How many hands need to be played to be considered an experienced player?

How many hands played would you consider an experienced player?I know the answer is subjective and everyone has a different level/skillset due to how much they study outside the game as well as playing, and everyone will have their own opinion, and i'd like to hear it.


I have played 1m hands in the last 18 months and i feel like i am only just past the beginner stage.
I would call myself a low level intermediate


I'm a break even player, but lately regs have been getting an edge on my game.

good question. imho it depends not only how many hand you played but who teaches you or do you analyze your game well enough.

I tried to post an indepth history/overview of my game in cash game section in order to get some insight from seasoned players but it looks like it didn't get past mods.

I'm self taught, i played about 250k hands of zynga poker while studying pre-flop strategy using an App on my phone. I would also watch top tourney players on twitch who like to explain their reasoning behind every decision.
Although, i might be applying too much tourney strategy to cash games as a result.


I played 5k hands a day multi-tabling on pokerstars for about 6 months every day.
Recently i've switched to acr, where i was doing well at first but regs bluff me less now than at first, (i rarely bluff) and raise more with basic pairs knowing im a pretty tight player, around 9 - 15%. i vary it, sometimes playing connectors if in position.
I really do try to mix up my bets as i know they use huds, so it will be impossible for them to know for sure if im on AA/KK until its too late.


I used to use a hud on pokerstars, but dont use it on acr.
I feel i dont need it, i am pretty good at keeping track of tight/loose players and thier range and betting patterns.

I wouldn't go by how many hands one player has played to determine if they are an experienced player because they can play millions of hands but if they can't learn from the hands they play then it is no use to play all those hands. Also it depend on how quick of a learner the player is.

Two hands. one hand right. other left.

In my opinion experienced is that understand the game and is already able to arrive at in final table and win a tournament that the award is very good.

Hmmm I don't think it's about the amount of hands being played at all. Because you can play over 300 hands in you poker lifetime, and you may still not be as experienced as you think Of assume you are.
Yes hands have a part to play, but you also jab to educate yourself and study poker strategies and stuff.

Jockerist said:

Two hands. one hand right. other left.

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I laugh. Correct answer.

You need a percentage of play and another of study. how much more study and more attention on your moves, more soon you will be considered a good player


You will notice that it has evolved as the results are coming. I played a lot of time without worrying, only recently that I am studying and I was able to see progress in my game, but still much more to reach the professional level.

In my opinion experienced is who understand the game and is already able to arrive at in final table and win a tournament that the award is very good.

You need 120,000 hands cash table or 5,000 MTT/SitNGo

I do not know exactly, but experts analyze the game through 100,000 hands. But during this time, some players manage to lose the house, the car and in the some times to win all these things

The more you play, the more you will realize how much you still do not know.

I think number hands means nothing if you are not acquiring knowledge, number of years of study plus play would be a better marker

Rskeyyy said:

good question. imho it depends not only how many hand you played but who teaches you or do you analyze your game well enough.

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i agree with this statement

А я лучший, просто самый не везучий

Until you forgot the exact number of how many hand did you play . If you think you have learned everything about something then you are totally wrong, because with every new day you re going learn many new things. Never stop learning, it never ends .

Lost count in 2009 on Pokerstars, I feel I am advanced. Once u play a lot, u see patterns. Mastering bet patterns and position is huge. A lifetime of workx

The Elephant and the 5 Blind men

Experience is defined as the "reaction" of a person to a specific unique situation.
(If you smoke pot, that is totally different)

Know the story of Elephant and 5 blind men?

I have read, there are some great players who started with $25 and became a millionaire.
If you are clay head, then even 2 million hands won't make a difference.

Good luck in keeping your sanity!

Experienced you could think you are when you are capable to control the table!. Of course, you will constantly face more experienced players, but that will happen in later stages of the game or at higher levels of buy in :top;

If you feel like a beginner, then you are. Good news, that means you're still teachable.