question More first-timers are hitting the tables lately — what basics do you tell them?

Been seeing heaps of brand new players jump into the low-stakes games lately, both online and at pub nights, so figured this deserved a thread. Same pattern every time too — playing way too many hands, calling just to see one more card, then getting stuck and having no clue where it all went.

If someone’s just starting out, I usually tell them to keep it dead simple for a while. Play fewer hands, play stronger hands, and value position way more than you think you need to. New players love getting cute from early position with rubbish, then end up in bloody awkward spots for the rest of the hand.

The other big one is having a reason for every bet. Not just chucking chips in because top pair looks pretty. Bet for value, bluff with some thought behind it, or check and move on. If every hand turns into "ah well, maybe he’s got nothing" you’re gonna burn through a stack quick smart.

I’m curious what the regulars here are telling mates these days when they ask how to get started properly. Still reckon tight-aggressive is the best base? Or are you getting people onto ranges and pot odds earlier now? Keen to hear what actually clicks for new players, not the fancy stuff they’ll forget by the next arvo.

Biggest thing I'd add is watch every showdown, even the hands you folded. New players look away once they're out of it and miss the free info. You start spotting who only fires big with the goods and who gets splashy when a draw bricks, makes later spots way easier.

I dunno if I still start people on super tight now. A couple mates heard that and translated it to fold everything unless it's a monster, then they had no clue what to do once someone pushed back. Feels better teaching why a hand gets opened from one seat and mucked from another. Anyone else found that or just me?

pub game for me it finally clicked when I stopped trying to win every pot. I used to read every check as weakness and torch chips for no reason. Once I just waited, showed down decent hands and let the loud blokes hang themselves, everything got way calmer.

Sam LuckyJackpot wrote >

Play fewer hands, play stronger hands, and value position way more than you think you need to.

Yep, this bit. Position was the first thing that made it stop feeling random for me. Being last to act gives you so many cheap answers. Do you lot teach bet sizing at the same time or leave that for later?

I'm a bit suss on bringing pot odds in too early unless the person is actually keen for the maths side. Half the newbies I know hear one fraction and their eyes glaze over. I'd probably start with board texture first, just getting them to notice when the table changes in a big way after the turn.