of 23, the author was only familiar with the basics of Texas Hold'em. poker hand rankings She had no insight into the intricacies of selecting cards, developing a betting strategy, or interpreting tells from other players.

In fact, her lack of experience was so apparent that she still remembers a man commented, “You played that hand poorly.”

“Oh, really?” she asked. “How so?”

His response was, “For starters, I could clearly see your cards.”

Indeed, Amanda, the author, was such a novice that she didn’t even know the proper way to hold her cards. Nevertheless, her determination pushed her to study diligently.

Just three months later, she participated in her first poker tournament, which had nearly 100 competitors — and took home the first prize.

A year after that, she secured a publishing deal with D&B Poker, a prominent publisher in the poker literature world, to write her own book. A Girl’s Guide to Poker Shortly thereafter, she created a foundational curriculum for Poker Power, empowering countless women to confidently join the poker table.

Here’s a photo of my dad teaching me the game of poker with bright lime green chips. Fast forward 15 years, and we’ve both made it to the final table together in the. @wsop Tag Team Tournament.

I love you, Dad, and I couldn't have achieved this without your support. 💚 #fatherdaughter #poker @joinpokerpower pic.twitter.com/Mb04y3KaEJ

— Amanda Roberts (@amandabotfeld) November 2, 2021

Not long after, she earned a third-place finish in a World Series of Poker event (the 2021 Tag Team tournament alongside my father) and took on a role as a Social Media Producer for the. World Poker Tour online casino, WPT Global.

With dedication, it's possible to achieve remarkable success in poker in a surprisingly short period. All it takes is an effective strategy and the right resources to facilitate your learning. how to play poker .

What’s the Timeline for Learning Poker? — The Fundamentals

Surprisingly, many individuals give up on their poker journey before it even truly begins. Texas Hold'em, the most widely played variant of poker, presents a challenging learning curve.

Players often encounter a list of hand rankings and can quickly feel overwhelmed.

It’s relatively simple to grasp that two pairs beat a single pair, and three of a kind outranks two pairs.

However, does a flush surpass a straight? And where do full houses fit in this hierarchy?

No need to fret — here are some tips that can help simplify the learning process:

• Concentrate on hand rankings only. Set aside gameplay mechanics for now. Have a friend test your knowledge on which hand triumphs over another, allowing you to focus solely on understanding the rankings without the pressures of chips or opponents' hands.
• Engage in ‘find the nuts.’ In poker, the term ‘nuts’ refers to the best possible hand. For instance, if the board shows 2-3-4-K-5, the nuts would be 6-7 for a straight. If you know an experienced player, ask them to help you practice identifying the best hand in various situations.
• Stay calm. You'd be surprised at how many people don’t get to learn poker because they stumble at this initial stage. Accept that mistakes are part of the process. There will be unexpected hands that catch you off guard. That’s perfectly fine. Print out a poker cheat sheet of the hand rankings, and don’t worry if you miss some of them along the way. Expect that and keep pushing forward.

What’s the Timeline for Learning Poker? — Choosing Cards

Next, it’s crucial to learn which cards you should play, distinguishing the strong hands from the weak ones before the flop. The ‘preflop’ round occurs right at the beginning, as you decide whether your two hole cards are worth continuing the game.

This step makes or breaks players.

The simplest path to winning in poker is to hold better cards than your opponents.

Many players tend to overvalue their hands. They become excited and attached to attractive cards, hesitating to fold even when their hand’s potential is limited. It's important to overcome this natural urge.

Professional players often fold around 80% of their hands before the flop.

Achieving success in poker necessitates great discipline. The game often revolves around folding and waiting for the perfect opportunity.

To grasp which hands to play and which to discard, study a Raise First In (RFI) Preflop Chart. These charts offer mathematically sound recommendations on which hands to consider based on your position at the table.

Try to memorize these guidelines as best as you can. Create flashcards to reinforce your knowledge of which hands to play and when to do so.

• Record your hands, like ‘89s’ (with the ‘s’ indicating suited, meaning both cards are of the same suit).
• For off-suit hands (cards from different suits), note them as ‘89o.’
• Also, take note of your position at the table. For instance, if you’re the first to act, your position is referred to as ‘under-the-gun’ (UTG).
• You could attach a sticker to the back of each card: green for raise and red for fold.

Keep in mind that these charts assume you are the first player to raise without anyone else having made a raise beforehand. This is a good foundational approach.

Interestingly, figuring out when to call or reraise is often trickier than simply open-raising, so it’s wise to prioritize mastering this aspect first.

What’s the Timeline for Learning Poker — Getting into Gameplay

Now that you’ve grasped the essentials of hand rankings and card selection, it's time to start playing — and an effective way to learn is through online platforms.

In-person poker can often be slow-paced. You might find yourself chatting with the dealer, enjoying a drink, or taking breaks. Most times, you’re waiting for your turn. On the other hand, online poker is much faster.

While live games typically average around 30 hands per hour, online tables can deal more than 100 hands in the same timeframe.

Additionally, many online players participate in multiple tables at once, making the games ‘short-handed’ with around six players instead of the customary nine found in live casinos. This translates to more hands dealt, thus providing frequent chances to experience flops, turns, and rivers.

A person playing online for just six months might gain more experience than someone who has spent decades playing live poker.

Here’s why starting with online poker is crucial:

• Rapid pacing: You’ll encounter significantly more hands in a shorter period, which speeds up your learning.
• Cost-effective: Online poker allows you to practice at much lower stakes compared to live casinos, sometimes less than a few dollars or quarters. Online platforms generally have lower rakes (the cut taken by the house).
• Encouraging boldness: Playing online often makes it easier to take risks — bluffing or going all-in feels less daunting when done from behind a screen, compared to a face-to-face scenario. It's beneficial to be more aggressive than too passive with your poker combos . You want to avoid developing unhealthy habits, like being overly cautious.

Becoming accustomed to the quicker pace and aggressive nature of online poker will enhance your skills more swiftly and effectively than relying solely on live play. Moreover, you can gradually work your way up to higher stakes in a more affordable manner and observe how seasoned players operate.

Since many professionals multitask across several tables, their $500 buy-in could actually be spread across ten tables at $50 each. cash games So, you get a front-row seat to their strategies without breaking the bank.

Typically, live casinos don’t offer enough opportunities for observing skilled gameplay until you reach the $2/$5 stakes level.

What’s the Timeline for Learning Poker — Your Learning Pathway

Embarking on the journey to master poker doesn’t have to feel as intimidating as it may appear. With the right strategy, you can make rapid strides.

Start by internalizing hand rankings, then master card selection, and fine-tune your skills through brisk online gameplay.

You might even follow a flexible roadmap along these lines:

• Hand rankings : 1-2 weeks.
• Preflop card selection: 1-3 months.
• Online gameplay: 3-6 months.

While doing so, focus on poker mathematics and common odds during this timeframe. We all know the answer to how long it typically takes to learn poker. It truly depends on the effectiveness and thoroughness of your gameplay strategy.

Mastering the art of reading opponents and identifying tells requires substantially more time. Successful intuition — like the feeling when someone seems to have the upper hand — often comes from recognizing patterns. You learn to notice behaviors that trigger your instincts over time.

However, tells can be key indicators. Real success in poker isn’t about those small victories; rather, it’s about gaining clear advantages over your adversaries.

Play stronger hands than they do, and let mathematical principles guide your decisions.

Put in the effort now; the rewards will follow.