Ask yourself a simple question: Do you think that players like Daniel Negreanu, Annie Duke, Chris Ferguson, Phil Hellmuth, Kathy Liebert or Phil Ivey got to be the consistent winners that they are today by luck? Not a chance! They combine grueling hours of grinding it out at the tables with even more practice, and they dedicate themselves to staying at the top of their game and keeping their minds sharp by studying from the master teachers. So, what did they learn?

How to read a table.
Is your opponent bluffing? Can she read your tell - the one that you didn't think you had? Do you have command over this significant aspect of the game that falls into the "skills" category, and makes the difference between a winning player and a losing one, in both the short-term and long run?

The rules to winning.
There are four basic rules for winning at any game of poker. Obey the rules, and you often go home a winner; break them, and you're likely to go home a loser. When you know the rules of Texas Hold ‘Em, you can easily make the decision about whether to stay and see the flop or fold, based on your two hole cards.

How to be flexible.
Today's youth have greatly changed the face of in more ways than one, not the least of which is that on average young players come to the table more analytically sound than the average player just five years ago. So whether you're a newbie

or a seasoned veteran of the game, you've got to keep up with what these "kids" are bringing to the table, or their book learnin' could just trump your Ace and Eights. Learn how to combine a strong theoretical foundation with a flexible mindset, so you can stay ahead of the curve

Think you can make it as a pro?
Besides the fact that there's a significant challenge to consistently earning enough money at to give up your day job, the explosion of poker's presence in the public eye has affected the lives of pro players in ways that you've got to know about if you desire to play that game.