teaching a new player
 

So my wife decided that tomorrow she'll be coming to my weekly home game. She's a smart woman, but lacks much in the way of math skills. Her only knowledge of poker is what she's seen on television. My question is, what's the best things to teach in a crash hour long course before playing?

I was thinking of giving her a list of decent starting hands and play through a few practice rounds. Sadly, she has no intrest in reading any of my poker books.

What would you all teach in an hour to minimize the persons inevitable loss at the table?

Re: teaching a new player
 

If she's playing with your money especially, the most important thing to teach her is how to fold [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

On a more serious note, if someone didn't have a clue, and I wanted to keep them from hurting themselves, here's what I'd tell them:

Don't play any starting hand that added up to less than 20.
Don't play any hand unless it's at least top pair.
Fold pair to any raise post flop.
Raise if you have more than a pair.

This is simpleton stuff, but that's the beauty of it [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Good luck (and you may need it [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img])
KC
kingcobrapoker.com

Re: teaching a new player
 

A loss is not inevitable. Thank God - because if playing badly were inevitably punished with losses, there'd be fewer fish.

Having said that, I think the best you can do is come up with some starting hands, go through a few scenarios (like gutshots, flush draws, pocket pairs missing the flop), and what the basic decisions she will face.

But I'm thinking having fun is the biggest payoff she is looking for, so remember that.

Re: teaching a new player
 

[ QUOTE ]
But I'm thinking having fun is the biggest payoff she is looking for, so remember that

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Damn good point. Although I fear for my bankroll (could I say 'no' if she wanted to buy back in? Not on your life), my biggest fear is that she wouldn't really have a good time if she busted out too early. Poker should be fun. Winning is what makes it addictive.

Re: teaching a new player
 

[ QUOTE ]
Don't play any starting hand that added up to less than 20.
Don't play any hand unless it's at least top pair.
Fold pair to any raise post flop.
Raise if you have more than a pair.

[/ QUOTE ]

You've never seen how loose some of the fish are when they come to the table. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Good advice actually. It's been so long I had forgotten about the easy counting tricks to determine starting value of your hand.

Re: teaching a new player
 

if you want her to win, or sustain her losses, then tell her to play extremely tight. only big pairs and big cards. tell her not to chase to the river unless she has a nice draw to the flush or straight or something. dont let her chase overcards or gutshots and the like.

Re: teaching a new player
 

As long as there's not a lot of cash at risk (and there shouldn't be, should there) then I wouldn't bother teaching her any poker strategy. She'll have fun regardless.

What I would teach her is basic rules of the game, and make sure she has the basics to avoid being embarrased. That might be stuff like how to shuffle efficiently, how to protect her hand, how to bet properly.

ZB

Re: teaching a new player
 

I'd definitely add:
Don't cold call preflop raises without having a monster.

That is the worst move I usually see beginning players make.
They call w/ KJo vs. a player that hasn't raised in an hour and a half.

Re: teaching a new player
 

God protects orphans, the Irish and 1st time poker players.

She'll probably win more than you the first time and you'll really be screwed.

Re: teaching a new player
 

[ QUOTE ]
What I would teach her is basic rules of the game, and make sure she has the basics to avoid being embarrased. That might be stuff like how to shuffle efficiently, how to protect her hand, how to bet properly.


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good advice!

she has to know that a flush is better then straight and what it means 2 use the boardcards to complete your hand (holdem?)

the worst thing for a newbie is 2 getting laughed at, she will hate it if she is sucesfull in other areas

Preflop: if the 2 cards is 20 or better together, its an ok hand

postflop: fold if u dont like what u see and use your head