Poker Tips from Pros
Learning proper poker strategies and tips is crucial given the loss rate. Poker strategy tips vary greatly. Some players suggest playing very tight, only being aggressive with a few hands. Others recommend frequent bluffing and dominating opponents. With so many different strategies, finding a basic winning strategy may seem tough. But don’t worry, it’s possible. Many poker books and informational blogs like BLITZPOKER’s poker journal teach how to win at poker. This guide, filled with expert tips and tricks, will help you develop a winning poker strategy.
Poker Tips from Pros: Tips From Daniel Negreanu
Daniel Negreanu, a Canadian poker player, is one of the best in the world. His dedication to poker began at the age of 15, alongside interests in billiards and sports betting. This early start helped him become the player he is today, boasting six World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets, the highest recognition in poker competitions. Negreanu has written several books to help both amateur and professional players improve their strategies. Notable titles include ‘Texas Hold’em Poker: The Power of Strategy’ and ‘More Hold’em Poker Wisdom for Everyone: 50 New Tips to Make You a Winner’. Here are some of his tips:
Don’t show your cards if you don’t have to
One tip Negreanu often repeats is to avoid showing your cards if you don’t need to. The poker expert explains that other players will already analyse your bets and actions to figure out your hand. So, there’s no need to show your cards, whether you have a good hand or are bluffing. In his lectures, master classes, and books, Negreanu emphasises that opponents will use hand knowledge against you. Therefore, only show your cards when necessary, and remember this comes with experience.
Learn how to read players
Another tip from the poker expert is to learn to read other players and notice small details. He points out that every player is different and this skill comes with experience. Negreanu mentions he has used reverse tells to mislead opponents.
Do not prolong loose plays for too long
Negreanu advises against playing loose for too long when the flops are cheap. He says seeing a lot of pots when they are cheap is a bad decision. Limping with cheap blinds doesn’t allow you to win much money. For example, with blinds of 25/50, you only have 75 points in the pot. Negreanu suggests opening your hand when the antes come in on the flop and playing loose from that point.
Have a clear objective from the start
Negreanu stresses the importance of having a clear objective and understanding how and why to achieve it. He believes defining an objective helps maintain stability during a tournament and adds more interest and motivation to aim for the top spot.
Play junk hands off the button
This strategy is for junk hands after the flop in no-limit Hold’em tournaments. Negreanu describes a scenario where you’ve observed your opponents for hours. If one raises with bad cards and the other calls, and you have a junk hand on the button, the worst move is to call or go all in. Negreanu suggests folding, raising to double, or raising higher to prevent opponents from calling the flop.
Poker Tips from Pros: Tips From Phil Ivey
Phil Ivey, born Phillip Dennis Ivey Jr. on February 1, 1977, is an acclaimed American professional poker player. He has achieved remarkable success in the poker world, securing ten World Series of Poker bracelets and winning a World Poker Tour title. Notably, Ivey has reached nine final tables in the World Poker Tour. Widely esteemed as the best all-around player globally by poker enthusiasts and peers alike, he was honoured with induction into the prestigious Poker Hall of Fame in 2017. Here are some of his poker tips:
Position is Key
 Always consider your position at the poker table. Playing from late positions gives you a strategic advantage as you can observe opponents’ actions before making decisions. This helps in making informed choices about whether to bet, call, or fold.
Value of Suited Connectors
 Suited connectors (like 76s, 98s) are more valuable when defending against tight ranges. Unlike hands like A9, which are difficult to play against stronger hands like AK, suited connectors offer the potential to hit strong hands like straights or flushes, which can win big pots.
Adjusting Bet Sizes
 When facing opponents in small blind and big blind positions, adjust your bet sizes accordingly. Betting 2bb when they have already contributed blinds often invites wider calling ranges. However, increasing bets to 4bb can tighten their calling ranges, making post-flop play more predictable.
Observing Opponents’ Patterns
 Pay attention to opponents’ betting patterns, such as how often they raise, call, or fold. This information helps in making strategic decisions like when to bluff, when to call down with marginal hands, or when to fold strong but vulnerable hands.
Implied Odds and Deep Stacks
 In deep-stacked situations (100+ bb), consider implied odds carefully. These odds indicate potential gains if you hit a big hand like a flush or straight, based on your opponent’s tendencies to call. Suited connectors thrive in such scenarios due to their hidden strength and potential for significant post-flop gains.
Poker Tips from Pros: Tips From Phil Hellmuth
Phil Hellmuth, known as the “poker brat,” is one of the most talented poker tournament players globally. He holds a record 11 World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets, a feat unlikely to be surpassed. In 1989, he became the youngest player to win the WSOP Main Event, defeating two-time defending champion Johnny Chan in a heads-up match.
Hellmuth also excels in heads-up poker, winning the inaugural NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship in 2005. In 1996, his professional peers voted him the best No-Limit Tournament Player in the world, solidifying his reputation in the poker community. When we discuss about poker tips from the pros, how can we forget Hellmuth? Well, here are some of his tips:
Ditch the Hats, Shades, and Headphones
Phil Hellmuth advises against wearing hats, sunglasses, and headphones at the poker table. He believes these items do not help improve your game. Poker is a social experience, and interacting with others can be beneficial. If you’re concerned about revealing your tells, then using sunglasses might help. However, it’s better to improve your game by learning to control your tells rather than hiding them.
Review Game Tape
 To enhance your ability to read opponents, Hellmuth suggests watching poker videos without sound and trying to guess players’ hands based on their actions and body language. This practice can be done by watching YouTube videos for just 10 minutes at home. Regularly doing this can significantly improve your skills in interpreting other players’ behaviour during live games.
Get the Right Value From Your Hand
 Going ‘all in’ isn’t always the best move, even with a strong hand. The goal is to maximise your winnings from each hand. Betting too much can scare opponents away, causing them to fold and leaving you with smaller pots. It’s important to gauge the right amount to bet to keep opponents in the game while still maximising your profit.
Big Hands Don’t Guarantee Large Payouts
 Hellmuth notes that having strong hands like King/Queen can still lead to significant losses. When large bets start flying, it’s often because an opponent has an even stronger hand, such as Ace/King or Ace/Queen. These hands dominate because they include one of your cards and a higher one, making it crucial to be cautious and not overcommit with merely strong hands.
Skill Trumps Luck
According to Hellmuth, skill is more important than luck in poker. Over extended play, a good player will always outperform a bad player. This sentiment is backed by the 1986 Supreme Court ruling, which allowed poker players to pay taxes as a business, recognising the game as one of skill rather than chance. This underscores the importance of honing your poker skills to achieve consistent success.