15 Things I Learned Playing Poker Professionally for 15 Years
(A Thread)
(A Thread)
1. Choose your starting hands wisely.
The biggest mistake amateurs make is playing too many hands.
To play or not to play is arguably the most important decision of all. Everything that happens in a hand is a result of that first choice.
Start each hand with an advantage.
The biggest mistake amateurs make is playing too many hands.
To play or not to play is arguably the most important decision of all. Everything that happens in a hand is a result of that first choice.
Start each hand with an advantage.
2. Learn the power of asymmetry.
An asymmetric bet means risking a little to win a lot.
Anyone can play two aces, but professionals look for opportunities to get in cheap with the opportunity to win big.
Therefore, ‘getting lucky’ is nothing but taking a calculated risk.
An asymmetric bet means risking a little to win a lot.
Anyone can play two aces, but professionals look for opportunities to get in cheap with the opportunity to win big.
Therefore, ‘getting lucky’ is nothing but taking a calculated risk.
3. Expertise is only and always gained through long hours and hard work.
It takes experience to distinguish profitable bets from losing ones. It’s an art that requires continual effort over an extended period of time.
It takes experience to distinguish profitable bets from losing ones. It’s an art that requires continual effort over an extended period of time.
People think they want a substitute for this, but really, they don’t. The act of looking for a shortcut means that the activity isn’t important enough for one to make the necessary sacrifices to succeed.
That’s simply a sign from to move on to something else. No shame in that.
That’s simply a sign from to move on to something else. No shame in that.
4. It pays to be aggressive.
If you play a hand, bring it in for a raise.
Being aggressive gives one two chances to win, either by having the best hand or forcing others to fold.
If you’re going to lose, better to go all in on your terms than let someone else decide for you.
If you play a hand, bring it in for a raise.
Being aggressive gives one two chances to win, either by having the best hand or forcing others to fold.
If you’re going to lose, better to go all in on your terms than let someone else decide for you.
5. Be content with small victories.
It’s easy to get disheartened when you have a strong hand, yet nobody wants to play.
It's part of the game. Better to win a small pot than lose a big one.
Appreciate the easy wins. Use them as momentum toward bigger & better things.
It’s easy to get disheartened when you have a strong hand, yet nobody wants to play.
It's part of the game. Better to win a small pot than lose a big one.
Appreciate the easy wins. Use them as momentum toward bigger & better things.
6. Timing is Everything.
More than anything, the situation dictates the hands one can play & how to play them.
The best players don’t apply formulas or use templates to make decisions, but understand that each circumstance in unique.
It’s a skill that comes with expertise.
More than anything, the situation dictates the hands one can play & how to play them.
The best players don’t apply formulas or use templates to make decisions, but understand that each circumstance in unique.
It’s a skill that comes with expertise.
7. How the game actually works is different than how people think it works.
People love to watch the huge hands where all the money goes in, but that’s not representative of how poker is played.
Only 1% of hands make it to television.
People love to watch the huge hands where all the money goes in, but that’s not representative of how poker is played.
Only 1% of hands make it to television.
The other 99% is patiently waiting for the right opportunity to arise, and slowly grinding it out.
To play the game well is quite boring. It’s saying ‘no’ to 90% of the opportunities and betting heavily on the top 10%.
To play the game well is quite boring. It’s saying ‘no’ to 90% of the opportunities and betting heavily on the top 10%.
8. It’s extremely difficult to reach the top.
People dream of living the poker life. For most professionals it’s a struggle and a grind. They’re barely getting by.
Those who do reach the top and ‘make it big’, did so by making enormous sacrifice and
People dream of living the poker life. For most professionals it’s a struggle and a grind. They’re barely getting by.
Those who do reach the top and ‘make it big’, did so by making enormous sacrifice and
dedicating their entire lives to the game. They also caught more than a few lucky breaks along the way.
If you're wondering whether a career in poker is right for you, it's not.
How do I know?
Because you had to ask the question.
If you're wondering whether a career in poker is right for you, it's not.
How do I know?
Because you had to ask the question.
9. There’s a disparity even amongst the elite players.
Just like in other sports, in poker, there’s a clear difference in talent between a college athlete, a professional, and an All-Star.
Unlike other sports it’s impossible for the average person to distinguish this gap.
Just like in other sports, in poker, there’s a clear difference in talent between a college athlete, a professional, and an All-Star.
Unlike other sports it’s impossible for the average person to distinguish this gap.
Anyone can appreciate an incredible dunk by Lebron James, but in poker, only those with a certain expertise can understand the nuances of someone else’s game.
For this reason, poker players will great talent are largely under appreciated by the public.
For this reason, poker players will great talent are largely under appreciated by the public.
10. Trust Your Instinct
It's important to seek advice and feedback from others. But when you’re playing the game, only you can decide how to play the hand.
Nobody has more information than the person in the pot.
It's important to seek advice and feedback from others. But when you’re playing the game, only you can decide how to play the hand.
Nobody has more information than the person in the pot.
They’re the one sitting at the table, sizing up the situation, dialed in to every minuscule detail.
Who better than they are equipped to make the best choice?
Trust yourself. What other choice do you have?
Who better than they are equipped to make the best choice?
Trust yourself. What other choice do you have?
11. Confidence is key.
It’s not only talent that separates a good player from a great one, but the confidence to execute.
Great players are capable of making bold decisions without a moment’s hesitation.
It’s not only talent that separates a good player from a great one, but the confidence to execute.
Great players are capable of making bold decisions without a moment’s hesitation.
They’ll go all in if the situation is right and won’t think twice about the fact that they could lose a house if they’re wrong.
It’s one thing to intellectually know the correct play, it’s another to have the courage to make it.
It’s one thing to intellectually know the correct play, it’s another to have the courage to make it.
12. Find what works for you.
Question everyone. Question everything. Experiment daily.
Take what works, scrap what doesn’t and find your own style.
Question everyone. Question everything. Experiment daily.
Take what works, scrap what doesn’t and find your own style.
13. Be patient.
If you play a hand, it should either have potential to win big or be too profitable to pass up. Less hands than you expect fit these criteria.
Clear winners are obvious. If you’re unsure what to do, fold.
The next hand comes sooner than you think.
If you play a hand, it should either have potential to win big or be too profitable to pass up. Less hands than you expect fit these criteria.
Clear winners are obvious. If you’re unsure what to do, fold.
The next hand comes sooner than you think.
14. It’s All About Execution.
Anyone can look like a genius when they can see the players hole cards on TV. Many talk a good game. But the true measure of one’s talent is being able to compete in the area, when all the money is at stake and the whole world is watching.
Anyone can look like a genius when they can see the players hole cards on TV. Many talk a good game. But the true measure of one’s talent is being able to compete in the area, when all the money is at stake and the whole world is watching.
It’s one thing to know what the correct move is, but it takes a special talent to have the courage to make it when the stakes are the highest.
15. Don’t Throw Good Money After Bad
A good investment can turn sour at the turn of a card. Pros evaluate each new situation at face value, unbiased and unemotional about happened in the past.
They’re not afraid to admit they’re wrong or change their mind.
A good investment can turn sour at the turn of a card. Pros evaluate each new situation at face value, unbiased and unemotional about happened in the past.
They’re not afraid to admit they’re wrong or change their mind.
They’re ready to go all in or get out at any time.
Most view a sudden change of heart as weakness. At the table, it can be one of your biggest strengths.
Most view a sudden change of heart as weakness. At the table, it can be one of your biggest strengths.
