Play Like the Professionals: Poker Strategies the Pros Use

To say poker is popular is an understatement: according to data, more than 10,000 poker tables were found worldwide in 2024. Below is a look at the growth of poker, especially online poker, the rise of people beginning to play poker and at strategies professional players use.

A growing game

Stats in the UK are an example of poker’s growing popularity. Research by YouGov found that the number of people taking part in online poker has increased steadily from 5% in 2021 to 10% in 2024. The research concluded that promotions drive poker platform choices, as does experimentation, a sign that players are willing to explore alternatives in the hope of better deals.

Transitioning from casual to advanced players

Of course, not everyone who plays poker wants to be a pro. The game’s rising popularity has seen lots of people taking up poker as a hobby or even just play it casually at one of the many online poker sites available. One way to improve is to see how professionals play and use the same strategies. Below are 10 strategies professionals use and how they impact their game for the better.

Start slow

In a tournament, the early stages are all about survival, so play conservatively before the antes kick in. You can’t win a tournament in the early stages, but you can lose all your chips in them. Note, however, that if all your opponents are playing tight as well, you could play more openly and steal their chips.

Look for tells early in the game

Looking for tells in the first 20 minutes to an hour of the game is essential. Look for anything different. Did their behaviour or body language change when they were bluffing? Do they glance at their chips when the flop comes out? That’s a bad sign. It means they have good cards, whereas if they stare straight ahead at the pack, they probably don’t.

Fold if you’re unsure

Calling too often and at the wrong times is one of the fastest ways to lose. This goes against the natural human curiosity and desire to win, but the best players fold if they’re unsure. They analyse later whether it was the right decision and learn from it.

Make frequent small bets

This tactic is part of Daniel Negreanu’s “small ball poker” strategy and works well in poker tournaments. Small ball players win significant shares of smaller pots and preserve their chips.

Choose the right game

Sitting down to any old poker game and expecting to win is a mistake. That means finding games with bad players, who will do things such as call too much, have a low stack of chips, play bad hands often in the showdown or play too many hands. The amount you win is a result of the people you’re playing against.

Understand your position

Knowing when you’re in a strong position or a weak one is crucial so you can adjust your play accordingly. A short stack calls for conservative play, whereas a long stack gives you leverage because opponents can’t hit back without making critical mathematical mistakes.

Have fun

For all the seriousness of tournaments, you should still enjoy playing. Whereas bad players blame any losses on bad luck, pros take it in their stride. They know losses are part of the journey and the maths will see them right in the long run.

Poker is a popular game and lots of people are playing it online. The more they learn and practice, the sooner they can take part in cash games. Adopting the strategies is one way they can build their skills, learn about the game and, ideally, prosper in games and tournaments.