SharePoker often gets grouped with games of chance. Chance does play a part but there’s a lot more going on beneath the surface. Poker calls on a mix of logic and adaptability to go along with some people-reading skills (and a slice of luck). It's a curious mix of probability and intuition.
The best players aren’t just lucky and they’ve put time into developing a toolkit of skills that help them make better decisions over and over again. No matter the format – the heart of poker stays the same. It’s about reading the game and the other players – not just the cards.
A Mix of Chance and Strategy
There’s no escaping the fact that poker contains an element of luck. The deck is shuffled and the cards fall where they may. No one controls the hand they’re dealt. But from that point forward, everything hinges on decisions. Fold or play? Raise or call? Bluff or stay quiet?
In online poker, some of the physical tells disappear. The rhythm and timing of moves still offer clues. Players need to adapt to a more statistical style and potentially explore numbers and betting patterns. Online platforms are far more popular now than they have ever been before – people are always working on ways to try to guess what is going on in a competitor’s mind.
When people choose to play poker online, they probably want to try to have some impact and go in with a strategy – this can involve aggressive play like bluffing or it might be more subtle. Some players try to gather all of the information around the table before they make any decisions.
In-person games add a whole layer of human psychology such as facial expressions and voice inflection. The same core skills come into play. And many of them can be practiced and even strengthened to get better at poker.
Skill is undeniable. This is why it is possible that some countries produce a lot of good poker players or that some people seem to win tournaments many times. The best players have records that are pretty impressive. Luck is needed alongside these skills, but they can form the baseline for possible success.
Sometimes the whole game can turn on the community cards and good players know this. This video is the prime example:
Understanding Probability and Odds
Basic maths can go a long way in poker. Knowing the odds of landing certain hands helps players decide when a bet is worth making or when it’s better to fold and wait for something stronger. It’s not about memorising complicated formulas. It’s about being comfortable with the idea of risk versus reward and how those odds shift as cards hit the table.
One way to get better at this is through repetition. Playing regularly and reviewing hands afterward helps the numbers sink in. There are also plenty of simulation tools and poker calculators that allow players to analyse different scenarios. Some of the basics of calculating probabilities can be relatively simple.
Control and Patience
Poker can be unpredictable. A good hand can still lose. A clever bluff might not land. That’s just part of the game. What separates steady players from erratic ones is emotional discipline. Staying calm and controlled makes a big difference.
Building this kind of mental resilience takes time. Some players use breathing exercises or take regular breaks during play to reset their focus. Developing patience means accepting that not every hand is worth playing and that sometimes the best move is to wait.
Poker players like Dan Negreanu have shared what they have learned about these aspects of playing through platforms like Masterclass. Negreanu is a huge name in the poker world and is known for a high level of controlled play. The modern age of learning means people can even pick up tips from these proven pros.
Adaptability and Flexibility
No poker game plays out the same way. Every table has its own rhythm. Every opponent brings a different style. That’s why adaptability is so important. A strategy that works against one player might fail miserably against another. This is true online as well as playing in person.
Being flexible means recognising when to shift gears like playing tighter or looser, more aggressive or more passive – based on what the table demands. The more varied the experience, the easier it is to adjust on the fly.
Focus
Distractions are the enemy of good poker. Whether it's a noisy environment or multitasking during an online session, losing focus can mean missing critical information. Spotting who’s raising more often and who’s constantly checking is only possible with full attention. People all have their own different techniques for improving focus. Some people even listen to classical music to help!
There are a lot of different types of poker players and they all have their own traits. There are some basics of strategy that most players should pick up before they consider playing.
