WPT General Poker Tips from the Pros: Daniel Negreanu

Analyzing your play on a regular basis is the secret to improvement. Making mistakes is fine, learning nothing from them isn't.
Eyes, hands, throat, fingers, whether a player chatters or sits in silence. Subconscious tells are everywhere. Figuring out what they mean is the tricky part.

Someone might tell you, Hey, if you are in late position and you have got top pair, an over-pair, or top kicker, if nobody’s bet, BET! You have got to bet to knock people out before they can draw to a hand. But, there will be moments when you might want to slow play it in such a situation. Keep in mind that there are few absolutes in poker. It's important that you mix up your play so that your opponents have a tougher time figuring you out.

At times you may have someone tell you something like. Never call a bet with a pair thats not top pair: either raise or get out. Advice like this will get you into lots of trouble. There's nothing wrong with calling with even bottom pair on the flop and proceeding cautiously from there. If you are waiting to flop top pair or better every time, you will find yourself doing a whole lot of waiting and very little winning.

If you find yourself in a game where it seems like every hand goes to a showdown, you should bluff less. If your opponents are calling with rags [bluffs or low cards] all the time, bluffing just isn't going to work. On the other hand, keep in mind that if you are going to the showdown, you better come prepared with a strong hand.

The most important characteristic for a champion card player is aggression. Think about it. How many tight conservative players have won on the WPT That's right, ZERO! In order to win, you have to be willing to get in there and fight. Dr. Max Stern once said, In a tournament, sometimes you have to be willing to die in order to live. Words to live by.

Beginning players should try to simply learn the fundamentals. How much to bet, what hands to play. As they gain experience and their play improves they will be able to rely on their instincts in certain situations. For more advanced players, it's all about instinct. If you fall into the latter category I would add one specific piece of advice: when in doubt, trust your first instinct.

A poker truism: The harder you work, the better you will get.