Top 1 Tips the Poker Pros Don't Want You to Know

[@OwenPenner]

This is the first "what they don't want you to know" video that actually answers the question.

[@LowTide941]

Title states top 1, Phil had 6 fingers up, but thumbnail says top 5. I’m too high for this

[@ghostyff9183]

🤣

[@PhilGalfond]

😂

[@PoliteAF]

Only one? Phil, you're the man. Coffee maker break on this day? XD ;) #2 Even though it doesn't feel like it, preflop mistakes are the most expensive. #2.5 playing super nitty on the small blind is really strong, up until it folds all the way around to you. #3 Bluffing is an absolutely necessary part of a long term winning strategy. #4 I you are bluffing ever, then larger-than-average bet sizings, in general, are more likely to disrupt a professional's strong play. This is probably where casual players can most efficiently diminish a pro's edge. Variance is fun for casual players; it's not as fun anymore when you play this game to eat food and pay rent. This tip is especially applicable a little ways into tournaments, when stacks aren't quite so deep anymore. #5 You're probably giving off a lot of tells, even though your sunglasses look cool. Stop smiling every time you value bet, stop looking so apprehensive when you bluff, and forgodsakes don't respond to pros when they talk to you with a bunch o' cash in the pot. Good luck out there.

[@bobbywhite1645]

Remember though, pros aren't gods that can see your hole cards. They don't just magically know when you sloplay a set of 9s or can see that you're trying to check raise bluff the third club. They are people who have a slight edge over a huge sample size and thats how they win. Its ok to respect them if you want and recognize the work they put in to be pros but you don't need to fear them. When you sit with them you are both playing the same game with the same cards. Remember this isn't chess where you have a 0% chance to beat Magnus. They absolutely can and do lose money to recreational players all the time, and if you study a little you can absolutely be a dangerous and competitive player with them in any given session.

[@hushpuckena126]

As Mickey Appleman said to Al Alvarez in The Biggest Game in Town: there can be no self-deception. Those rare times I play tournaments, always at the WSOP in recent years, I size up my table and generally, even with professionals, get a handle early on of their general tendencies.

[@brettblaster]

When someone asks how would you play that hand at the table and you reply "I'm not sure"

[@Monojoe]

If they're asking you that it's too late....they know lol

[@brettblaster]

@@Monojoe very true 😂

[@qsdailydose8970]

Love these!

[@kikaze2000]

are there actually amateur players on this planet that sit at a poker table with Phil Galfond play PLO thinking they are not underdogs?

[@aldrigforsent8862]

There is no limit to the arrogance of a mediocre player running above EV over a large sample. 🎉

[@hussanaintahir3587]

@@aldrigforsent8862 Så sant så sant:)

[@ticenits1926]

Absolutely. I played with a guy few nights ago who said he could beat roulette, the world is filled with morons and I guarantee they see someone like Phil and 100% think they can take him.

[@tahoemph]

In lower limit live games (say below $25-$50) there are often a mix of amateurs and pros. The spot I often get myself into is given the seat available can I have an edge? My personal heuristic is to look at the 2-3 people over me and if they are all better then me to either not take the seat or if I think a better seat will come open take the seat and play quite tight until either I get a better seat or it is clear I won't and I should leave. I'll. mod that some if I'm sitting over super fish but not by a lot. I'm interested in how people think through that situation.

[@mikemcb8363]

Thanks Phil. I love the straight forward explanations, you give… I have found your Tips quite useful in my home game… what are the odds of having 100,000 subscribers by June?

[@PhilGalfond]

You’re very welcome, Mike! 100k by June? Hmmmm. 30% chance?

[@cactuarnoob100]

Poker professionals have this negative stigma around them that people want to crush them.

[@hussanaintahir3587]

Haha. "its not in the spirit of this question" can roughly translate to "Im not telling you the good stuff pros dont want you to know". :,D

[@momentumcharting6700]

Come on Phil. You get get much juicer than that.

[@hectormeneses6460]

Phil in your opinion is top 5 plo live players?

[@FriendsForFriends666]

Greatest win of my life was while being the underdog. Who the hell wants to compete against losers?

[@BengalsOAL]

Nothing worse than playing and having the table play different against you than everyone else 😅 iykyk

[@georgewbushcenterforintell147]

Who is Thomas!

[@PhilGalfond]

My producer, editor, and good friend!

[@georgewbushcenterforintell147]

@@PhilGalfond your alright Phil I enjoy your poker videos because they are not full of to much technical goobaty goo.

[@joemarcklinger724]

Which is why I don't believe in meet up games, why would I want to play against Anrew Neimi or Brad Owens? in real life it would be , Table Change!!

[@noamrothman6412]

Meet up games can be great, not to play against the pro but to play against all the idiots who think they can beat the pro

[@MelFinehout]

What drives me crazy, is the obviously BS compliment when you clearly made a mistake. "Nice bluff" or "well played" . I'm not amazing (or horrible) at poker. But I'm not a stupid person that doesn't know when you are low-key insulting me. "FU, you'd do no better at my job, wanna bet?" Is what I think. So, thanks Phil.

[@Funktaro5]

To me that's a hell of a lot better than anyone getting angry at how someone else played their cards. People are allowed to play however they want, and getting angry because someone made a bad play is just ridiculous and douchey. No one is entitled to win, but a lot of mediocre players think they are.

[@MelFinehout]

@@Funktaro5 I agree with that. I think the way that I look makes people not be aggressive toward me as often as they are toward others. Bullies. I’m actually not that tough of a guy, but I look like a stereotypical navy seal lol. So people don’t generally try to physically intimidate me.

[@bretmkal]

Phil can you send me a RIO shirt? I have been looking for years since the store went down. I will pay for shipping!