Been around the cards a fair while now, and every time a mate asks how to get started, I see the same advice doing the rounds. Some of it is proper solid, some of it is bloody nonsense once real money is on the table. If I had to give a quick review of the beginner stuff that actually helps, the big one is this: play less junk. New players love seeing flops because it feels like you're "in the action", but folding heaps pre-flop saves you so much pain it's not funny.
The next bit that actually matters is position. This gets mentioned a lot, but beginners usually don't realise how huge it is until they've punted off a stack from early position with a hand that looked pretty enough. Acting later just makes life easier. You get more info, you make fewer dumb guesses, and your bets don't feel like total stabs in the dark. Same with keeping your bet sizing simple at first. No need to get cute. Half the leaks I see are from people trying to look tricky before they've even learned the boring stuff.
What I don't rate much is all the flashy beginner content that bangs on about soul reads, hero calls, wild bluffs and physical tells like you're in some late-night movie scene. Nah. Most fresh players would do way better learning when to fold one pair, when to stop chasing rubbish, and how not to tilt after one bad river. That's the stuff that keeps your bankroll alive. Fancy moves can wait.
If you're just starting out, I'd honestly say tight and straightforward wins you more than trying to outplay every bloke at the table. Value bet your good hands, don't marry weak ones, and pay attention to who keeps showing up with it. Boring poker cops a bad wrap, but it works. Especially in the lower stakes where people pay you off with all sorts of junk.
Keen to hear what helped other people early on though. Was there one lesson that finally made it click for you, or one bit of advice you reckon gets repeated way too much?