Poker is a game that requires you to think about your odds, evaluate risks and calculate returns. It is a game that can take you through a whirlwind of emotions, but the most successful players learn to control their emotions and focus on their decisions. The skills you gain through poker can also help improve your life off the table.
One of the most important things to understand is that you should always play your strongest value hands. This is something that Daniel Negreanu covers in his Masterclass training, and it’s a concept that you should practice until it becomes second-nature. The more you do it, the better your game will become.
Another important thing to understand is the mathematics behind poker. You need to be able to work out the probability of hitting your desired hand, and then compare this with the risk involved in raising your bet. This is known as ‘EV estimation’, and you should practice doing this until it becomes an automatic consideration when making your decisions.
You should also be able to identify conservative players from aggressive ones, so you can read their betting patterns more easily. Aggressive players often bet high early in a hand, and they can usually be bluffed into folding. By contrast, more conservative players will fold early unless they have a strong hand. This is because they are scared of getting caught bluffing. They will usually call you when you raise, but they won’t risk their entire stack unless they have a good hand.
