Sports & Gaming
Strategies for Success
Lesson time 09:10 min
Learn how to train like Phil as he shares some of the practice routines that have helped him get to where he is today.
Students give MasterClass an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars
Topics include: Study the Pros · Collaborate With Other Players · Analyze Your Game · Experiment at Lower Stakes · Play Different Types of Poker · Focus on the Moment, not the Stakes · It's Not All Fun and Games · Look at the Big Picture
Preview
[MUSIC PLAYING] ANNOUNCER 1: How do you think you'd fare playing a hand against Phillip Horatio Ivey? ANNOUNCER 2: Phil Ivey has been the biggest name in poker for such a long time. It must be so hard to stay so great at this game. You need to work at it, right? PHIL IVEY: To be successful at poker, you have to be patient, dedicated, and adaptable. You have to constantly work at your game and always look to improve yourself. There's a lot that goes into playing poker, a lot that most people don't see. It's not an easy life. But there are some basic strategies that have helped me get to where I am now. Some of my biggest role models in poker were Doyle Brunson, John Hannigan, Ted Forrest. I learned a lot from these guys just from the table talk, the way they would talk to people, the way they played their hands, watching their table demeanor. Not only watching the way they played, watching the way they behave towards other players. You need to really start to study your opponents, start to study the top players in the world, see how they're playing, see how they're playing differently from you, see what works for them. And then you implement some of the things that they're doing into your game. And then also, you add stuff on your own that-- that works. And once you put all those things together, you can become a complete player. Just like with any other sport, the only when you get better is by playing against people that are better on you. So you need to learn, and watch, and pay close attention to what they're doing that's different from you that makes them better than you. [MUSIC PLAYING] The way I improved always before was-- was from practice, and from playing, and from trial and error. Now, a lot of things are more math-oriented, so you need to, like, study charts, and look at things from a different point of view, and talk with your peers, talk with people who have more experience in certain things than you. You find someone who's better at a certain aspect of their game than maybe you are and discuss that with them in exchange for what you may be better than them at. And, you know, you give them something. They give you something. And you-- you learn from that person. Take your ego out of the equation and realize that just because you're good or maybe fantastic at poker, you always can get better, and that there's somebody that does something better than you at a specific part of the game and be willing to learn from it. [MUSIC PLAYING] One thing I'd really like to think of in a hand is if the hand was reversed, would my opponent have lost the same amount I did, or would he have lost more, or would have lost less, OK? And I think that's really important to think about. And that's how you know whether or not you have an advantage over someone. You should try to take notes, if you can. You really need to break down a hand, so break down what happened. When you get caught blu...
About the Instructor
At age 38, Phil Ivey became the youngest player to win 10 World Series of Poker bracelets. Now the man known for his enigmatic table presence—and widely regarded as the world’s best all-around poker player—gives you unprecedented access to his mental game. Learn poker strategy, pick up new poker tips, and review hands with the player who’s won more than $26 million in live tournament earnings.
Featured MasterClass Instructor
Phil Ivey
Phil Ivey opens up for the first time about his poker strategy and teaches you how to make smarter moves at the table.
Explore the Class