Whether or not you’ve ever played poker before, you’ll likely know that it’s more than just a game of luck. Playing at real tables and online, poker is a game of nerve and skill. You’ll need to be able to read people’s playing styles and call their bluff as you make your way to the final rounds of play.
This is why so many fans of the game look towards some of the best poker players on the planet for tips and tricks! There are certainly no cheat codes for winning at poker (whether that’s on your phone or in Vegas), but there are plenty of seasoned pros who know how to hold their own from round to round.
In this guide, we’ll take a quick look at what some of the best poker players have achieved over the years – and what their successes could teach you if you’re trying to improve your game.
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Some of the best poker players
There are plenty of different ways to rank the best poker players of all time. You’ve got to consider winning hands, their overall prize money, and how they’re perceived in the playing community. So, we’ve brought together a quick selection of some of the best-known poker champions to see what we can learn from them.
There’s a good chance that you may have heard of:
- Daniel Negreanu
- Timothy Adams
- Johnny Moss
- Ren Lin
- Kristen Foxen
Let’s get to know these stars a little better before checking out some lessons they can teach us at the table.
Daniel Negreanu
Daniel Negreanu is one of Canada’s best-known and highest-earning poker players of all time. He’s said to be worth more than $55m at the time of writing just from live poker earnings and is ranked firmly in the global top 10 of highest earners. He’s well known for taking an alternative approach to poker – by avoiding big risks, which can put other players at the table off his scent.
Timothy Adams
Timothy Adams is another Canadian player who is fast chasing Daniel Negreanu when it comes to all-time earnings. Firmly inside Canada’s top 50 players at the time of writing, he has also earned close to $40m in his career. That takes a lot of nerve – and, for the most part, Adams’ play style revolves around sussing out what other players are planning.
Johnny Moss
The legendary Johnny Moss is sadly no longer with us, but up until his passing in 1995, he was regarded as one of the most formidable players across the decades. His full lifetime earnings have never been made completely clear, but he’s referred to some as the ‘Grandfather of Poker’ – and you don’t earn that accolade without making some impressive plays at the table.
Ren Lin
At the time of writing, Ren Lin is the second-best-ranked poker player in the GPI, with total earnings topping $14m. He has steadily become a force to be reckoned with since 2015, having started playing low-stakes games in Vegas before gradually building up his bankroll via high-roller and no limit series. Lin’s tournament record is interesting largely because he doesn’t always scale the top three or even top five – however, he is remarkably consistent.
Kristen Foxen
Kristen Foxen, formerly Bicknell, is known to millions as one of the most successful female poker players in history, topping GPI’s female player of the year charts on three consecutive occasions. She has made more than $9m playing poker professionally and made it close to the final table at the World Series of Poker main event in 2024.
What advice can they offer to aspiring poker players?
Here’s some advice that players could take away from the six champions I’ve just introduced you to:
- Bet frequently to keep people guessing. One of Daniel Negreanu’s strategies at the table is to avoid big, risky bets and to focus on frequent, smaller punts. This is a strategy that can not only keep losses low, but also keep other players at the table in the dark on what you hold.
- Clear your mind. Timothy Adams is well-known for being immensely analytical – a state of being that’s easier said than done to achieve! However, Adams suggests that he clears his mind by regularly practicing meditation and mindfulness. And, he reportedly brings a custom saddle – the ‘human tool’ – to sit on to correct his posture and keep his mind sharp.
- Watch and learn. Johnny Moss, as the Grand Old Man of Poker, of course wrote and published a book on how to win at the game. When just getting started in poker, Moss advises that he spent time learning from ‘cheaters’ – he knew how to cheat and to protect his game, but he made money from playing clean. Bottom line: it’s worth watching how others play before you charge in!
- Consider a playful attitude. Ren Lin is famous for his boundless charisma and energy, and believe it or not, he was a professional video gamer before he took to poker. Perhaps tuning your mind into all kinds of games can help you at the table – play a few on your phone occasionally and sharpen your mind.
- Just keep playing. Kristen Foxen recommends playing poker as much as possible to really get good at it. While you can certainly learn plenty from watching and reading, practice can make perfect.
How can you apply their advice to your own game?
Listening to advice from the professionals is one thing, but how do you convert this advice into action at the poker table? Here are a few steps you might want to take with this pro advice in mind:
- Try three-card poker first. If you really want to practice the game, like Foxen suggests, but want to take it slow towards the bigger-stakes games, try smaller spins on poker such as three-card brag. The gameplay is simpler, and you’ll have the chance to learn about the various hands needed to win.
- Sit in on live games. There are plenty of live poker games online you can sit in on. You can see how the players handle their cards, and how they bluff others. This is a great opportunity, as Moss suggests, to see how others conduct themselves.
- Be careful with your bankroll. Negreanu’s small, frequent betting technique could be healthy for your bankroll. Although it may be tempting to go all out on high-stakes games and to take outside shots, betting small not only keeps people guessing, but also keeps your money running for longer.
- Set time limits. As Adams suggests, being mindful is a great way to keep the mind sharp. You’ll need that in intensive poker games – so, be sure to set time limits (alongside bankroll limits) so that you can get out of the game occasionally, breathe and reset yourself.
- Play a variety of games. Lin’s varied career in playing games has helped to sharpen his skills at the table. So, take time to try other games – such as slots, other card games, or even app store games on your phone – and don’t just eat and sleep poker.
As you can see, there is a lot you can learn from poker champions, and plenty you can try and put into practice right away. However, always remember that becoming a true poker champ takes time and effort!
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