It’s easy to discover who the richest poker player is – Google is your friend. What’s not so easy is to determine how they got there. How exactly does a person go from playing microstakes online poker tables to cashing in the world’s most lucrative tournaments?
The difference between legitimate poker stars and casual players can be summed up in one word: Professionalism. Professional players display certain behaviors that, with practice, you can learn to spot at a glance. Without further ado, let’s take a look at how to identify a pro when you play poker online.
Key Traits of Professional Poker Players
So you want to tell if a poker player is a pro? Maybe you want to learn how to become a professional poker player yourself? Strategy and skills aside, there are some key traits that the stars have in common.
Love of the game: Pro players really love the game. Why else would they be in it? With the mental skills required to play poker at the top level, a pro could just as easily be a trader and probably make more money. So the number one hallmark of a true poker pro is that they just can’t get enough of the game.
Mental toughness: Downswings and bad beats can sometimes be so rough, they’ll make a rookie give up hope. Poker pros have the mental fortitude to make it through turbulent spells and come out on the sunny side of variance.
Smart bankroll management: Poker pros live off the game, so bankroll management is an essential skill. Ideally, a professional’s bankroll will cover a year’s worth of living expenses – enough to ride out any potential downswings.
Mental focus: A pro will never bring anything but their A-game to the table. If focus is lacking, for whatever reason (say, fatigue or emotional stress), a pro will choose not to play.
Training: Constant self-development is vital for any professional career in poker. Part of a pro’s daily routine is to analyze games, go through the stats, and figure out better ways to beat opponents.
Balance: As much as they adore the game itself, poker pros also know how to maintain a balance between poker and life. Being obsessed with anything is unhealthy, family, so professionals will find a way to keep harmony in their life, through spending time with family, running a separate career or business, or pursuing a hobby.
How to Spot Advanced Poker Strategies in Action
Beginners often ask how long it takes to become a pro in poker. A better question would be: How long does it take to learn and implement advanced poker strategies? After all, that’s the only way to get really good. It starts with spotting advanced strategic play at the table. If an opponent is using one or more of the following strategies, you could be up against a pro:
Playing fewer hands preflop: Amateurs have significant FOMO (“fear of missing out”) so they play way too many hands – and lose money as a result. Pros, as the song goes, “know when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em.”
Leveraging position: Pros will increase or reduce the number of hands they enter the top with according to their position. If you’re UTG (“Under the Gun,” first to act) your pre-flop range should be tighter than if you’re the button (last to act).
Playing ABC poker: Believe it or not, maximizing the value of strong hands is a winning strategy, and pros take full advantage. Value betting with confidence from a position of strength is key.
Balanced aggression: Absent a specific reason, a poker pro will not limp into a pot. Either they will fold or bet aggressively in a way calculated to put pressure on their opponents. A pro will also take care not to be aggressive every time, as this will make them too predictable. As a result, they will also mix bluffs and semi-bluffs into their range.
Game selection: In poker, “pro” also equals “profit.” Pros will seek out cash tables with players prone to errors such as playing too many hands, limping, and calling too often. In tournaments, pros do well in events that give them the best bang for their poker buy in. These are ones with fewer players, suitable blind levels, and favorable payout structures.
Signs of a Pro vs. an Amateur at the Poker Table
So how can you tell if that player who keeps winning at the table is a pro, rather than just lucky? First, they’ll tend to have a lower Voluntarily Put Money In Pot (VPIP) statistic than other players. In other words, they’ll enter the pot less frequently than recreational players – less than 25% of the time. When they do enter the pot, they’ll play with extreme aggression, forcing opponents to rush their decisions and handing over control of the game.
You’ll also find that they’re unpredictable, because they mix up their playing style, so you never know what to expect. Another sign is that when dealt cards, pros don’t check their hand first. Instead, they observe how their opponents react. Above all, pros will play for long-term expected value, maximizing profitability over time instead of playing each individual hand as though their lives depend on it. Finally, it goes without saying that pros will keep their emotions on the level, playing strategically and avoiding tilt. The ability to combine all these qualities is how pro poker players get sponsored.
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