While Omaha is an attractive and profitable choice, there is so little literature on the subject that it is not your best option. You want to start with Hold’em with its rich body of literature both in book and online form. It is easily accessible to players because it is the most popular form of poker played today in casinos and clubs as well as online.

Okay, now that Hold’em is the game of choice, which form of Hold’em suits you best personally? Do you gag on risk or thrive on it?

To some, the thrill and adrenaline rush of risk-taking is a motivating force. To others, it is a source of pure nausea. Poker is not a game for the latter. If you are the risk-taking type but cannot control your impulses, the game is not for you either. But for those who have a high degree of self-understanding, tests can be taken that disclose your risk inclinations. If the test reveals that you are the risky type of personality, you should opt for no-limit cash and tournament games.

Decide for yourself if you are a mathematician or a psychologist. Human calculators will be comfortable with limit games. The body language deciphering psychologist will be most at home with no-limit and multi table tournament (MTT) play.

Should you really want to invest some time and brain matter in the game, the complexity of no-limit and MTT games give you the best shot at developing as a player. For the dilettante, stay with sit-and-go tournaments and limit poker.

The least potential for players reach the heights of fame and fortune is in limit poker. The best games for would-be poker champs are tournament games and high profile no limit games.

Limit poker is more accessible online than in casinos and clubs, where it is becoming rarely played. Your attention should be turned to public establishments and tournament poker as it is the only form of the game officially recognized as a sport.

If you are looking at playing poker as a major (or only) source of income, what you want to do is zero in on games with an excessive complement of weak players. Limit hold’em is not one of the forms of poker that fits this category because of the aforementioned plethora of literature on the game. Your target is no-limit and tournament poker, where of course you will focus on learning as much as you can about the game. As a beginner, stay below limits of even $1/$2. In SnGs go no higher than $20+$2, and for no-limit, below $100. At these lower limits, it is sufficient for beginners with a basic knowledge of the rules of the game to play without risking too much. Playing at higher monetary levels requires intense study of the game and a depth of experience. Even then, there is no certainty of consistently winning, but that’s why we play the game in the first place, lack of certainty.

These considerations are a good preliminary to your first games, but the answers to the questions will become clearer as you accumulate experience.

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