Basic Poker Strategy
Starting hands
One of the most important areas in poker for beginners to learn is about starting hands. Many beginners play much too loose, meaning that they play too many hands. They simply need to tighten up their play to avoid a long term leakage. Sure, a player can be lucky a couple of sessions in a row but in the long run they will lose.
Good starting hands in Texas Hold'em in a full handed game with 9 or 10 players are AK suited, AK off-suit, AQ suit and off-suit, be wary of playing AJ from early position, especially if a late position player raises, also be wary if you're are in late position and a player has raised the pot early. Call with AJ from early position, raise only from late position if there are few players in the pot and no one has raised earlier.
Other good starting hands include pocket pairs of 10 or higher. Be wary of playing medium and low pocket pairs. They can both be played in pots with many or few players involved. In pot with few players they are good from late position to raise with and in pots with many players they are good if they hit a set on the flop, be prepared to fold them if you do not hit the flop because the risk of someone hitting an over-pair is to large.
Suited connectors like 7-8, 9-10 suited are good in multi-way pots where a straight or flush pays-off well.
Good starting hands in Seven-Card Stud include any cards rolled up (three of a kind), high pairs, three high cards of the same suit or three adjacent high cards (10-J-Q, Q-K-A). Medium or low pairs can be ok to play poker if the kicker card is an A or K.
Good starting hands in Omaha high include A-A-x-x double suited, A-A with two other high cards (A-A-K-Q), four high adjacent preferably in suits (K-Q-J-10), other hands with four adjacent cards (the lowest card above 7).
Money Management
One of the most important factors for poker players (in all levels) is money management. It is true that all players will go broke if they are not careful with their money. Do not play higher than what you can afford to loose over many sessions. A bankroll should be at least 300 big bets in fixed limit games and at least 1000 big blinds in no limit and pot limit games. Play on a level over a longer period of time before moving up in limits.
Poor money management often comes from physical and psychological conditions as well, a bored and tired player makes more mistakes and don't care to loose money. Alcohol can ruin a bankroll quickly for the wrong character.
Position in poker
Position is very important in poker. One reason is because players have an advantage from late position. The value of starting hands changes depending on position. Hands are stronger from late position and weaker in early position.