Getting Started in Hold'em by Ed Miller. Succinct, well written, easy to read, great book to begin with, covers limit and no limit.
I would suggest at least playing .01/.02 cent limit instead of play money. The people still won't be playing for real, but it won't be quite as bad as play money, which I think is of no use. Hope this helps!

Oh yeah, forgot to mention that I don't think Party Poker and some of the other sites have microlimits. Pokerstars has microlimits like .01/.02. Put $10 in there and just screw around until you figure out whats going on. I really would do that instead of screwing with the play money games - they aren't reprentative enough of real poker to be of any use.

I gotta agree with Growlers, playing from real small stakes is better than playing for play money.

If you don't fancy buying a book, there is a lotta information on the web. I made the mistake of diving in feet first, before I did any reading, and played .5/1 . It would be fair to say... I lost !!

I learnt pretty much all of my poker at Poker Stars, and would reccomend it any new players. The standard of play there is high enough to get rid of some bad habits early on. I think the real backbone of my game came from play $5NL sit'n'go single table tourneys, they are great fun too

Originally Posted by Marm

THose who have it, GSH, any reviews yet?

Ya know, I got it solely because Ed Miller wrote it and I like SSH so much, even though I suspected it would be a little basic. I flipped through it casually multiple times and really think it is the best beginner - average player book out there. I think it would turn a casual player into a consistant small winner easily. People who are well read already might find it too basic. But by that I mean really well read, ie. mastered SSH and HE for advanced players for the limit stuff.

I didn't really read the NL section closely, flipped through it while floating in the pool, but what I saw was all great. I don't play NL, only limit, so don't read much on NL.
I think it is the best beginner's book, period, I recommend it without reservations.

thanks so much guys. i just ordered the book off of amazon.
hmm... so no playing around first, huh? straight up with the real money? lol yes, i suppose that's best. i think i was just being scared

thanx, casi