Need some advice

[p0cketr0cket]

Im new to poker (NL texas hold'em) - I've been playin for about a half a year and im 15 years old. I like to play home games with my friends for not very much money and im interested in learning more about the game. I'd like to get good enough to hit the casinos when im older and make some extra money...Please anyone who has any thoughts or suggestions if I should take poker seriously or just play for fun.

Adults have told me before that I should give up trying to learn because I could loose alot of money later on. Any first steps I should take to become a better player ex: What books should I read?

[K-rug]

You can read all the books in the world about poker you can find. But only use them as guides not as the golden rules. People have different methodologies and ways that they play. The best teacher is experience. Find what works best, learn to play against players as well as the cards. If you don't understand that last one you soon will.

I wouldn't suggest a goal of making professional poker your career. It takes a lot of time and money to get to that level and there are not many whose sole income is from tournament winnings. Even Moneymaker who won this last WSOP has a real job and I don't think he will be giving it up any time soon.

My only advice is never second guess yourself. Never wonder what if. Never use hindsight to question the way you played after a hand is over. You will win big, don't get cocky. You will lose big, don't get frustrated. Never get frustrated. The rest will come naturally.

[HoldemShark04]

I'd suggest sticking w/ low limit/low stakes games for the experience & learning to read your opponents & if you want to try playing for money & focusing on just the card play, you could do what Chris Moneymaker did and start w/ online Texas Hold 'Em... But yah, I think I saw an interview (maybe it was when he won the World Poker Tour last year) where he said he would never make a career of it...