5 Poker Concepts That Turn You Into a Winner

SmartPokerStudy
26 Aug 2025
Intermediate
This material is for medium-skilled players
Strategy

Sky breaks down five critical poker concepts that separate winners from losers. Learn EV decision-making, player exploitation tactics, proper bankroll management rules, strategic table selection, and mental game fundamentals to elevate your play.

Master EV thinking, exploit player types, follow bankroll rules, choose profitable seats, and control tilt to transform your poker results.

Essential Winning Fundamentals:

  • EV Decision-Making: Compare all options on the expected value spectrum before acting, choosing the most profitable play every time
  • Player Exploitation: Move beyond level-one thinking to exploit opponent tendencies and player types for maximum profit
  • Bankroll Protection: Follow 40x buyin rule for cash games and 100-200x for tournaments to survive variance
  • Strategic Positioning: Avoid tough regulars on your left and actively seek profitable table dynamics
  • Mental Game Mastery: Keep a tilt journal and develop counter-strategies to prevent emotional leaks from destroying your bankroll
  • Long-term Perspective: Focus on moving up stakes safely rather than chasing quick wins through bankroll mismanagement
  • Observation Skills: Continue studying opponents even when folded to gather exploitable information for future hands
About the Author
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SmartPokerStudy Poker Training Brand

SmartPokerStudy is run by Sky Matsuhashi, a coach who shares clear poker study tips through his podcast and site. He gives simple strategies and action steps for cash games, sit-and-gos, and MTTs, helping players improve each week with targeted, easy–to–use guidance.

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