Welcome to Poker for Dummies
Online poker is fast becoming one of the most popular past times around the world.
This site was developed for those who are just starting out in the game and have very little understanding of it.
I myself only started playing in August 2007 but once I started understanding the mathmatics and psychology of the game, I was hooked.
I searched the internet for articles and information on poker strategies which would help me understand the game more and hone my playing skills.
This site combines all the information I gathered in my searches as well as offers comparisons of the most popular poker rooms on the internet.
The Basics of Poker
Despite the many game variations, poker is a card game based on 10 possible hands. The type of game you play decides how those hands are played.
I have included a printable poker hands chart as well as the rules for each type of poker game you will find in any of the popular online poker rooms.
Poker - Chance or Skill?
 Those who do not play enough to understand the game say it is a game of chance due to the randomness of the cards that are dealt. Those of us who play and understand the game know it is more probabilities and percentages than random chance, although I can understand both sides.
Your chance comes from the random deal of cards. The skill comes from knowing which cards to play, what your odds are of getting a card you need and the ability to read your fellow players.
The Skill in Poker
You must watch your opponents to see how they play, when they make bets what type of hands they are holding, and many other things. Online poker is much more difficult to notice the "tells" of other players since you cannot look at them. You must rely on their betting patterns and previous hands.
One thing to know about playing poker is this. You must be patient. You must know your own strengths and weaknesses. You cannot play every hand you are dealt, only those that stand a good chance of winning you the pot. Don't try and force the cards on a "hope and a prayer" of hitting that K on the river.
Free play vs. real money play
 There are many online poker rooms in which you can actually make a real money deposit and play or you can, like me, opt to make no deposit and play with play chips.
If you are a beginner, I highly suggest you play for free at the start then once you have honed your game skills, move onto playing with real money.
Once you decide to take the leap to real money, make sure you have a bankroll management plan in place and STICK TO IT! You will have as many winning streaks as you have losing streaks. The key is to minimize your losses by being a responsible gambler.
Table play vs. Tournament play
You have a choice in most poker rooms of playing at one table with up to 9 players usually or playing in a Sit N Go (SnG) tournament that will switch you to many different tables much like at the WSOP and other professional poker tournaments.
However, when you compete against 2,700 players or more in a tournament, it is difficult to win. I have won my share, placed in the finals of my share and totally lost in the first few hands on even more. It is a constant learning experience.
Whether you play in a ring game or a tournament the best course of action for beginners is to play tight and conservative rather than loose. I have found that it is much to easy to get lured into playing a less than ideal hand when others are aggressively raising and calling.
 BIDE YOUR TIME! Play hands that are appropriate to the position you are in. Don't be afraid to throw away even those pocket Aces as there is never any guarantee that they will win the hand for you. Remember, there IS still an element of luck in poker simply because the flop, turn and river are random.
Once you do decide to play a hand, bet aggressively, especially if the flop improves your hand. Many times the table will fold to you just because the image you are presenting is one of the winnning hand.
Making Money through Poker
Professional Poker Player
 Everyone who plays serious poker has a dream of being a professional and winning large cash jackpots in tournaments, even if they won't admit it to anyone but themselves.
There is nothing wrong with pursing this dream so long as you are responsible about it. It has been said by many pro's not to even consider going pro until you can support yourself for a minimum of 6 months off your poker winnings and under NO CIRCUMSTANCES quit your day job until you can.
If you are a US citizen, you must be aware of the tax laws and state laws for gambling income and be prepared to pay the appropriate amount of unearned income taxes on your poker income.
Revenue Sharing, Affiliate Programs & Rakeback accounts
If you are like me you have very little money to deposit to a poker account or would rather not risk your own money in an effort to build a poker bankroll there are still many ways in which to fund your bankroll. These include affiliate programs, rakeback accounts & other venues.
 Most of the major online poker sites will offer an affiliate section where you can join & display a banner or text link, complete with your own affiliate ID or tracking ID so that when someone clicks on the link you display it will take you to the site for the downloading of the software. Your ID or tracking code is included in the link so that, according to the affiliate's payout structure, you will get a commission of some type.
Rakeback accounts will actually pay you back a portion of the rake that the poker room collects from you during a real money game.
Let's get the cards in the air!
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