The Gamesmaster's Poker school

Poker is a game of skill that can greatly reward those who will take the time to study and learn how to play it properly. As you will see, this is no ordinary poker Website. Our goal is to show you - from a practical point of view - how to make a profit at the game, particularly at Hold 'em poker. There may be times when it's appropriate to play poker for "fun", but here, it's all about the $$$. It won't happen overnight, but if you'll learn what we teach, there will come a day when you know you're capable of playing a winning game. And knowing you can win is the most important part of winning at anything.

Lesson 1 - An Introduction to Hold 'em Poker: Just like Blackjack and Video Poker, the game of Hold 'em poker offers considerable financial opportunities to the skilled player. Today, there are quite a few online poker rooms that make the game available to almost anyone, anywhere. Because playing online is quite a bit different than playing at a brick-and-mortar casino, I've created what I believe is an Internet first: an online poker school, modeled after our very successful Blackjack School.
Lesson 1.

Lesson 2 - Basic Poker Math:
I know that a lot of you are less than thrilled by mathematical dissertations, but it's all a part of the game and you must have a grasp on at least a few basic principles in order to be successful at Hold 'em Poker, so please bear with me.
Lesson 2 .

Lesson 3 - The Starting Hands:
Just as it is in Blackjack, the Hold 'em poker player's first two cards are of paramount importance because they determine the path the hand will ultimately take. In Hold 'em, any hand can be a winner, but as the old saying goes: "The race isn't always won by the swift and the strong, but that's the way to bet." Let me show you a good system for deciding which hands to hold and which hands to fold.
Lesson 3 .

Lesson 4 - Poker Math: Longshots
Hitting the target with a longshot is a lot of fun and it makes you look like a poker "genius". The only problem is that longshots will break you long before they make you. It's still all about the numbers and I've got some for you right here.
Lesson 4.

Lesson 5 - The Big Blind Bet
In this lesson, I'll show you how to play when you're in the Big Blind, which is a bet you must make in Hold 'em poker even before you see your cards. Being "forced" to make a bet like this is tough enough, so don't make it worse by playing your hand wrong. Here's what you should do.
Lesson 5.

Lesson 6 - The Small Blind Bet
We continue to build my "Hold 'em Poker Basic Strategy Matrix" with the addition of a chart for playing hands from the Small Blind position. This is the other "forced" bet in the game, so you'll want to do it right. Yep, it's another handy-dandy chart that will help you crush the opposition.
Lesson 6.

Lesson 7 - Pocket Pairs
In this lesson, I'll examine the hands we all love to get, but usually lose with: Pocket Pairs. Sure, "pocket rockets" - a pair of Aces - are easy to play, but how often will you be getting them?
Lesson 7.

Lesson 8 - Playing From the Button
Continuing along with the development of a starting hand basic strategy, I'll cover which hands to play when you're in the most powerful position at the table, on the "button". Would it be that we could play all our hands from here.
Lesson 8.

Lesson 9 - Playing From Late Position
We continue working our way (backward) around the old poker table in the development of my Hold 'em Poker Basic Strategy Matrix by discussing which hands are worth playing in late position. The further you get from the Button, the better hand you need in order to play profitably.
Lesson 9.

Lesson 10 - Playing From Middle Position
In this lesson I'll show you the best hands to play from middle position, which can be something like a poker "no man's land." But, as always, the mathematics will point out the correct path for us to follow. We're almost at journey's end, so stay with me and follow the yellow brick road.
Lesson 10

Lesson 11 - Playing from Early Position/ Basic Strategy Matrix
In this lesson I'll complete my discussions on pre-flop play of your hand from various positions, plus present my Limit Hold 'em Basic Strategy Matrix, which brings most of the information covered up to this point together in one handy-dandy chart you can refer to as you play. Because you have only a 50-50 chance of improving your starting hand, a good foundation is needed if you want to win.
Lesson 11.