What are the most basic IRC commands I need to know?

/join CHANNEL - join the channel (replace CHANNEL with the name)

/part CHANNEL - to leave the channel

/quit reason - to leave IRC

/nick NEWNICK - to change your nickname (replace NEWNICK with your new name, 9 characters or less)

/msg NICK - to private message someone (replace NICK with the name)

/whois NICK - to find out information on someone (replace NICK with name)

/away REASON - to set yourself away to people that message you (replace REASON with why you are away)