One of the things all great online poker players know is that the only way to keep improving your game is to follow the 80/20 rule. This means strategically splitting up your poker-focused time by spending 80 percent of it actually playing poker online and the remaining 20 percent studying the game to optimize your strategy. The most practical and rewarding way to brush up on your skills and hone your strategy is by learning from the real poker pros.
Luckily, the internet and social media have opened up a world of opportunity for anyone on the lookout for poker mentors, which is fantastic news for those who don’t personally know any professional players. It’s a great way for you to pick up valuable tips on online poker tournament strategies, as well as gain a sense of community in the poker world. Read on to discover a list of our favorite poker pros to follow on Twitter, all of whom generously share their wisdom and insights with their fans.
Daniel Negreanu
Twitter handle: @realkidpoker
No. of followers to date: 515K
Undoubtedly one of the best-known and most-admired poker pros in the world, Canada’s Daniel Negreanu has won six World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets and also boasts two World Poker Tour championship titles. He regularly posts links to interesting industry news articles and to his personal poker video vlog, which is packed full of insights into the professional poker world, as well as featuring plenty of funny content for a good laugh.
Fun fact
Given that he was born to Romanian parents, it’s no surprise that Negreanu can speak fluent Romanian. But he’s also an animal lover and a vegan who often shares tips on his Twitter page for living a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.
Phil Ivey
Twitter handle: @philivey
No. of followers to date: 443K
Phil Ivey is an American poker pro with a whopping 10 WSOP bracelets to his name. Other important accolades include a World Poker Tour title and a reputation for being the best “all-rounder” in the poker universe. He also boasts a spot in the esteemed Poker Hall of Fame. Fans can find him on Twitter, where he posts regular updates on his career.
Fun fact
Many top players have had surprising careers before playing poker professionally – Ivey being a case in point. Before turning pro, he worked at a telemarketing firm. He has said in the past that he honed his skills by playing friendly casino games against his co-workers!
Doyle Brunson
Twitter handle: @texdolly
No. of followers to date: 398K
Gambling legend Doyle “Dolly” Brunson is also on Twitter. Although he’s been retired since 2018, he’s a respected American poker player who played professionally for half a century! Brunson won the WSOP Main Event twice, has 10 WSOP bracelets and a World Poker Tour title and was the first player ever to walk away with $1 million in poker tournaments. A Poker Hall of Fame inductee, Brunson mostly uses his Twitter page to speak about poker and industry news.
Fun fact
Brunson was nicknamed the “godfather of poker” in reference to his unrivaled skills at the table. Another notable thing you may not know about him is that he’s also a cancer survivor, having beaten the disease multiple times since he was 30 years old. We wish Brunson the best of continued health!
Phil Hellmuth
Twitter handle: @phil_hellmuth
No. of followers to date: 310K
American pro Phil Hellmuth doesn’t have the best reputation within the gambling community (he’s been nicknamed “the poker brat” thanks to his antics following any big losses at the table.) But it’s fair to say that he’s an incredibly skilled player and someone worth following if you’re keen to learn how to play poker like the best of them. He has a jaw-dropping total of 16 WSOP bracelets and managed to win the Main Event in 1989. Unsurprisingly, he also has a spot in the Poker Hall of Fame. You can find him on Twitter, where he posts plenty of “poker positivity” and advice.
Fun fact
Hellmuth has said that he first fell in love with card games when playing with his grandmother, who he claims remains the “most spirited” card player he’s ever played against.
Vanessa Selbst
Twitter handle: @vanessaselbst
No. of followers to date: 91.9K
Although she no longer plays professionally, many regard American Vanessa Selbst as the world’s most successful female poker player of all time. With three WSOP bracelets to her name, she’s the only female player to peak at No.1 on the Global Poker Index. On Twitter, Selbst still posts helpful poker advice for her followers. Her bio reads: “I used to gamble and wake up late. Now I gamble and wake up early.”
Fun fact
Selbst revealed her main reason for retiring from her gambling career was the fact it had started to feel more like a job rather than a passion. Since taking her leave from the industry, Selbst has begun a new career in the world of finance as a hedge fund manager.
Tom Dwan
Twitter handle: @tomdwan
No. of followers to date: 183K
Known for getting his start by playing live poker online and specializing in Omaha and Texas Hold’em poker, Tom Dwan is an up-and-coming American poker pro. He has dominated the online poker world and many of his fans are certain he’ll one day do the same at the WSOP. Find him on Twitter by searching for his handle.
Fun fact
Dwan started playing poker online when he was a teenager, using birthday money that he received from his father to make his first deposit into his gambling account.
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