This will not be a popular answer amongst people who consider themselves pros, but I think the biggest advantage for pros is bankroll. They are in it for the long haul and have the ability to sustain losses that Rec players simply don't have. That gives them the ability to play a little more aggressively compared to Rec players.
When I play a live tournament at one of the WSOP Circuit stops, I scrimp and save to scrape together the buy-in. I use my hotel points to get a free room at a hotel with free breakfast (and I take yogurts and milk cartons and the small boxes of cereal back to my room for dinner), I pack a lunch for the five-hour drive to the casino, and I only bring enough money for one bullet plus another $100 to play some $1-$2. That naturally affects my playing style. I'm not going to risk my stack 40 minutes into the tourney to try a bluff, or call off half my stack chasing a flush on the second level.
Pros, however, bring enough cash to play multiple events. They are more than willing to chase and bluff early in a tournament to try to build a big stack and take advantage of us tight Rec players. If they bust, it's part of the cost of the business they are in. They'll fire another bullet or wait for the next event.
This will not be a popular answer amongst people who consider themselves pros, but I think the biggest advantage for pros is bankroll. They are in it for the long haul and have the ability to sustain losses that Rec players simply don't have. That gives them the ability to play a little more aggressively compared to Rec players.
When I play a live tournament at one of the WSOP Circuit stops, I scrimp and save to scrape together the buy-in. I use my hotel points to get a free room at a hotel with free breakfast (and I take yogurts and milk cartons and the small boxes of cereal back to my room for dinner), I pack a lunch for the five-hour drive to the casino, and I only bring enough money for one bullet plus another $100 to play some $1-$2. That naturally affects my playing style. I'm not going to risk my stack 40 minutes into the tourney to try a bluff, or call off half my stack chasing a flush on the second level.
Pros, however, bring enough cash to play multiple events. They are more than willing to chase and bluff early in a tournament to try to build a big stack and take advantage of us tight Rec players. If they bust, it's part of the cost of the business they are in. They'll fire another bullet or wait for the next event.
Strong fundamentals and lots of experience.
Discipline and Bankroll Management come to mind. Pros pinpoint that moment when to strike and scarf your chips and they know when to lay down a strong hand even with the laws of probability in their advantage, ie bankroll stack point...Biggest Advantage Pro Players have over Recreational Players is Experience... and maybe a little more patience?
There are some Recreational players that could pay in and re-buy as much as any Pro Player But Where a Pro Will Have them Beat is in the Experience Department for sure...
Hmmm I Wonder if Bill Gates plays Poker?
This will not be a popular answer amongst people who consider themselves pros, but I think the biggest advantage for pros is bankroll. They are in it for the long haul and have the ability to sustain losses that Rec players simply don't have. That gives them the ability to play a little more aggressively compared to Rec players.
When I play a live tournament at one of the WSOP Circuit stops, I scrimp and save to scrape together the buy-in. I use my hotel points to get a free room at a hotel with free breakfast (and I take yogurts and milk cartons and the small boxes of cereal back to my room for dinner), I pack a lunch for the five-hour drive to the casino, and I only bring enough money for one bullet plus another $100 to play some $1-$2. That naturally affects my playing style. I'm not going to risk my stack 40 minutes into the tourney to try a bluff, or call off half my stack chasing a flush on the second level.
Pros, however, bring enough cash to play multiple events. They are more than willing to chase and bluff early in a tournament to try to build a big stack and take advantage of us tight Rec players. If they bust, it's part of the cost of the business they are in. They'll fire another bullet or wait for the next event.