Great No-Limit Texas Hold em players say they have an innate feel for the hands their opponents are holding. They just know what other players have, and can play them like instruments, almost knowing their moves before they do.

When you sit down at your next game, ask yourself this: How much control do I have over my opponents right now? Can I read their bluffs? Bluff them? Sense when players are weak or strong? If you find yourself getting bluffed easily, or getting caught bluffing, or misreading opponents and putting them on weaker or stronger hands than they possess, you need to work on your game control. Try to guess your opponent’s cards on every hand, especially hands you’re not involved in. Not a random guess, but your best, educated one. If you fail, go back and see if you could have analyzed events better to figure it out. The more you do it, the better you’ll get.

How much do you really know about the game? Do you know the Texas Hold'em rules properly? Have you read books or did you learn Texas Hold’em watching television? Have you been playing home games, or going to the casino for years?

Even the best players feel they have more to learn. But there is still some fundamental knowledge you must have to be at the top. If you’re losing consistently, there just may be some aspect of the game you’ve missed along the way, or a source you’ve overlooked to give you the most well-rounded knowledge possible. The best way to assess your knowledge is to read books by recognized experts, or find forums of knowledgeable players you can discuss hands and ideas with. Be honest. Figure out how much you really know, and go from there.