Cash Game Teaching a handful of newbs. How would you? (1 Viewer)

[Sparkynutz]

A few weeks ago I hosted for a handful of new players. Some had played holdem on their phone and some didnt know what beat what.

We started out playing a super turbo tournament for $0 buy in with the hand rankings clearly posted. We all tried to help each other and explain things as we went.
We followed up with $20 worth of cash chips for $0 and played a bunch of limit cash games I play with the usual group, none of which were present.

I am by far the last one that should be teaching these players about rules, techniques etc but was the one asked to help them learn.
I just really like playing with poker chips and have plenty of room to host.
I typically play very loose and have enough disposable income that I dont mind losing a few bucks to my friends.

Its always hard getting enough players so I definitely encouraged this new group of friends to learn and hopefully someday join the normal group.

I am hosting them again next weekend and they want to follow the same plan but incorporate cash this time.

I'm thinking $5 buy in Tournament followed by $20 buy in 25c limit cash games.

Hopefully this doesn't scare too many of them away after losing some cash.
Maybe nickles would be better to start with than quarters?

I'm hoping I can get a few of the regular guys to join us. The two I tried to get to join us last time are much better at rules and remembering all the crazy cash games but they both had plans.

How long before the new group is invited to play with the whole regular group?

Larger tournaments would definitely be cool.

 

[detroitdad]

I'm going to be teaching handful of players No Limit Hold'em in the next month or two. We are going to play five cent 10 cent blinds with a 10 to $20 buy in. I will be sending them links and some basic rules. Most of the teaching will take place at the table. I may recruit a local to assist depending on how many players I get.

Slow and methodical will be the name of the game for the first hour.

 

[Jers28]

I sometimes offer a small stakes cash table for noobs with 50¢/$1 blinds and no circus games, minus a $5 bomb pot after mono suited flops, which they can sit out, if they desire. It’s mainly used by wives, girlfriends and occasionally a boyfriend or husband. In other words, no regs are allowed to go pick on them. They have a dedicated dealer to help move action and guide them and occasionally I’ll go sit for an orbit and just dump some money a couple hands and visit. The players at this table “graduate” at all different speeds. We had one girlfriend who after winning a few hundred bucks on her first night, wanted to come sit at the main. Second session ever! The boyfriend (who’s staking her btw) didn’t mind, so she sat. And got smoked, not surprisingly. But, when she moved back to the side table the next week, she was bored beyond belief and begged to come play on the main when a seat became available.

Long story short, within maybe 5-6 sessions on the main table, she is doing great. She doesn’t win, but she loses small enough the boyfriend doesn’t care and he’s one of my most consistent winners. He and I have spoke and he’s totally fine if she punts up to a grand to the main table, since he usually wins.

We have still others that will be on the side table forever.

I wish I had a better answer, but everyone learns at different speeds. I think what you’re doing is awesome! For your game and for poker in general. Very cool. Just know some will want in on the bigger games almost immediately and others never. Most in between. Maybe find some time to chat one on one. One of my favorite parts of the night is when the cash game is breaking up and I’m cashing everyone out, I do it one on one. It takes a little longer, but the group is all pretty close, so no one minds visiting a little longer. The one on one is where I basically get to simply ask them “how’d your night go?” Not just the financial side, but did you have fun? Did you get plenty to eat? Was there any drink you wish we stocked in the fridge that wasn’t available? All that stuff to make sure everyone is where they should be, so to speak. It’s like 3-4 mins, but extremely valuable to me as host.

 

[TheOffalo]

If it's a full table of newbies, I'd deal all the cards face up and go around the table to discuss. Maybe don't start with proflop ranges, but ask people to choose amongst all the hole cards, who has the strongest hand and who might have the weakest hand.

Then do a flop, and ask people to call their hand's rankings and/or identify the strongest/weakest hand(s). Then rinse and repeat on the turn and on the river, emphasizing that it's the best 5 card hand out of all board and hole cards (if teaching hold 'em). Hopefully there'll be some natural examples of how a kicker might play or whatever, or you can move some cards around to show different examples of different situations.

 

[Sparkynutz]

If it's a full table of newbies, I'd deal all the cards face up and go around the table to discuss. Maybe don't start with proflop ranges, but ask people to choose amongst all the hole cards, who has the strongest hand and who might have the weakest hand.

Then do a flop, and ask people to call their hand's rankings and/or identify the strongest/weakest hand(s). Then rinse and repeat on the turn and on the river, emphasizing that it's the best 5 card hand out of all board and hole cards (if teaching hold 'em). Hopefully there'll be some natural examples of how a kicker might play or whatever, or you can move some cards around to show different examples of different situations.

Last time towards end of tournament myself and other player went all in.
We each had a king and low card. Board was King, 10, 10, 9, 2
I felt bad he didnt win since he had a 5 and I had a 3 and ended up chopping the hand. I tried to explain best I could but was obvious most of the people at the table didnt understand that only the best 5 cards play.

I think playing a few hands face up prior to tournament start would be beneficial.

I told them all to get a deck of cards and just practice shuffling and card handling. It was obvious most of them had never shuffled before.
One guy was really good at shuffling. I mentioned that he may end up being dedicated dealer or helping in the long run.

 

[TheJestyr]

Teaching a small group sounds a bit daunting, kudos to you! I've only ever taught one, maybe two at at time. So not sure my insight is totally relevant, but hope it helps!!

If it were me, I'd invite the new players over a few hours prior to one of your regular games, as well as ask some regulars to fill in to get a table of 7 or 8 people together (however many new players plus however many regulars) and play a few hours of $.05/.10 limit with traditional games: 7 stud, 5 stud, draw, hold 'em. Encourage discussion and lots of face-up play (even if it kills the hand, the money is really only there for ceremony at this point). Maybe talk about interesting hands. Then when the regulars start showing up more, tell the new players that they can stick around and watch a little if they want, or if they're feeling frisky, they can sit down for an hour or so.

I learned to play when I was 5 or 6 by playing with my family at holidays and the occasional random weekend night. At first, we played a variant that we called "poverty poker"...not sure that's a well known term or not, but the idea was we all bought in a set amount and if you lost all your money, you were still dealt in and could win a pot, you just couldn't raise. Kinda like a dead hand. And if you won, you got the pot and then would continue to play as if nothing happened. It was a great way to learn poker with a capped downside, see hands, hang out with my family, and when I was ready, we removed the "poverty" aspect.

As I got a bit older, around 9 or so, every few months I was allowed to sit down with my dad and his friends and play for about 20 minutes while guys were arriving for his once-a-month regular game. Then I could watch for another 20 mins or so before my dad politely removed me from the area haha

Bottom line is get them seeing hands, understanding what-beats-what, how the boards interact with their hands, ideally as cheaply and fun as possible

Good luck!!

 

[Seeking Alpha Social Club]

Start out by putting together some basic strategy on which cards to play by position. This is especially important for tournaments where patience is important.
I put together a 1 pager that focused on 2 things.

1. Which cards to play by position, and
2. Basic pot odds--i.e., ((# of outs x 2 + 2) x # of streets left). With an explanation on when the odds are right or wrong.

This was for a coworker that played Texas holdem for the first time at a charity event with his wife. Jim came in Monday morning with a 1st place trophy. He said his wife nagged him all evening because he kept folding his cards while she played everything...LOL.

What I find is that newbies can quickly get bored if they feel like it's pure slot machine luck. Especially if they get their butts whipped. So, I tell them to focus on two things--which cards to play by position and pot odds.

Now if I could just get my wife to listen, I would hear much less grumbling about how people get lucky all the time against her 10 3 off suit.

 

[ScallyWagers]

This is going to sound silly, but depending on the group, have them each bring a bag of their favorite (individually wrapped) candy and use that as chips for their first couple games. They're "invested" and have a tangible takeaway. Also, look for an easy way to have the hand rankings visible - my favorite was a couple sets of coasters that had them printed right on them.

 

[Sparkynutz]

I like the candy idea. I may have better luck getting my kids and their friends to play if I bribe them with winning candy

 

[Machine]

Honestly here is what I would do:

I'd start with blind man's bluff. I would explain Ace is high, then King ... then I would hand out a button and deal for the table, setting up blinds and explaining check, bet, raise, fold. I'd play a quick round or 2 of that until everyone had posted a blind, then I would introduce holdem

and I like the candy Idea, I would use candy as currency.

This would teach structure, it would be fast and silly, and be a lot of fun.

Then you can teach hand ranking and introduce hold 'em. Players won't feel overwhelmed and it requires they interact with others.

 

[merkong]

We used to have hand rankings on playing card sized cards for all new players.

Tournaments, tournaments, tournaments.

When it comes to actually learning how to play the game itself; strategy etc, tell them to play and read.

Etiquette; acting in turn and on time, splashing the pot etc, let them know to watch others and that someone will be right there to correct them and not to take offense.

Slow, cheap games. These are future potential regulars at someone’s game.

 

[phys]

What you did the first time — starting with a free tournament before introducing any money — is actually one of the best possible approaches, and it sounds like it worked. The free entry removes the "I might lose real money before I understand what's happening" anxiety, and you can let things breathe and explain hands without anyone feeling like the clock is costing them something.

A few things I'd add for bringing new players along:

First, the "why did I lose" moment is the most important teaching opportunity in the whole night. New players often lose a hand and have no idea what beat them. If you can spend 30 seconds explaining it — "he had a flush, which beats your straight" — without making them feel dumb, that one moment builds more loyalty than anything else. The players who get that explanation come back. The ones who walk away confused might not.

Second, I'd resist the instinct to over-coach mid-hand. It's very tempting to jump in when you see someone about to make an obvious mistake, but letting them make it (in a low-stakes context) and then discussing it afterward is usually more memorable than stopping the action. They have to feel the sting to remember it.

Third, on the question of when to invite them to the regular game: the moment they stop looking at their hole cards as if they've never seen playing cards before is probably about right. They don't have to be good — they just need to be comfortable enough that they're not slowing the table down so much it frustrates your regulars. That's the equilibrium you're looking for.

Sounds like you've got a great attitude about building the player pool. Good luck with the next session!

 

[thePokerClub]

Teaching newbs….sounds like a terrible time.

You are doing God’s work.

 

[ekricket]

I preach this. This is the best way to get people up to speed imho.

Play three handed holdem. Deal each player six cards, and they make three holdem hands. Cards can’t be moved around after being set.

Deal the flop. On each persons turn, they push in (fold) one of their hands in addition to any betting or checking action.

Repeat on the turn, folding another hand on your action.

This should result in each person still in with only one hand left to play the river with.


What this does is let people see how different hands play out - pairs, suited connectors, however they choose their starting cards - in a faster and easier to understand way.

 

[Rhodeman77]

I haven’t taught a total newb poker in a very long time. But I am always teaching PLO and other mixed games. Any time I try to introduce a game I find the best way is dealing lots of hands face up and discussing what each hand could/should do on each street. There is no substitute for seeing actual hands, and I love @ekricket idea above of triple hold’em. Really will show trash hands vs real hands even faster.