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1. Expand Your Thinking Beyond Hole Cards
The simplest way to distinguish between average and elite poker players is by observing how they think about their opponents' likely holdings. While average players tend to try and pinpoint a specific hand their opponent might have, high-level players think in terms of ranges. A range essentially encompasses all the possible hands someone could have in a given situation. For instance, Player A might have a range that includes flushes, top pairs, middle pairs, bottom pairs, gutshots, high cards, or pure bluffs. Skilled players understand that within this range, Player A will show each hand with varying frequencies. They aim to identify these frequencies and make the best play accordingly. On the other hand, average players tend to fixate on questions like "Is it Ace-Jack?" You should shift your focus to thinking about your opponent's range instead. No one has a specific hand in poker—they have a range of hands. They will show different hands to varying degrees.
2. Abandon Your Favorite Hands
Many poker players have a particular hand they favor above all others. I know the feeling—I get excited every time I see a suited 9-7 and can't wait to play it! However, the truth is that suited 9-7 is just an average hand. In some situations, it might make sense to play it, like when you're in a later position with no one raising before you. But in early position, you should almost always fold this hand. If you have a favorite hand, that's perfectly fine—most people do. However, don't treat it as special or make poor decisions because of it. Winning in poker relies on math and logical reasoning, not superstition.
3. Stick to a Consistent Strategy
Another key to becoming an elite poker player is consistently applying a winning strategy. Changing your strategy suddenly, just because you're feeling bored or emotionally unsettled, is a mistake. Years of study and practice have given you a comprehensive knowledge base that tells you how to profit through your poker play. But that knowledge becomes effective only when you apply it at the poker table. Every hand and every session must be approached with the same profitable strategy! Elite players always stick to the same profit-making strategies, no matter how they feel or what recent results they've had.
4. Always Have a Reason
Poker winners sometimes deviate from their standard profitable strategy, but they always have a very clear reason. An average player might raise with suited 9-7 from an early position simply out of boredom or a desire to see what happens. However, an elite-level player might occasionally raise in the same situation because they've noticed that the opponents at the table tend to play passively and there are two recreational players in the blinds. This specific reasoning makes them believe that raising suited 9-7 could actually be profitable in this particular scenario. If you can provide a solid reason for deviating from your traditional strategy that demonstrates potential profitability, then it's acceptable. But saying "I just felt like it..." or "I was a bit bored" shouldn't be your excuse.
5. Know When to Fold Your Aces
The ability to fold premium hands is another clear difference between average and elite poker players. Picture this: you have pocket Aces (AA), the best starting hand in poker. You raise all-in on the turn, and you feel a bit queasy as your opponent calls. Your opponent then reveals a set of Threes (3-3), and you've got nothing but a gutshot chance to win. You need to start being more cautious in these situations. In fact, specific betting patterns can easily identify low-stakes poker hands, particularly in online poker. Folding your Aces when it's clear you're beat is 100% the right move. Elite players can let go of their obsession with having a great hand. Average players tend to cling to their AA and KK, even when they know they're beat.
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Post time 13-10-2023 07:16:23
