Sitting at a poker table next to seasoned competitors can be a nerve-wracking experience. Should you alter your gameplay? What’s the best approach?
In the following segment of 'Ask a Poker Pro', 888poker Ambassadors they provide insights for novices who find themselves up against expert players.
Here are ten strategies designed to help you manage the situation calmly and effectively.
1: There’s No Need to Feel Intimidated
The first thing to keep in mind when a professional takes a seat at your table is that they are just another individual, like you. They have personal lives, favorite songs, and even take breaks! This also means they are bound to make mistakes. poker mistakes too.
While we often concentrate on honing our tactics, it's easy to overlook that poker is equally about minimising your mistakes minimizing errors. Winning revolves around making fewer mistakes than your opponents. Professionals thrive in this environment because they consistently face players who commit more substantial errors.
To maintain your standing against a professional, it’s crucial to minimize your own mistakes. This way, you can lessen the impact if they do have a competitive edge.
Of course, this is easier said than done. When you encounter a moment of confusion (‘when’ rather than ‘if’), try not to fixate on it. Remember, even the best players experience this, and poker doesn’t operate like a soccer match.
Your opponents might not capitalize on your errors, and even if they do, conceding one point doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve lost the match.
2: Breathe and Relax
Research conducted by Brigham Young University (and other institutions) revealed that:
Stress often leads to diminished focus and memory because our minds become too agitated to concentrate.
Such mental fog can be detrimental at any time, but it’s especially challenging when facing off against more skilled players at the poker table, leading to a higher likelihood of mistakes.
Poker demands a variety of skills, and the ability to remain composed and think clearly when under pressure ranks among the top. If you feel particularly anxious when playing pots against a professional, try to find techniques to calm your nerves.
- Take a deep breath.
- Take a little extra time to think before making decisions.
- Feel free to imagine them naked.
- If it helps, treat yourself to a drink!
3: Shhh! Don’t Give Too Much Away
The song ‘Don’t Speak’ by No Doubt is not only a great hit but also serves as wise counsel when engaging with tough players. Some individuals may become overly starstruck when positioned next to a professional at the table, leading them to voice their strategy aloud in an unconscious attempt for validation. They may be trying to convey that they are not easy targets.
- However, a skilled professional can easily penetrate your gameplay by analyzing the depth of your strategic conversation.
- They can assess your level of skill much more readily in such scenarios.
- Therefore, they will be able to adapt their strategy more quickly than if you kept your thoughts to yourself (and no, we aren’t talking about zipping up!).
Opting for silence and maintaining a low profile can keep the mystery surrounding your gameplay intact. Consequently, the pro will need to closely observe your actions to determine your level of skill, which is much more complex and time-consuming.
Who knows? They might mistakenly believe you’re a strong player or underestimate your abilities and make errors themselves.
If you spot a professional at your table, put on a bit of No Doubt and heed this advice.
Don’t speak!
4: Embrace The Opportunity
One of the thrilling aspects of poker is its ability to level the competitive playing field between experts and amateurs. It’s comparable to golfing against Tiger Woods or playing football with Cristiano Ronaldo—experiences most sports enthusiasts only dream of.
So, if you find yourself at a table with a renowned professional or legend, embrace it! It could be the perfect chance to test your skills against formidable competition.
You might even walk away with an incredible story to tell.
5: Don’t Fear The Word ‘Professional’
Another point to consider when facing pro players is that the label ‘professional’ can often misrepresent true skill levels. Some professionals may excel in very niche areas. poker formats Many casual or recreational players can outplay certain professionals.
Imagine being presented with two players: one has a strong skill level rated at 7 out of 10, while the other is somewhat weaker, at around 5. If you were asked which one is the professional, who would you bet on?
You would likely (and sensibly) assume that the stronger player is the pro. However, that may not always hold true.
Much depends on the nature of the games they typically face. If the 7/10 player spends most of their time competing against other 7s or 8s, they may find the competition quite fierce. making a living from poker Conversely, a player rated 5/10 could very well thrive in games populated by 2s or 3s.
It's widely accepted in poker that consistently sitting with players of higher skill levels will lead to long-term losses. In fact, many aspiring professionals fail to succeed due to issues like ego or lack of self-awareness, leading them to engage in games beyond their capabilities.
In this light, the designation of ‘professional poker player’ may not be something to dread. An expert who selects their tables wisely may not dominate every matchup.
6: You Can Choose to Avoid Professionals
The caliber of your opponents is paramount. A smart move when dealing with proficient professionals is to steer clear of engaging them in pots. It’s relatively simple to sidestep one or two pros at your table.
However, it’s essential to remember that nothing prevents you from changing tables altogether. If you find yourself in a tricky position or a grueling cash game—consider relocating!
Moving allows you to prevent loss, which is far better than remaining in a minus-EV scenario.
It’s certainly more challenging to avoid professionals in MTTs tournaments, of course. Nevertheless, your time together at the table is generally brief, particularly in large fields.
Additionally, the dynamics surrounding elimination and stacks in tournaments can often limit the potential damage a professional can inflict.
7: Have a Strong Range
Have you ever heard the phrase ‘bringing a knife to a gunfight’? There’s a converse principle to apply when facing professional players. This involves subtly adjusting your preflop ranges gameplay. Aim to minimize the number of weaker hands you enter in pots against the professional.
This preflop alteration will allow you to present tougher flop ranges, enabling you to confront the pro with a more competitive arsenal.
Stronger ranges often lead to better hands on the flop, making the subsequent stages of the hand easier to navigate. They also decrease the instances of marginal situations, where a pro would typically outclass you. (Making decisions becomes much simpler when you either have very strong or very weak hands.)
8: Stick To What You Know
Many players feel that they need to drastically change their style to hold their ground against professional players. Frequently, they resort to imitating the flashy moves they’ve seen highlighted in poker shows.
There are several problems with this strategy:
- You’re more likely to make errors if these types of plays are unfamiliar.
- Blindly emulating moves can result in deploying them in inappropriate scenarios.
The essence of poker lies in committing fewer mistakes than your opponents. You’ll be more successful if you stick to the strategies you are comfortable with.
Reflect on your initial experiences with anything. You likely weren’t very good at first. The first time you used a fork, spaghetti may have ended up everywhere—on your face, the walls, or even your cat! But eventually, you refined your technique and learned to enjoy delicious bites.
The same is true of your poker strategy Over time, you’ve unwittingly constructed a poker strategy based on tactics that resonate with you. Even if they aren’t the most advanced, they’ve become second nature, allowing you to execute them with ease.
A skilled player may discern ways to exploit your approach. However, after just a couple of sessions, they’re unlikely to form a robust read on your gameplay. Even if they become suspicious, significant adjustments are less likely based on such limited observations.
For this reason, it’s better to ‘play your own game’ and rely on your style of poker familiar strategies. Straying too far from your regular tactics may lead to mistakes and subsequent monetary losses.
9: Avoid Unnecessary Attempts to Outplay Them
Remember that scene in Rounders where Mike goes after Johnny Chan?
The one where he says:
| “I just thought to myself, you know, I don’t care about the money. I’m just going to outsmart this guy. I’m determined to outplay him this hand.” |
Many players experience this sort of ‘forget it, I want to show this guy who’s boss’ attitude when facing a professional (especially if they’re well-known). However, it’s critical that you don’t fall into this mindset.
Keep in mind that emotional control is an area where professionals tend to have an advantage. Therefore, try to remain as composed as possible. You might feel the urge to outsmart them, but it’s important to recognize that these feelings stem from pride and can make you more vulnerable.
In Rounders, Mike makes a decision based on emotion against Chan. It’s purely an ego-driven act. While it might work out in the moment, it really does not validate much in the grand scheme. Mike naively believes this hand showcases his ability to compete with the world’s best, but judging your skills based on one hand is flawed.
Bluffing a professional may seem exhilarating, but you’ll find greater success if you manage your emotions and let logic drive your decisions.
With that said, if having an ‘I bluffed If impressing your friends with a bold move is more critical than the money involved, you might as well take the chance.
10: Pay Attention
Bear in mind that against stronger players, your odds of losing money in the long run are high. Therefore, playing in a situation where you are –EV feels like paying for admission. Just like any expense, if you're incurring a cost, seek out value. A clever way to frame this is to view your losses in EV as tuition fees.
If you choose to remain in a game rife with strong or professional players, you’re likely incurring financial losses. So, put your phone down and focus on what the talented players are doing.
- If possible, take notes on the intriguing insights you come across. They will be beneficial for your studies later on.
- Encountering a seasoned professional at your poker table can be quite intimidating. How should you handle this situation? Check out these ten suggestions that can assist you in managing the experience with composure.
- 10 Strategies for When a Poker Expert Sits at Your Table!
10 Strategies for Dealing with a Poker Pro at Your Table
It can be quite nerve-wracking to have professional players seated next to you during a poker game. Should you alter your game style? What’s the best way to respond?
In the following episode of Ask a Poker Pro,
they share insights aimed at recreational players who find themselves competing against professionals.