How to read people: Beginner needs help

Currently when I sit down the first few hands and the pot sizes give me an idea about how tight/loose/passive/aggressive the table is in general...

Telling is a table is Tight/Aggressive, Tight/Passive, Loose/Aggressive; Loose/Passive is easy... (Assuming I’m making the right calls at least hehe...)

Now when talking about the players, I know I’m doing a HORRID job...

I know this because I keep losing money to calling what I think is a bluff and losing, and folding to what I think is a great hand only to find out I would have won... (Not once or twice, but over an over)

In conclusion: I'm a fish, and I want to change! =)

Anyone have any basic level tips for reading players?

Oh, and how "bad" of a hand should you be willing to go in with when your the small blind? A2o for example..

first off, what limits are you playing?

.25/.50 I guess that would make a diffrence =)

..and I am guessing limit.

First up if you are a beginner lurk and take notes on peoples starting hands and how they bet. Do not join the table until you have at least something on every player at the table, even if the note is "has not entered a hand except on the big blind for 50 hands". Pay particular attention to show downs, and get the hand histories so you can look at the mucked cards on showdown.

This should give you a good idea of exactly which players are tight, loose, passive, aggressive etc. At those levels nearly all players are loose.

Your problem appears to be with post flop play so only enter with category 1 to 3 hands, and play very carefully when you are on the BB. You can get away with playing tight passive play for a while, and by a while I mean a few weeks. While you are doing this you will have plenty of time, since you will not be in many hands, to take notes on all the players. Do not multitable, do not do other things, try and guess what other people are on when you are not in the hand. You may find this dreadfully boring but it will be worth it and you won't go broke.

Do not play for more than two hours at a time.

Do not slow play, don't get cute, don't bluff, don't berate a player for a bad beat - do take notes.

Happy playing.

I disagree with Ayce: I think you should just sit down and play. I agree with alot of his advice, but if your only playing groups 1-3 then sitting down and playing those groups only, you wont lose much $. In fact you might gain some. So, i suggest you sit down and play very tight and take your notes when your not in the hand.