Seen heaps of new players jump straight to the flashy stuff - big bluffs, hero calls, trying to outplay everyone every hand. Fair enough, that’s the fun bit. But the stuff that actually stops you lighting your stack on fire is way more basic than that.
If I was talking to a mate just getting into poker, I’d drill 3 things first: play fewer hands, pay attention to position, and stop punting chips with weak top pair like it’s the nuts. Sounds dead simple, but that alone cleans up so many leaks. Half the battle early on is just learning that folding isn’t boring, it’s where your money gets saved.
The other one beginners seem to miss is bet sizing. I still see people min-bet good hands, then randomly rip it in when they’re scared of a draw. Makes life easy for everyone else. Have a reason for the size you pick, even if it’s just keeping it standard while you learn. And bankroll stuff matters too... if you’re sitting in games that make you sweat every pot, you’ll make cooked decisions all night.
Curious what the rest of you reckon is the first lesson that actually sticks. Is it hand selection, position, bankroll discipline, learning when to c-bet, something else? Keen to hear what you’d tell a total beginner before they donate too much cash.