Need Help With Weekly Holdem Vs. Friends.

First off let me say that I am very new to texas holdem. I have been playing for maybe 3 months at the most. I do play on the internet, but not for money. I have also read a couple articles on holdem on the internet but nothing really extensive.

Just about every weekend me and about 4-5 of my friends get togather to play a game of no limit holdem. The buy in is usually around $2-5 and everyone gets $50 in chips. The blinds are set at $.50/1 and don't change untill it is one on one, which then they go up to $1/2. Now we are all really new to holdem and just do this for fun. Nobody, as far as I know, except for me, has ever read anything on holdem, or played outside of our circle. Pretty much everyone calls the blinds every time, even on hands like 7-2 offsuit. Raising pre-flop is pretty much nonexistent, unless somebody has to leave, then they go all in pre-flop, and might get a caller. Now I am wondering what some basic strategies are for playing at this kind of table. What my starting hands should be, etc. Any help at all would give me the edge that I need to win (although I usually get atleast 3rd, if I have a bad day).

Firstly your question is a bit vague, but Ill try to answer it anyway. A couple quick pointers:
1) Look at the strategy guide here and learn about starting hands preflop and position. I suggest almost every time if your going to play a hand raise with it about x3 the big blind. Make your opponents pay to see the flop against you. This will raise your chancing of winning tremendously.
2) Play the table if your opponents wont fold a hand at any time, dont bluff just wait till you get a hand a bet all the way till the end. If your opponents only like to see the flop and then will toss a hand if they dont hit you can bluff alot more.
3) Own the table I think when your playing players like this they do exactly what you expect raise before the flop with your good hands then if you get one or two callers bet after the flop if you hit or dont, youll take down the pot a good percentage of the time if you get called you can let up. I feel I table like this is one you can control, if there always paying attention to what you all the time your doing the right thing, make them be afraid of playing a pot against you.

I might be a bit off here becuase I dont know enough about your opponents but you can give number 3 a try other then that follow number 1 and 2 no matter what.

If you're playing against a table where everyone's to the flop, limp in with some good drawing hands, suited connector and 1 gappers, keep the pots small until you hit something, play premiums, and stay away from hands that can be easily dominated (eg. Axo)

check out this strategy section.
http://poker-strategy.flopturnriver.com

Read all u can.

At the home game I play, I learned to not Bluff as much as I was trying to. There was always someone that would call your bet. The card police I like to call them. If you are going to bluff, try to do it when there are less people in the pot.

read all u can.

read some more, and practice, practice,practice!!
I'd also get an online poker account and play the free SNG's 10+1
Sit and Go's = SNG in the play money tourney section. After the first 3 people go out, it usually plays somewhat decent.

Keep the pot small at all times until you hit something nice, then overplay it. Rarely bluff.

Originally Posted by mrhappy333

I'd also get an online poker account and play the free SNG's 10+1
Sit and Go's = SNG in the play money tourney section. After the first 3 people go out, it usually plays somewhat decent.

These aren't free. They cost 10+1 = 11 dollars. And start with the 5.50s

Originally Posted by ark4748

Originally Posted by mrhappy333

I'd also get an online poker account and play the free SNG's 10+1
Sit and Go's = SNG in the play money tourney section. After the first 3 people go out, it usually plays somewhat decent.

These aren't free. They cost 10+1 = 11 dollars. And start with the 5.50s

They are free at party poker. Under PLAY MONEY.