Learn poker from scratch: where to start

Learning to play poker is easier than it seems. You can master the basics in an evening.

Step 1. Hands

Memorise the hand ranking — from high card to royal flush. This is the foundation.

Step 2. How a hand is dealt

In Hold'em each player gets two cards, then five community cards are dealt in three stages (flop, turn, river). Between stages there are betting rounds.

Basic actions

• check — pass the action;
• call — match the bet;
• raise — increase;
• fold — discard.

Step 3. Position

The later you act, the more information you have. Playing in late position is a big advantage.

Step 4. Practice without risk

The best way to learn is poker without money stakes. At Poker Room GTO there is free training and intro sessions.

Once you feel confident, come to a tournament after reading the participation rules.

What the first session looks like

The intro session covers hand rankings, the betting order and basic preflop strategy — without overloading you with theory. Then you immediately practise at the table under the eye of experienced players who guide you through the hands.