While the poker boom really took off between 2001 and 2003, the game has
continued to grow in popularity over the last decade, especially outside of the
United States, where online poker came tragically crashing down. These days, the
biggest difference in poker is that players are overall much better players than
they were in the early 2000s. This is most likely due to the sheer volume of
hands that a player can play online versus playing live. Also, there is far more
information on how to improve your game than ever before, which means there are
more reasons for players to practice.

Put your learning into action against other players is definitely the best way to see if you are able to take the theory and put it into practice. The best poker learning apps are those that have tables featuring other players, whether it is a play money game on a real money site or a pool of players on a training site. I believe the best way to practice your newfound understanding of hand hierarchy is to get out there and play a bunch of poker. If you’re still new to the game and not yet comfortable with your understanding of hand rankings, you can always play in free-to-play apps or use play-money at your favorite online poker room. With so much to learn, beginners to poker often feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. It’s difficult to grasp the concepts of poker in one fell swoop and learning takes time. This is why we’ve developed this study guide – to plan a course of study for beginners and to provide the structure that’s so important when learning.

To be a winning poker player, continuing to learn the game is crucial, and
these days that can be accomplished right from your phone by using an app
designed for learning poker. Our poker experts have come together to walk you
through everything you need to know about these apps, and that way when you are
ready to take your game to the next level, you can easily select an app either
for your iOS or Android device with confidence.

Why Would People Use an App to Learn to Play Poker?

A question we hear all the time is “Why do people practice poker? Isn’t it
mainly about the cards you have anyway?” Well, we are here to tell you that this
couldn’t be further from the truth. The cards you are dealt are only a piece of
the puzzle when trying to be profitable – there is so much more at play. Let’s
look at the top 3 reasons that players would use an app to learn to play poker.

Learn New Games

Most people think about No Limit Texas Hold’em when they think about poker,
but there are many more variants of the game that people play all over the
world. Some of these have much smaller fields in major tournaments, as they are
more complicated to play, so if you are looking to win a World Series of Poker
bracelet, then you may want to learn a game like Omaha or Stud. The best way to
learn games is by playing them, of course, so this is where these apps can come
in handy.

Practice New Strategy

With all the books, blogs, podcasts, and videos on poker strategy these days,
you can get overwhelmed trying to learn a new strategy. Then, once you select
one or two to try out, you need a place to get some hands in without wasting
money. A poker app for learning to play the game gives you a chance to put some
of this theory into action before you hit the real money tables.

Convenience

Learning to play poker is important if you want to stop being a losing
player, but the game is also a long grind. Having a chance to learn how to play
the game with the convenience of having an app on your device means you are no
longer shackled to your PC. You have the poker game with you in your pocket
whenever you get a moment to learn, and within a couple of clicks, you can be
playing hands! Also, as the game isn’t for real money, the length of your
session isn’t important – you can close and reopen the app whenever you are so
inclined.

The Best Apps for Learning to Play Poker

When we review apps for this site, we are in most cases looking at them with
real-money players in mind. That is why it is so refreshing to have put together
this page – while some attributes remain the same, there is a whole subset of
criteria that matter to players who are learning rather than just trying to win
big bucks.

We looked at each poker app we could find and reviewed it from a learning
perspective to come up with the following list. A couple of these apps are very
focused on learning the game, while others are excellent from a learning and
practice perspective but also give you a chance to access real-money games in
case you get the urge quickly. All of the sites are good enough in the eyes of
our experts to have them on the recommended apps for learning to play poker
list.

What We Look for in an App for Learning Poker

As we mentioned, some of the things we look for when reviewing the best apps
for learning poker are different from that of a real money poker app. Here, we
are giving you an overview of three of the top differences.

Integrated Odds Calculator

One of the best inventions in the history of poker was the graphic on the
screen letting you know the percentage chances of a player winning a hand. That
made it so much clearer to players that there was more than just luck in the
game, and we look for sites that will show you that as you are playing the
hands. Of course, this would be in a practice mode, but it still gives you a
little more insight into what the odds are as the hand progresses. Not all sites
offer this feature, so we let you know in each review which ones have this
available for your use.

Combination of Strategy Pages and Tips Along with Gameplay

With so much information to digest, we like the poker learning apps that
incorporate some of these details directly in the app. This can come from a feed
of interesting strategy pieces in a section of the app or being able to watch a
video followed by being directed to the table to try out new strategies. The
fewer steps between taking in the information and putting it into action, the
more likely the information will be remembered.

Multiplayer Modes

Playing and practicing against the computer is one thing, but being able to
put your learning into action against other players is definitely the best way
to see if you are able to take the theory and put it into practice. The best
poker learning apps are those that have tables featuring other players, whether
it is a play money game on a real money site or a pool of players on a training
site.

How to Find and Use Learn to Play Poker Apps

There are several ways to find the best apps to learn to play poker. Of
course, we have already given you a few to choose from above on our recommended
list. While we are sure these provide you with all the tools you need, there are
other places to look. Some of the training sites will have their own apps to
download, or you can simply go to the app store of your Apple or Google device
and search for “poker.” Bear in mind that when you search directly from the app
store, you will find the most popular apps, which aren’t necessarily the best in
our opinion.

Once you have selected the app, you can quickly download it to your phone or
tablet, and then you will likely need to create an account. Even though you will
be playing for free to start, the company still wants your information for
future communication purposes. Once you have created your account, look for any
in-app purchases you may want to make. Some sites will offer tutorials directly
in the app that aren’t on a website, so they could be of value to you if you are
interested.

Conclusion

As the game of poker continues to evolve, unless there are new games
introduced, players will have no option but to continue to improve at the
current variants. The good news is that 98% of players really only know how to play Texas Hold’em,
and even then, the majority of players could use significant
improvement. These apps designed for learning poker are perfect for anyone
looking to take their game to the next level or who want to learn a new game
without having to risk any cash.

The apps we have discussed and recommended on this page are the ones we feel
are the best for players looking to learn more about the sport. However, we know
our community of readers will have their own opinions. We encourage you to drop
us a line and let us know what you think about any of the apps we have
recommended, or if there are any poker learning apps that you swear by yourself.
Also, if you are interested in reading more about the best real-money poker
apps, then check out our poker app pages and our reviews section.

With so much to learn, beginners to poker often feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. It’s difficult to grasp the concepts of poker in one fell swoop and learning takes time. This is why we’ve developed this study guide – to plan a course of study for beginners and to provide the structure that’s so important when learning new skills.

We have a wide variety of poker lessons here at Pokerology.com and they don’t all feature in this study guide. Instead, we’ve carefully selected the most appropriate lessons to help build your poker skills step-by-step and to provide a solid foundation upon which to build.

This study guide is split into various skill levels and each major section is followed by a quiz. If you’re new to poker then we recommend you start by studying the lessons within our entry level.

We hope you enjoy learning how to play poker with Pokerlogy.com.

Entry Level

The following group of poker lessons provide an introduction to the game. You’ll learn the basic rules, how the betting works, the different variations of poker, along with a few basic poker terms.

Please note: All links within this study guide will open in a new window by default.

Finished? If so, take the entry level quiz.

Beginner Level

The beginner level of this study guide will provide a solid foundation on which to build your poker skills.

If you studied our entry level lessons then you’ll understand that there are many ways in which poker can be played. This means there isn’t a poker course that will suit everyone. So, before we continue with more lessons let’s discuss your options at this early stage of your development.

The first decision point is whether to play cash games or tournaments. As a beginner we believe cash games are your best bet. This is because the variance – what we call fluctuations in luck – is much higher in tournaments, so much so that it can take a very long time to determine if your tournament results are due to a lack of skill or simply a run of bad luck. Because the variance inherent in cash games is less, you should be able to assess whether it’s your ability or simply a run of bad luck in a shorter time frame.

Once you’ve played cash games and seem to be making an improvement in them because you’re studying, learning, and growing as a poker player, you should be able to move to tournaments with the assurance that your basic game is good. Once you know you play well, you can begin the make the adjustments that are required to play tournaments well.

It comes down to personal preference and it’s entirely your choice. You may wish to supplement your learning as and when you’re ready, but the poker lessons that are referenced in this study guide remain applicable to either format. Although we argue in favour of cash games for beginners, a combination of both would also work at this stage – giving you time to decide which challenge you’d prefer.

The next decision point is the variety of hold’em that you learn to play; either limit or no-limit. Many of our poker lessons focus on general concepts that will help you in either variation, but these games play very differently. Limit hold’em is well suited to beginners because it’s a more mechanical and structured game. However, because no-limit hold’em is currently the most popular variation of poker, it will be the focus of this study guide.

With all this out of the way, let’s move on and get back to the lessons. We’ll start this section of the study guide with a look at the basics, including some simple betting concepts:

Knowing that you’re eager to play, let’s focus your efforts on the importance of choosing the right hands and introduce you to the concept of positional play with these two very important lessons:

The following resources should also help guide your understanding of these topics:

• No-Limit Hold’em Starting Hands Chart (PDF – print out or bookmark for easy reference)

You should now have an understanding of what starting hands to play in no-limit hold’em based on hand strength and your position. This next selection of poker lessons will provide further guidance on how and why you should play your starting hands.

Best Way To Learn Poker Hands

Math is a key concept in poker. You don’t have to be a math genius to succeed at poker, but knowing the math is essential. In the next group of lessons we’ll cover basic poker concepts that will help you tell the difference between good bets and bad bets and put you on the road to playing profitable winning poker:

There’s more to poker than math, so now it’s time to introduce you to the psychology of poker:

As we approach the end of this section of the study guide, it’s time we suggest you start playing poker for real money. Maybe you are already, if so, then great. It’s important to reiterate that poker is a game of money played with cards and there needs to be something at stake, even if it’s only pennies. If you’ve yet to make the transition to real money poker, we suggest you start now – but only at stakes you can afford. This is also an appropriate time to introduce you to the fundamental poker concept of bankroll management:

And here’s our final lesson of this section:

Finished? If so, take the beginner level poker quiz.

Intermediate Level

This section of our study guide will introduce you to various poker concepts and strategies that will take your game to the next level.

The following lessons are those we consider to be the most important at this stage of your development. Remember, there are many more poker lessons on Pokerology.com, which you can also study – but these are the ones that we believe will help get you to the next level in the fastest possible time.

The first group of poker lessons are important concepts in no-limit hold’em:

Here is a selection of poker lessons that focus on post-flop betting strategies:

The following two lessons cover two very important concepts that will get you thinking about maximizing your profits, which is the key to successful poker:

This next group of poker lessons are all about ‘playing the player’ and provide effective strategies for playing against different types of poker players:

If you have followed this study guide from the beginning you should now have amassed a wealth of knowledge on the subject of poker. There’s still much more to learn, but the next step is to make sure you plug any leaks that reside in your game. Therefore our final group of lessons all focus on the winning poker skills:

Finished? If so, take the intermediate level poker quiz

Minnesota Fats, the legendary American pool hustler, was once asked about the technical aspects of billiards in order to improve one’s play. His response was, “Ya’ just gotta hit balls and balls and balls – and you’ll learn”. In that regard poker is much the same. The concepts we’ve presented throughout this poker course should help you think about how to play poker, but you need to play and play and play to truly understand and excel at the game.

Further Learning

The learning never stops at Pokerology.com!

Best Way To Learn Poker For Beginners

The intention of this study guide has been to teach the fundamentals of winning poker. We deliberately streamlined this guide and excluded many of the poker lessons on Pokerology.com. This means there is still lots to learn, but at this stage of your development it’s less important for us to provide you with structure and guidance. The best advice we can give is to continue playing poker and browse our poker lessons at your leisure, picking out the topics that you think will benefit your game the most.

Don’t forget that there is more than one game in town and no-limit hold’em is just one of them. Many players stick to the game they initially learned, but a true poker player feels right at home with other poker variations. We therefore recommend you learn how to play limit hold’em, along with variations such as stud, Omaha, and razz. You’ll find lessons on all these variations of poker right here at Pokerology.com!

Best Way To Learn Poker Math