[Dromar]

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Hello 2+2,

Q1: What is the best way to get started?
Q2: What books or websites should I read up on?
Q3: Is there any real difference in play on any of the sites?
Q4: Apart from having a good poker strategy will I need to be efficient in anything else to become a successful player?

Shaz

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OK.
A1: You need to start small, and get comfortable first. It'll prevent you from making bad plays at higher limits because you are uncomfortable or unaccustomed to the setting, etc. This is good advice for online play at least. Probably not as worthwhile at a bnm though. Which do you plan on playing?
A2:SuperSystem, Theory of Poker, HOH I and II (for tourney play, but good no matter what). I've read those and know they're worthwhile. Also, Small Stakes Hold'em has had many praises on this forum, though I haven't read it (yet), and I don't know if you're going to be playing "small stakes," or even Hold'em for that matter. I would just go to Amazon.com, and search for every book about poker and/or the game you are going to specialize in, and take a closer look at anything that looks interesting/educational. And just so you know, some poker books aren't really that fun to read. Theory of Poker is practically a textbook for poker. Not too fun to read, but it's probably the most educational poker book I've ever read.
A3:Ok, so you're playing online then. Yes there is. Just google a few poker site reviews and read up. PokerStars and PartyPoker are pretty popular, so they can't be all that bad.
A4: YES! I can't stress this enough. Making +EV plays is just the tip of the iceberg. There's also money management, emotional control, and just being in control of your game in general. You have to resist playing games that are -EV for you. You have to be able to recognize those games in the first place. You have to keep yourself from tilting off your money. You have to NEVER risk more than you're comfortable losing (for more info on that, check out the ever popular "folding AA preflop" thread). On top of that, you can't just play poker. You have to have a plan, a vision for moving forward. You also have to be learning at all times, getting better.

Whew. That said, are you talking tourneys or cash games? If tourneys, Sit n Go, or Multitable? If cash games, Hold'em, Omaha, Omaha8, Stud, Stud8? Obviously you won't want to read Small Stakes Hold'em if you are going to go into Omaha8.