Are you still struggling about what makes a good poker player? Don’t worry, you are not alone! It can describe the results of the majority of poker players. However, it is just a few small poker tips that can help your game from “meh” to amazing.
In this article from Creatuforo, we are going to give you 7 effective poker tips according to Daniel Negreanu, one of professional poker players in the world. This would help you get better at poker. So, make sure to keep reading!
What Makes a Good Poker Player – Tips from Daniel Negreanu
“A combination of work away from the table, study, and practice is just as important as actually playing poker and getting the experience that you do at the felt.”
Daniel Negreanu, Professional Poker Player
According to Daniel Negreanu, a poker professional player, what makes a good poker player requires a combination of learning, practice, and also business knowledge. If your ambition is also to be a pro player, it is crucial to make a plan for your progression.
Success in your poker career takes a lot of hard work and a plan that will greatly improve your chances of realizing your goals. Well, here are some tips from Daniel to be a good poker player.
1. Learn at least 20% of the Time
Daniel Negreanu as a professional poker player suggests what makes a good poker player with starting a study/play ratio of around 80/20 for maximum results. Moreover, you have to bring your A-game to the poker table consistently. It is also crucial to lead a balanced life as your mind will perform poorly if overextended.
2. Don’t Stuck with One Type of Poker
Tournament poker players can play cash games to increase their skill level at deep-stack poker. While being primarily about short-stack play, the tournaments do start off with deep stacks.
This cross-discipline training will be necessary to reach your potential and acts as a safety net if your regular game is out of expectation. Playing types of poker help your long-term results.
3. Act Like You are in a Business
What makes a good poker player according to Daniel Negreanu, treating your poker career as a business is the best way to maximize your profit. Tracking detailed records of all your profit or loss will allow you to adjust in the most effective way.
Another way to make sure that your business thrives is to do your analysis of playing statistics to highlight the leaks in your poker game. Analyzing your leaks is the first step toward fixing them.
4. Take Advantage of Technology
About what makes a good poker player, Daniel also encourages players to make the most of the digital resources available to poker players nowadays. Playing online or watching seasoned players on Twitch.tv is one of the best ways to improve your learning process.
Online poker play will be much faster than live games and you are able to play multiple poker tables at once, and for lower stakes. For instance, online experience adds up very fast, you are allowed to accumulate as much experience by age 23 as legendary player Doyle Brunson did in 60 years.
The simulation software involved to advance your understanding on how to play short deck poker.
5. Learn from Other Poker Players
When you are playing online poker, you need to compare your data against that of the good player you are up against. Try to analyze the things that they are doing that you are not, and start applying those tactics into your games as part of your overall poker strategy.
6. Review Your Bad Beats Objectively
As a player who is learning what makes a good poker player, you have to be self-aware enough to determine if bad beats really are the result of the bad luck, or if you are just playing poorly. One method to do this is to discuss bad runs with stronger players to find out what they will think.
Regardless of how you will go about it, there is no value in playing the victim. You must always be thinking critically about your game and trying to understand ways to improve your winning rate.
7. Take Care of Your Body as Well as Your Mind
The world’s professional players, including Daniel, now approach poker like athletes. About what makes a good poker player, to perform well over the course of an exhausted tournament like the World Series of Poker, in which days can be 16 hours long, you need to prepare your body and mind.
Physical exercise and meditation can help you to achieve your goal and avoid tilt (that can cause losses). Most importantly, keep in mind that full-time professional poker players don’t get a regular paycheck. The lifestyle demands self-discipline and a longing to rise through the stakes. It is important that you never let your ego affect your mindset.
Skills Needed to Play Poker Efficiently
Now, you already know what makes a good poker player according to Daniel Negreanu. It is also important to figure out what skills that are needed to play good poker. Here they are:
Strategic Thinking
Thinking strategically of what makes a good poker player is important to keep your opponent’s off balance and avoid predictability from creeping into your poker game. A professional player always thinks about what cards his opponents may have and what move that he will likely make on the next hand.
Learning strategy also helps you figure out when the right time to bluff with a weak hand and when to fold. If you don’t pay attention to this, you will lose when you are up against experienced poker players.
Mathematics
No, you don’t need to be a math’s genius on what makes a good poker player, however, good knowledge in this area will unquestionably be a significant benefit. Thinking about the hands your opponents have in the poker game and accumulating what cards they are likely to have will make your decisions-making more accurate.
In addition, a poker player needs to understand the concept of “outs”, for example, cards that can improve a hand. The ability to do this is also important for basic mathematics.
Money Management
This casino card game commonly lasts several hours, however, your participation will last as long as your bank account. A common mistake that new players often make is wasting their money quickly by engaging in wild betting.
This way, you should think of poker as running your business and ensuring the cash flow is healthy. Managing your money while playing poker is worth it to avoid big losses.
Conclusion
To sum up everything about what makes a good poker player, you need to try self-discipline and patience. As a professional poker player, Daniel Negreanu takes lots of practice and money for betting. Therefore, you need to do some practice to build your own poker strategy by having strategic thinking, mathematics, and money management skills.
