What makes a successful poker player? (1 Viewer)

[grebe]

On my journey thru this year, I went from a steady winner to a slight loser to a screaming winner playing LAGGY to a screaming loser playing LAGGY to trying to patch the new holes in my game and running insanely bad. Here are a few things I have noted from my own perspective over this roller coaster (this is all online microstakes, mind you):

-if you are trying to play a certain style without paying attention to how your opponent is going to react, you are going to make some very large mistakes. Point is...only value bet the unbluffable and constantly bluff the nits (until they start calling you down).
-unwielded aggression is a sure-fire recipe for disaster. Well timed aggression is a deadly weapon. Learn the difference.
-Patience can turn a massive losing session into a winning session. Lack of patience can quickly find you broke.
-You can run much worse than you ever imagined for longer than you think possible. Don't play outside your means.
-If you are going to lose, make sure it's a big enough suckout that you win a BBJ.

 

[MatB]

On my journey thru this year, I went from a steady winner to a slight loser to a screaming winner playing LAGGY to a screaming loser playing LAGGY to trying to patch the new holes in my game and running insanely bad. Here are a few things I have noted from my own perspective over this roller coaster (this is all online microstakes, mind you):

-if you are trying to play a certain style without paying attention to how your opponent is going to react, you are going to make some very large mistakes. Point is...only value bet the unbluffable and constantly bluff the nits (until they start calling you down).
-unwielded aggression is a sure-fire recipe for disaster. Well timed aggression is a deadly weapon. Learn the difference.
-Patience can turn a massive losing session into a winning session. Lack of patience can quickly find you broke.
-You can run much worse than you ever imagined for longer than you think possible. Don't play outside your means.
-If you are going to lose, make sure it's a big enough suckout that you win a BBJ.

Grebe got an advance copy of my book obviously.

Spot on

 

[grebe]

Grebe got an advance copy of my book obviously.

Spot on

especially the part about the BBJ. Best play I made all year.

 

[CraigT78]

A large bankroll and no fear to jam and rebuy.

 

[longflop]

What are the skills/abilities/knowledge that are most important to being a winning poker player?

obviously a working knowledge of Gematria never hurts....

 

[FDLmold]

I don’t think one response has hit on the correct answer yet. Poker is about getting your opponents to make mistakes and taking advantage of them, while not making mistakes yourself. Losing your stack in 5CD with a full house because somebody made quads is not a mistake. Repeatedly stacking off with tptk in nlhe in the river because you refuse to be bluffed is definitely a mistake. If your opponents are not making mistakes you can recognize, leave the game, quickly!

 

[Mike mac]

the ability to walk away from a fight.... if i get reraised my brain takes it as aggression and i go into fight or flight mode. and i cant fly... this may sound stupid to most, but this is true for me and i find it a huge weakness in my game, and im working on it .... hard to do when im also playing poker with ten beers in me ... so i say the ability to fold well

 

[MatB]

If I’m sitting at a table playing poker, win or lose.

I have achieved success.

 

[Senzrock]

Lot's of good answers on this thread!

For me, the key to playing good poker, at any stakes comes down to this fundamental question:

Do you have a reason for every action you are taking at the table and is this reasoning connected to a broader framework/strategy about the game as a whole. By this I mean - every time you check, bet, fold... every time you give off a reverse tell, every time you show your cards without needing to, or alternatively don't show even when players are asking you to... every time you take an aggressive line, or a passive line, every time you overbet or bet a cheeky 1/10th pot on the river... do you have a thought out reason for it in your mind where you can honestly say that you've considered alternative approaches and came to the decision that this was the best one in that moment. Having a reason for every action - it sounds simple, but 9/10 players in this game couldn't tell you their reasoning on many of the lines they take.

Aside from that, I think good ones that others have mentioned include:

-Bank Roll Management / Not playing above your head (you can't make clear decisions when you are concerned about the $)
-Patience / discipline (if you can’t fold 4 out of 5 hands on a consistent basis, it will be hard to ever be profitable). Being able to let the game come to you, not pushing the action unnecessarily and allowing the game to slow down in your head, especially during an importance decision/inflection point.
-Mental Game (everyone tilts but the best players have skills to mitigate tilt and lose less during periods of extreme negative variance)
-Game selection (related to bankroll management but still its own category).
-Insight at the table (studying opponents behavior, betting patterns, thought processes)
-Social skills - being friendly (even popular) at the table. Getting invited to the best games is massively underrated in terms of profitability, especially as you move up in stakes.

And finally, I think the mark of a really good player is understanding (and really internalizing) the idea of variance. Knowing the difference between playing and running bad. Being able to accept that sometimes, even when you make all the right decisions, variance will swoop down and give your opponent the biggest pot of the night in a way that feels unfair. As soon as I hear a player blaming the dealer, the software or just his overall luck as a human being, I know right away that they have a lot to work on in terms of their poker game.

 

[Mojo1312]

A short list in no particular order...

Being mindful of what keeps the game alive. Learning how to play outside your comfort zone. Be gracious when you lose. Provide action when the table is loose and create action when the table is tight. Be pleasant when you are running good and unflappable when you are running poorly. Most importantly, the ability to look inward when you lose, instead of outward.

 

[Ethan]

A short list in no particular order...

Being mindful of what keeps the game alive. Learning how to play outside your comfort zone. Be gracious when you lose. Provide action when the table is loose and create action when the table is tight. Be pleasant when you are running good and unflappable when you are running poorly. Most importantly, the ability to look inward when you lose, instead of outward.

Wise words

 

[10centguitar]

A short list in no particular order...

Being mindful of what keeps the game alive. Learning how to play outside your comfort zone. Be gracious when you lose. Provide action when the table is loose and create action when the table is tight. Be pleasant when you are running good and unflappable when you are running poorly. Most importantly, the ability to look inward when you lose, instead of outward.

This

 

[Samuel]

Throwing two pesos into the good stuff already in the pot ^

Setting realistic/achievable goals and enjoying the little victories
Nana korobi ya oki (loosely - 'fall down 7 times, stand up 8')

 

[10centguitar]

No matter your style of play, you have to be able to consistantly get in with positive EV. Numbers dont lie.
Im sure someone has had to have said this but game selection is huge.

 

[nevr2late]

Playing at a level where the chips represent nothing more than a way to keep score vs representing money. That level is different for different people, but it’s key IMO to being able to make the right decisions through good and bad.

Yes. I think defense is under rated in all sports. Inc poker

 

[doublebooyah85]

Seat selection…..lol ;-)

 

[SendThatStack]

Understanding that the majority of your profit comes from playing good hands and also putting a high value on position.

 

[bergs]

Understanding that the majority of your profit comes from playing good hands

This is subjective. For example - I consider any hand where I’m dealt 6 cards to be a good hand.

and also putting a high value on position.

This is not subjective and is 100% accurate. I play my best poker when I am sitting upright and alert (note: this rarely happens).

 

[boltonguy]

Folding

 

[bvegas80]

I felt that finding the right group of players / table selection and knowing how to play against them is the key factor for winning

You can be the world 8th best player but if you are playing in a table with 1st to 7th best player, you are mostly likely to lose more than win

This is great....

 

[ThrowBack]

you have to stay loose

Play 7-deuce

 

[phil718]

math and empathy

 

[Highli99]

math and empathy

Somewhere Phil Helmuth scoffs in incredulous disagreement

 

[merkong]

Getting your money in good and not being a dick

 

[CraigT78]

Getting your money in good and not being a dick

I don't know. Being a dick is more important than getting it in good, IMO.

 

[Josh Kifer]

Racks and racks of mustard.....

 

[Divebuddy]

Time playing and studying the game, then most importantly the discipline to play correctly