Poker Advice For Beginners

Chris Ferguson recommends never sitting down at a table where the buy-in is more than 5% of your total bankroll. That's a good guideline, but even that might be less conservative than the bankroll strategy you should be following if you're a beginner.
Play for play money and really low stakes for a while to make sure you're comfortable with your chances of winning before moving up in limits.  But don't pressure yourself to be a winning player if you're just playing for fun and don't mind losing a little money. Poker is a game, and games are supposed to be fun. If you do have a goal of being a winning or even a professional player, go slow and be patient with yourself as you learn how to beat the game and the other players. Use this site as well as forums to improve your game. Be patient and never fall into the trap of thinking you are better than you really are, and if you do, SEE IT and change your attitude. Hey, I've been a victim of poker pride a few times. Everyone probablly has, but the ability to see it and change it is what separates the great players from the not so great.