Six basic knowledge and skills of Texas Hold'em,Playing professional poker is a world apart from playing it casually. While your poker skills might be enough to win consistently, this alone doesn't qualify you as a professional player. Like any professional sport or e-sport, a career in poker requires not only skill or talent but also a lot of off-the-table effort.
1. Choose the Right Game and Stick to It
Switching from one game type to another can prevent you from mastering any of them. You need to decide which game you enjoy or excel at and stick with it. This doesn't mean you can't play cash games with friends if you choose to focus on tournaments (MTT), but you must dedicate most of your effort to your main game.
How do you choose your game? It's simple! You should select a game that suits your situation and interests.
- If you don't want to play long sessions or don't have the time to sit at the computer for hours, tournaments might not be for you.
- If you enjoy a dynamic environment, competing for huge prizes with a small buy-in, and have the time to play, then tournaments are a good choice.
- If you need flexible time management, cash games are a better option.
- If you like the competitive format but lack time, single-table tournaments (SNG) can be a good alternative.
Each form of poker has its advantages and disadvantages. Do your homework and choose the one that suits you best, then stick to it. For example, if you choose to play tournaments, spend time studying tournament strategies, mastering different chip depths, and adjusting your play for different stages. Switching to cash games might not be wise.
Sticking to one game helps you improve faster as you can focus on learning the most important aspects and accumulate experience more quickly. Once you gain an edge in one format, maintaining it is easier than learning a different game.
2. Master the Math
Once you've chosen your game, dedicate all your energy to mastering it. Obviously, if it's a new game, start by learning the rules, but soon after, focus on mastering the math. Poker is a mathematical game, and without a mathematical mindset, achieving success is challenging, if not impossible. Here are five key points to understand:
- Odds: Calculate the probability of hitting the cards you need when behind.
- Pot Odds: Understand the relationship between drawing odds and pot odds to make informed decisions on calling, raising, or folding.
- Implied Odds: Consider the additional value from implied odds, like how much more you can win if you hit your draw.
- Combinatorics and Frequencies: Calculate combinations and frequencies to narrow down your opponent's hand range.
- Range Thinking: Think in terms of ranges, not specific hands. When judging your opponent's hand, consider their range, such as “two high cards,” “suited connectors,” “overpairs,” “small pairs.”
One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is assuming opponents have a specific hand rather than a range. By analyzing all actions at the table, starting from pre-flop based on their position, betting frequency, and bet size, you can assign a range of hands. Then, narrow this range with each subsequent action. If your hand beats their range, call or raise; if it doesn't, fold. It's that simple.
3. Continuous Learning and Research
Winning a game doesn't mean you know everything about poker. There's no such thing as “graduating” from poker. It's a challenging and dynamic game, meaning if you stop improving, you'll fall behind quickly. Other players will catch up. Remember, winning today doesn't guarantee winning tomorrow. Poker evolves, and new learning resources become available daily. Here's how to keep improving:
- Always Review Hands: Review your hands after every session.
- Observe and Note Opponents: Record or note the play styles and characteristics of your opponents.
- Discuss Hands: Mark uncertain hands and discuss them with friends or a coach.
- Study GTO (Game Theory Optimal) Strategies: Learn optimal strategies.
- Develop Exploitative Strategies: Find the best ways to exploit different players.
Essentially, you need to strive to be better every day.
4. Maintain Optimal Performance
Many players lose money due to tilt, emotional decisions, or lack of focus. While you can't eliminate these problems entirely, you must minimize them. If you lose a buy-in in every session due to poor performance, your monthly results won't be what you hoped for.
Optimal performance is often a deciding factor in winning. Many players think it's enough not to play hands or tilt when feeling bad. While important, this is just a small part of maintaining peak performance. To be at your best, you need energy and focus. Ensure you:
- Get Enough Sleep: Don't play when tired.
- Exercise Regularly: Many successful poker professionals maintain a fitness routine.
- Avoid Alcohol and Eat Healthily: Prepare your body and mind for the game.
Remember, playing poker in poor condition affects every decision you make, often leaving money on the table. Develop good habits to maintain long periods of peak performance. Professional poker is a long-term endeavor. If you're better than your opponents, you'll profit in the long run. Good performance helps you stay ahead.
5. Bankroll Management
Everyone knows bankroll management is crucial, yet many poker players fail due to a lack of discipline. For aspiring professional players, consider the following:
- Separate Your Poker Bankroll: Keep your poker funds separate from daily cash.
- Have Enough Buy-Ins: For cash games, maintain 40 to 100 buy-ins; for tournaments, have at least 75 buy-ins.
- Save for Living Expenses: Keep enough savings to cover at least six months of living expenses.
- Move Down Stakes if Necessary: Don't hesitate to lower your stakes when needed.
Many skilled players lose all their money by not following these simple tips. Don't be one of them. Also, never assume variance won't affect you. Downswings can last months, and winning streaks can disappear quickly, wiping out all profits. Even the best players can't guarantee constant wins. Variance can be huge, often more than you expect, so be prepared.
6. The Difference Between Professional and Recreational Players
Losing a couple of poker games might be bad luck, but playing every day for a year without making a profit isn't due to luck. Remember, at the poker table, it's you against the other players. If you're consistently losing in the long run, there's only one reason—you're not as skilled as your opponents. Similarly, poker stars at world-class tournaments like WSOP or WPT consistently reach final tables or win championships not because of luck.
The gap between break-even players and big winners isn't as large as many think. It's often small adjustments, accumulated over time through continuous learning and research, that make the difference. Emotional or superstitious players almost always lose or barely break even, while excellent players know that poker is a long game. They don't get overly concerned about specific hands or moments. Long-term profitability is the goal. Approaching poker in a calm, logical, and mathematical way is a good start.
Today's sharing ends here. Poker is easy to learn but hard to master. Reviewing hands, studying, and improving is one of the best ways to learn poker.
