Most Effective Time Clues?

I mean:

I am not searching someone to tell me  where to get the best wordlist, i am searching any suggestions from profesional members for a rockie to deshash most effectively time/hash found, what is best way? any wordlist or making my own? and based in what?.


Also rules? what are? where i can check them, is there any rule better than other for specific cracking?.


Any good way to start learning these program(confused for me) i just know basics and whant to learn it better for see what im doing bad/good how can i improve.