If you are a beginner at the game of poker, may I suggest playing the poker tournaments.

Poker tournaments are a good way to learn the ins and outs of poker. If you are playing for money joining a poker tournament is an inexpensive way to get in the action and maybe even win some cash.

The way to get into a poker tournament is to register before the tournament begins. This can be hours or even days before the tournament starts. Once you are registered the poker room will notify you when the tournament starts.

You pay an ante fee ranging from 25 cents to thousands of dollars, depending on the amount you can win. The entry fee for the WSOP (aka the World Series of Poker) is $10,000 but you have the chance to win millions of dollars.

Poker tournaments are the best way to learn to play poker. They give you the feel of playing for money with very little investment. When playing on the Internet you will be playing with people from all over the world. You will learn quickly how to manage your money, when to play a hand and when to fold.

In between playing in the tournaments read some of the strategy articles on pokernewb.com. Then take that knowledge and practice it in a poker tournament and find out what works and what doesn’t. Poker players that have many hours at the tables write these tutorials and articles, and professional poker players write a lot of the articles.

I personally enjoy cash games the most - and I must admit I lost a lot of money in the beginning of my poker career. There are lots of low-stake sharks lurking in the poker seas, and these sharks or piranhas have tools, that seats them at a table whenever a weak or vulnerable beginning player sits down at that same table.

While you are busy flipping through your preflop ranges, wondering if you should fold, call or 3-bet vs. the UTG opening, he is busy working out how to best take all your money, leaving you as another victim. He does this for a living, you do it for fun. He has the edge - prepare, before you face him.

If you overhear this warning, then at least start at the lowest stake possible. You can have just as much fun at NL2 as at NL25, and it takes a little time to get used to different online poker sites software, betting configuration etc.

Each hand that is dealt is a new situation and a new learning experience. Analysis the hand as you play it and try to figure out what the odds are of your opponent having a winning hand. If your gut tells you that you can’t win, fold!

With practice, as with any hobby you will become better and better. Soon you will be winning more poker tournaments than you lose. Who knows maybe I’ll see you at the World Series of Poker and at the final table.

Good Luck!