Learn poker in 30 days: a free study plan

How this plan works

Most people learn poker backwards: they play lots of hands, pick up bad habits, then try to unlearn them. This plan does it the other way round. Each week builds one layer of skill, and each day mixes a little study with a little practice.

• Time: 30–60 minutes a day. Consistency beats marathon sessions.
• Format: read a lesson, then play a short session at low stakes or with play chips, then review.
• Starting point: take the free Player Path quiz first. It shows which areas to focus on, so you can spend extra time on the weeks that matter most for you.

Week 1: rules, hands and the flow of play (days 1–7)

Goal: play a hand of Hold’em without thinking about the rules.

• Day 1: Read the poker basics lessons: blinds, the button, the four betting rounds.
• Day 2: Learn the ten poker hand rankings from royal flush down to high card.
• Day 3: Practise reading boards. Deal yourself a few hands and name the winner. For example, does A♠ K♦ beat Q♣ Q♥ on J♠ 9♦ 4♣ 2♥ 7♠? (No: queens beat ace-high.)
• Day 4: Learn the actions: check, bet, call, raise, fold, and what “min-raise” and “all-in” mean.
• Day 5: Bookmark the glossary and look up any word you don’t know.
• Days 6–7: Play short sessions with one simple rule: only play hands you would be happy to raise.

Week 1 check

You should be able to name the winner of any showdown without help, and know who acts first before and after the flop.

Week 2: position and starting hands (days 8–14)

Goal: fold more, and play better hands from better seats.

• Day 8: Read why position matters in our position lessons.
• Day 9: Learn the seat names: under the gun, hijack, cutoff, button, blinds.
• Day 10: Study the starting hands guide and the difference between suited, offsuit and pairs.
• Day 11: Learn to read a 13×13 range chart with our preflop charts lesson.
• Day 12: Learn when to 3-bet and when to call a raise.
• Days 13–14: Play two sessions following an opening chart exactly. Note every hand you were unsure about.

Week 2 check

You should now fold most hands preflop, especially from early seats, and raise rather than limp when you do play.

Week 3: poker maths (days 15–21)

Goal: make calls based on numbers, not feelings.

• Day 15: Learn to count outs: 9 for a flush draw, 8 for an open-ended straight draw, 4 for a gutshot.
• Day 16: Learn the rule of 2 and 4 to turn outs into a percentage.
• Day 17: Learn pot odds. Calling 25 into a pot that is 75 after the bet means you need 25 ÷ 100 = 25% equity.
• Day 18: Practise with the pot odds calculator until you can estimate the answer before you click.
• Day 19: Read the poker probabilities cheat sheet and memorise five numbers you will use most.
• Days 20–21: Play two sessions and, before every call on the flop or turn, say your outs and the price out loud (or in your head).

Week 3 check

You should know the price of a call within a few seconds: a half-pot bet needs 25% equity and a pot-sized bet about 33%.

Week 4: postflop play and review (days 22–30)

Goal: plan hands beyond the flop and start learning from your own play.

• Day 22: Learn the continuation bet: when to bet the flop after raising preflop, and when to check.
• Day 23: Learn value betting. Before you bet, name the worse hands that will call.
• Day 24: Learn bluffing basics: tell a believable story, and bluff players who can fold.
• Day 25: Study the most common beginner leaks in our common mistakes lesson.
• Day 26: Learn about tilt and how to stop a session when your decisions get worse.
• Day 27: Pick a format to focus on next: ring games or tournaments. Our tournament lessons are a good place to start.
• Day 28: Review your biggest five hands in PokerCraft. For each one ask: was my preflop decision in line with my chart? Did I know my outs?
• Day 29: Retake the Player Path quiz and compare your recommended path with day 1.
• Day 30: Write down your three biggest leaks and choose one to fix next month.

Week 4 check

You should have a short written list of your own leaks and a habit of reviewing a few hands after every session.

A sample daily routine

Common mistakes when learning poker

• Skipping the basics. Strategy only works if hand rankings and position are automatic.
• Judging decisions by results. A good call can lose, and a bad call can win. Ask whether the decision was right.
• Playing tired or upset. Short, focused sessions teach more than long, frustrated ones.
• Studying without playing (or playing without studying). You need both every week.

What comes after day 30?

Repeat the review habit every week, go deeper into one area at a time, and revisit the strategy lessons as you meet new spots. Many players spend month two on one area only, such as tournaments, ring games or a second game like PLO. Keep poker as an enjoyable hobby: set time limits and take breaks.