Becoming a solid or great poker player wont happen overnight and it wont happen without paying your dues. There are countless things you can do to start yourself down the road to fun and profits and just as many things that will lead your poker night - or career - to a dead end.

Below is my Top 10 list for new players who want to get better and make money.

1. Educate yourself.
Read books on poker. Super System by Doyle Brunson, Holdem Poker for Advanced Players by Sklansky and Malmuth, Killer Poker by John Vorhaus and Texas Holdem by Ken Warren are all excellent. Learning the basics and some poker theory from the pros is a wise way to get started.
 
2. Realize that you’re NOT a good poker player - yet
The most common misconception new players have is that they are already OK poker players. Chances are, you are not. Ego will tell us we are better than we are sometimes. Enter the poker world humble and eager to learn, or you’ll be separated from your money quickly.
A fool and his money....

3. Have the right attitude 
If there is one thing a winning poker player has, it's a positive attitude. Every difficult endeavor has an initial learning curve. There will also be periodic losing streaks and bad beats which will test your discipline. Pay your dues and learn the game. Have fun man, your playing poker.

4. Play within your float  
The table you play at is determined by the size of your float. In order to sit down, your float must be at least 100x the big bet. In order to play at a $1/$2 table you must sit down with at least $200. This size float will be able to maintain you during the lose/win fluctuations of your float.

5. Stay at a winning table, leave a losing table
If you’re making money, you’re playing against weaker players. If you’re losing money, the opposite is most likely true.
You’re playing for profit, not revenge. If some dude is beating up on you get out of there. Find a happy place to play.

6. Play premium hands
Only play pocket pairs and hands that add up to 20 or 21. Playing too many hands is poor play.
Large starting hands have a higher percentage of success and will keep you from getting into kicker trouble. Limit your starting hands to this list. As your game improves, you will graduate to playing more types of hands, bluffing and other strategies.

7. Prepare to invest some effort and dedicate some time
Becoming a winning poker player requires many hours of play. Reading is important, but like everything else, practical application - on the job training - is always the best way to learn. Think back. Did you learn more in your first week on the job than you did in four years of university?
Time management is also key to balancing your play and the other things in your life.

8. Document your play
Keep records of your play. The more information your keep on your play, the more information you have to look over and make adjustments to your game. Plugging leaks in your game will be ongoing throughout your career. You usually only get to identify your bad habits - money-losing habits - by documenting your play to see if you fall into the same trap or misplay a starting hand each time.

9. Set up a weekly home game
Get your buddies together and play once a week. It’s a comfortable atmosphere to test your skills. Learning can snowball when some friends share your interest. It’s also cheaper than going out on the town.

10. Show respect and learn poker etiquette
Players acting rude to other players are disrespected and are only showing their lack of skill. Any top professionals you see doing well with a mouthy style are winning in spite of that character trait, not becauise of it. Some players feel they can gain an advantage over other players by provoking them. It’s a lazy approach to the game, showing a lack of conviction and lack of respect. Any player of quality will not be affected by this behavior.

By Dean Stone