Undoubtedly, you’ve come across people who seem naturally good at something in your life. In some cases, it might have been sports like basketball, while in others, it may have been school subjects like mathematics. As a poker player, you might have even encountered someone who seems incredibly good at the game, even though they’ve only played briefly. Are these people naturally good at casino table games? Or are there other reasons that some people just seem inherently good at poker? What makes a good poker player? 

This blog unpacks why some people seem to have been born with the skills to excel at offline and online poker and discusses whether there’s more to it than just being dealt a good hand.

Yes, Some People May Be Naturally Good at Poker

Firstly, it’s important to get this out of the way: while no one is born knowing the difference between a straight and a royal flush, there’s no doubt that some people are born with certain aptitudes, and this is what makes them a good poker player later in life. These abilities help them rise to the top in virtually every poker game and also answer the age-old question, “Is poker gambling or skill?” by showing how these players outmaneuver less-skilled opponents repeatedly. 

If you’re wondering how to be good at poker, what skills you need to succeed, and what you can learn from these “naturals,” here are some skills or traits for which good poker players are likely to have a natural flair.

1. Above Average Intelligence

While being smart isn’t a requirement to become good at poker or other online casino games, no doubt many people would argue that it definitely helps. In the study “Human intelligence and brain networks,” intelligence is defined as: “…a general mental ability for reasoning, problem-solving, and learning. Because of its general nature, intelligence integrates cognitive functions like perception, attention, memory, language, or planning.”

Many functions associated with intelligence are excellent poker skills to have at your disposal during a game. If you don’t have these skills, you’re likely to struggle compared to someone who has them innately or who has taken the time to learn and develop them.

2. High Adaptability

Whether it’s due to luck, the players at the table, or other variables, no two games of poker are the same. This is why people who are more flexible in their approach to the game are more likely to succeed than someone who sticks to one style of play. This is especially true as the game continues to evolve. For example, someone who is good at reading people and exploiting their weaknesses may struggle against a newer player who understands game theory optimal (GTO) poker and plays according to this newer, more efficient style.

Of course, adaptability is a poker skill that can improve your life, too, as you’ll learn to manage various unexpected situations.

3. Advanced Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is important in poker for two reasons. 

Firstly, it helps you remain in control of your actions. This means you’re more likely to make decisions that lead to a win and less likely to be influenced into making poor decisions by other players. If you’re frustrated or angry (also known as tilted) and other players can see that, they may use overt or subtle methods to manipulate you into playing a certain way.

Secondly, it helps you better understand or even change the state of other players in the game. This may not be as important if you play poker online, but being able to read “tells” or even just body language cues of other players in real-life poker games is highly beneficial. For example, reading the emotional state of another player could help you tell when an opponent is bluffing, or another player is on the back foot.

4. Willing To Take Some Risks

Poker undoubtedly has an element of skill, but it’s also a game of luck. This means a player can make all the right choices and still lose to a one-in-a-million hand. This randomness is likely to make risk-averse people stressed out, which in turn affects the way they play. This is why great poker players are (almost) always the most cool-headed players at the table. They know that sometimes, even when they play perfectly, luck may not be on their side. 

People with this personality trait may also know when to push their luck, allowing them to turn a bad situation into a good one in poker by bluffing and making another player fold. This is something a risk-averse player would never do, as they would likely fold based simply on the strength of their hand.

5. Decent Mathematic Skills

While you don’t have to be a mathematician to be good at poker, a solid understanding of maths and a natural affinity for it is certainly beneficial. The best poker players can quickly calculate the odds of a hand and what other players might be holding. They know the cards in the pack and can decide whether or not to call a bet based on the amount of money in the pot and the chances of hitting one of their outs.

If mathematics isn’t your strongest subject, don’t worry, as there are actually ways to improve your math skills while you play poker. So, you get the best of both out of the experience.

6. Highly Disciplined

Even if you lack some of the other traits we’ve mentioned already, you can make up for it with high levels of discipline. This is because highly disciplined players know poker is about experience and effort and will commit the time and energy to study the game and their own play to make up for areas where they’re lacking. Players with this level of discipline will take advantage of tips on how to become a more successful poker player and other educational content to help them overcome their opponents again and again.

All Poker Players Are Welcome at Borgata Online

Whether you’re a casual, competitive, or professional poker player, you’re welcome to join in at any of the tables at Borgata Online. At the Borgata Online casino and poker site, you can enjoy cash games at any time of day and daily poker tournaments with great prizes. There are great bonuses and other rewards for new and regular players at the virtual establishment, including advice on how to improve your game for beginners.

And, if you want to mix things up a little the next time you log on, you can use the same account to play all the other exciting gambling experiences on offer. That’s right, with a single account at Borgata Online, you can access live dealer games, bingo, casino games, variety games, sports betting, and more.
Register at Borgata Online to put your poker skills to the test or enjoy a variety of other fun casino games.