Start with the rules, then learn position, then preflop, then the flop and beyond. Poker math comes in once you know where you’ll use it. If you’re brand new, read the first lesson and play a few hands before going further.
1. The basics
How a hand works, what beats what, why your seat matters and how to behave at a casino table.
How to play Texas Hold’em
Blinds, the four betting rounds, showdown and a full example hand.
BasicsPoker hand rankings
Royal flush to high card, with kickers and split pots.
BasicsPoker positions
Under the gun to the button, and why acting last wins more.
Live playLive poker etiquette
Verbal actions, chips, string bets and showdown in a casino.
2. Preflop
The first betting round is where most beginner money is lost. Tighten up here and every later street gets easier.
Preflop strategy
What preflop means and five questions to ask before you play a hand.
PreflopPreflop ranges
How charts work and where they stop being useful.
PreflopOpen raising
Which hands to raise first in, seat by seat.
Preflop3-betting
Re-raising for value and pressure.
PreflopCalling preflop
Price, domination, stacks and players behind.
3. After the flop
Reading the board, deciding when to bet and how much, and knowing when to just check it down.
Continuation betting
What a c-bet is and which flops to bet or check.
PostflopBoard texture
Dry, wet, paired and monotone flops.
PostflopBet sizing
Pick a size from what you want your opponent to do.
PostflopShowdown value
When a medium hand should check instead of bluff.
4. Poker math
A few numbers you know by heart beat any amount of mid-hand arithmetic.
Pot odds
Work out the equity you need to call in seconds.
MathDraws and outs
Count outs, use the rule of 2 and 4, and spot dirty outs.
MathEquity
How often your hand wins against a hand or range.
5. Money and game types
How cash games and tournaments differ, what the house takes, and how to protect your bankroll.
Cash vs tournament strategy
Same cards, different stacks and incentives.
MoneyCash-game buy-ins
Turn dollars into big blinds and effective stacks.
MoneyPoker rake
How the house collection works and why it changes your math.
MoneyBankroll and session limits
Set a budget and stop points before you sit down.
6. Take it to a real table
Your first live poker game
From the podium to your first hand at a casino table.
TournamentsYour first live tournament
Registration, structure and what happens on the day.