Teaching a (lady) Friend 'bout Poker

celticGreen+ · Jan 5, 2013

So I've played poker for awhile as a form of entertainment, like the way I treat blackjack and craps. I enjoy the game, and am willing to think about it a bit... But it's not something I'll ever be particularly good at. This girl I'm into (and who's into me) wants to learn to play, so I'm going to give her what basics I understand in hold 'em and PLO.

What are the most basic things you'd cover?

I think my focus will be that the other players hands matter more than your own, to a great extent. But maybe that's not a good approach.

Thanks in advance folks.

SoonerNation · Jan 5, 2013

if playing 1-2 nl Id teach abc tight aggressive poker....no need to get fancy...PLO is volatile and rough on experts let alone novices...Id lead her towards the nl holdem...tight is right...so to speak! @)

celticGreen+ · Jan 5, 2013

Thanks for the thoughts - this is helpful.

If and when she plays in a live game, it'll be against pretty mediocre competition. I began playing at Foxwoods over a decade ago... And have played in NV and CA, but I've never felt very dedicated to the game. So if I take her to a spot to play, it'll be .25/.50 or a (roughly) $20 tournament. Nothing approaching big. The thing is, she is a good gin player, and she's very competitive - so I'd like to give her the best introduction that I can.

Defying · Jan 5, 2013

taught my wife how to play as well as a friend or two...

My wife thinks that no matter what she has the other person has better... my friends think they can bluff everyone,... IDK what made them be so different as newbies....

but I did try to teach them that bluffing is something that requires more skill than playing your cards....

I think the best way for her to learn is playing on facebook together in the sit n go tournaments... then the free bar poker... plus gives you something to do

Mr_Mark · Jan 5, 2013

In the process of teaching my girls friends, who are all females. . . girls seem to struggle most with what hand wins

hno: it gets frustrating

CoolBreeze22 · Jan 5, 2013

join a pokerstars home game, that way you can teach her for free from the comfort of your home(bedroom). Which will hopefully lead to a different type of pokher.

celticGreen+ · Jan 5, 2013

Ha. Nice.

This'll be more of a one time thing, with actual cards in hand. She won't want to mess around on a computer. I am leaning towards an ABC approach, sort of teach her the value of her hand and let her go... Obviously the stakes won't be high enough for the money to matter. Like I said, she's competitive enough that I just don't want her to get frustrated.

SoonerNation · Jan 5, 2013

I think one valuable lesson I learned was to play the player....need the nuts vs a rock, dont try to bluff a calling station....try to put your opponent on a hand even if u arent in the hand to get better at hand reading.....just a few things off the top of my head

celticGreen+ · Jan 5, 2013

SoonerNation said:
I think one valuable lesson I learned was to play the player....need the nuts vs a rock, dont try to bluff a calling station....try to put your opponent on a hand even if u arent in the hand to get better at hand reading.....just a few things off the top of my head

Excellent - yeah, these are the type of things I want to impress upon her.

CoolBreeze22 · Jan 5, 2013

If she's a beginner I'd tell her to play her strong hands strong and not to bluff in a multiway pot, and that in NL it's usually better to raise or fold than to just call. I'd also tell her as a woman she can probably get away with a bluff easier than a guy when she's heads up in a pot.(until she gets caught).

studmlb55 · Jan 5, 2013

1. Stress how important it is for her to learn and understand what beats what.
2. Teach her a TAG approach (the best women poker players I know are TAG players).
3. Tell her that emotion plays no role in the game. If she tries to play with emotion on her face or in her heart she will fail!
4. Teach her that if she ever plans on calling it is a better option to go ahead and bet it most of the time.

I'm sure there are other things but for the most part, other than the above, she will have to learn like the rest of us, through experience.

ProPokerPlayer · Jan 5, 2013

Unless she has plenty of money shes better off (as are most people) starting off in limit poker than no-limit.

I see people almost everyday come to the casino, obviously new to the game, lose all their money in 30 mins or get bullied by players with big stacks and they leave cursing and will prolly never come back.

You play limit you cant lose all ur money in 1 hand, you cant get bullied out of pots and its a much more player friendly game

celticGreen+ · Jan 5, 2013

Appreciate all the thoughts - very helpful.

gmenknicks · Jan 5, 2013

tried for years with my wife....we would play heads up, watch it on TV...got her to read a book on basic strategy....just never really took to it.....wish she had....nothing hotter than a chick that can hold her own at a poker table

studmlb55 · Jan 5, 2013

ProPokerPlayer said:
Unless she has plenty of money shes better off (as are most people) starting off in limit poker than no-limit.

I see people almost everyday come to the casino, obviously new to the game, lose all their money in 30 mins or get bullied by players with big stacks and they leave cursing and will prolly never come back.

You play limit you cant lose all ur money in 1 hand, you cant get bullied out of pots and its a much more player friendly game

I see what you are saying but...yes you can. Cap Cap Cap Cap

Stylez · Jan 5, 2013

CoolBreeze22 said:
join a pokerstars home game, that way you can teach her for free from the comfort of your home(bedroom). Which will hopefully lead to a different type of pokher.

This ...

Hotpizza · Jan 5, 2013

Have her read a chapter out of a book first and then have her teach it you as if you are new to playing. This way you can see what she is really learning and make adaptions from there. Keep in mind you teaching her, she is only be as good as what you teach her. A book from the pros will likely expand your base of play as well.

I don't recommend using a "free" play site as people that play free chips aren't using the mindset they would be in playing with real money and true risk involved. A freeroll tournament isn't good either because the first hour is just all in's and people trying to steal the chips from those sitting out.

You can join a few poker sites and have her watch a few tables to see what people are playing and get used to their styles and then jump in and play her style. Send me a PM and I can send you a few poker books (PDF) that will get her on her way of playing winning poker.

For starters she needs to know the value of starting hands and positioning on the table. This will be part of reading a great poker book.

SoonerNation · Jan 5, 2013

3 words...Harrington on Holdem

celticGreen+ · Jan 5, 2013

It's more of a social thing... She's not intending to even play often necessarily, but as I said, since she's competitive in terms of other card games, I figured it'd be something fun to do together. Thanks for the continued ideas though, they've been helpful.

Oh, and I'm disappointed to not have a "this thread is useless without pics" comment - yall are slippin'.

RudyRuetigger · Jan 5, 2013

Start with the basic starting hands and importance of position

Teaching a (lady) Friend 'bout Poker

New member

cunning linguist, master debator

New member

Member

Member

Member

New member

cunning linguist, master debator

New member

Member

RX Genius

I'll be in the Bar..With my head on the Bar

New member

New member

RX Genius

Rx Dragon Puller

Friendly and Helpful

cunning linguist, master debator

New member

Member

Forum statistics

Share this page