Improving your poker skills

Every player finds their own way to winning poker. We can’t guarantee a perfect strategy, but we can share some tips to help you improve your game.

Learn from trusted poker experts.

Try books written by respected players and coaches:

• Power Hold’em Strategy (Daniel Negreanu)
• Winning Poker Tournaments One Hand at a Time (Lynch / Van Fleet / Turner)
• Harrington on Cash Games (Harrington / Robertie)
• No Limit Hold’em (Sklansky / Miller)
• Raiser’s Edge (Grospellier / Nelson / Streib / Dunst)

Watch poker in action.

Watch real players put into practice what you learn in books. Check out our YouTube channel to watch live streams, videos and televised events from around the world:
www.youtube.com/c/pokerstars

You can also watch our replay tournaments where you see every player’s hole cards at the final table. This is an amazing way to understand winning decision-making in real time.

Connect with the poker community.

Join online forums to share ideas with other players and learn from shared experiences. A great place to start is:
www.twoplustwo.com

Manage your bankroll wisely.

Keep a separate poker bankroll, only money you can afford to play with.

Follow the 300/30/30 guideline:

• 300 big bets for the Limit stakes you play (Example: $600 for $1/$2 Limit Hold’em)
• 30 buy-ins for tournaments
• 30 buy-ins for No Limit or Pot Limit cash games

This helps you stay resilient during downswings and protects your ability to continue playing in the long term.

Create a healthy playing routine.

Play to a schedule rather than chasing short-term results. Focus on making the best decisions every session. If the cards aren’t falling your way or you start to tilt, take a break. You’ll protect both your bankroll and your mindset.

Track your progress.

Use tools like Hold’em Manager or PokerTracker to analyze your stats and find easy ways to improve. Seeing your results clearly makes it easier to grow as a player.