What is the best resource to learn how to play poker?
Free online poker lessons
Get free video poker lessons
Poker Tracking Software
Get tracking software also known as a HUD these will help you track opponents and observe their tendencies and allows you easy access to review your hand histories and will help you find and fix leaks in your game.
Poker starting hand chart
Find a good chart that basically should be the cheat sheet you need to get your pre-flop hand selections down this is often the weakest point for many beginner players.
Poker Books:
Doyle Brunson Super System
Harrington on Holdem
9 Answers
If you happen to be near a casino, many have some sort of real-life tutorial on how to play the table games. I know a number of casinos in Las Vegas do this (mostly in the morning when there are fewer people around) to teach you the ropes, but also to keep you from aggravating more experienced players.
To get your feet wet, sign up for the play money online sites and start putting in some hands. Pokerstars.com or FullTiltPoker.com are the big sites in the US right now, and the .com domains offer their play (fake) money sites.
To learn styles of play and concepts, there are a number of online sites you can go to and learn from online or live pros. CardRunners.com is subscription site with a ton of articles and videos where you can watch proven winning players make decisions on hands and hear their thoughts on why they do something.
PocketFives.com is a free site with a large community of online and live players who contribute to their forums.
PokerRoad.com is also a good site to read tournament pros blogs.
Nothing beats real experience. I would suggest starting out by getting a few buddies who want to get into the game as well; with a group of friends, learning poker will be more fun, and you can learn off each other. Play as many games as you can; cash, no-cash, tournament, and with players of different ranges. Play with people who are your level at first, and try to get a feel for the game. Play with people who are better than you, and learn from your mistakes and their plays (don't be afraid to ask for help or pointers). Play with people who are worse than you, and see what novice mistakes they're making.
There are countless books and online guides for poker, but one I thought was better than the rest was Doyle Brunson's Super System
This book is by far the most comprehensive and well written, not to mention that it's from one of the all time poker legends.
However, an hour or so reading up on google will probably suffice for a beginner. But I cannot stress my main point enough - Experience is King. You cannot learn poker from a book; no matter how many plays, tricks, tips, tells, etc. you read about from a book, it will be useless until practiced and perfected in play.
I'd start with a solid foundation based on research. You can get this from "Theory of Poker" by David Sklansky. This will give you an introduction to the basic situations and odds, and provide a solid foundation to build on. Based upon your choice to continue, more advanced strategy can be learned from "Small Stakes Hold 'Em" (this is for limit poker) or "No Limit Hold 'Em: Theory and Practice." Both of these books were co-written by Ed Miller and David Sklansky. These three books are considered to be essential references for beginning players by most in the poker community. If you understand the concepts in these three books, you can crush most low-limit games online, with your friends, or in casinos.
There's a wealth of knowledge for free at www.twoplustwo.com - it's a poker-focused message board that pre-dates the poker boom. Online and TV pros post there consistently, and many got their start as posters and contributors to the site.
Watching WSOP (world series of poker) or any other tv poker game/tourny is really great, because they explain a lot and they even go as far of telling you the odds of who will win and why. Set your dvr to record them, as espn usually plays them quite late at night.
(disclaimer - I work for DeucesCracked - but I am just a code monkey there)
Books:
Theory of Poker
Elements of Poker
101:
KeepYourChips (just getting started)
Also - read the books
Play with friends... emphasis on FRIENDS - not people looking for fish to rape.
Once you know the basics:
Poker Paradime - this is a really interesting play money site. One problem with most play-money sites is people don't play anywhere close to how they play with money. This site kind of solves this by profiling you as you play. When you're playing, you're playing against other players simulations based on their profiles. I've found it really fun.
Read forums... the forums at DeucesCracked.com are free and have tons or really good information. The best post for "new to the community" is the DC Video Overview post
IF YOU SIGN UP FOR A PAY SITE: Learn what Rakeback is all about BEFORE YOU SIGN UP (you can't signup for rakeback as an after thought). Briefly - rakeback is a kick back scheme. Casino's (online and in the real world) take a cut... rakeback gives you a % of that back. It makes a huge difference in how much you make. For example, here are DeucesCracked.com's rakeback deals
Once you're playing with real money... well - this is pretty out of my league - but, seriously, the people who join DeucesCracked.com generally really improve their game. DC also offers coaching if the videos and forums aren't good enough. Most of the video producers on DC are making a living playing poker and are some of the top players in the game... having access to that community is free in the forums and the members are super helpful.
Anyway - I don't get a kick back or anything on and of this - just trying to be helpful. Good luck (not that poker is a luck game ;)
Play! There are many many books on poker out there but you won't start to understand the game until you shuffle up and deal. Try one of the MANY online programs, play with fake money and get a feel for the odds (not the greatest way to understand how to bluff or call a bluff though). Get some guys together and play for beer money. Poker chips sets have dropped a fair bit in price, you'll be surprised how often you use them once you pick up a set. Here in Canada we have RedHotPoker they host games for free at local bars almost every night of the week, players play for 'points' not cash since gambling isn't legal everywhere. It is a great way to get better and play against a wide range of players. I recommend seeing if there is a similar tour in your neck of the woods.