Poker is a game that Darwin would have liked – only the strongest survive, and if you don’t adapt, you better get used to riding the rail.

The key to success in poker lies in remaining unpredictable – always keeping opponents guessing what kind of hand you have. In poker, you get paid by playing J 3 the same way you would play AA. As soon as a table gets a read on your game, it is time to make a change. In poker language, it is time to change gears.

The value of changing gears cannot be underestimated, as you have to be able to play fast and slow. While it is true that aggressive poker is winning poker, there are also times when it is correct to lay off the gas and realize that half the table is gunning for your scalp. For example, there is a player in my home game that always plays very aggressively, splashing around in just about every hand. He is very good at building up chips early, but he almost never ends up winning. He inevitably doubles everyone up, taking too many chances when shorter stacks start pushing in. If he could only slow down a bit, and learn to preserve his stack, he would be a real monster on the felt.

Let’s say you have been raising a ton of pots and running over the table. Let’s also say you haven’t had to show down many of your hands. The smart players in the game will notice these kinds of things and begin to get suspicious. The smart players will realize that you’re probably raising with trash and stealing pots. The smart players will start to get annoyed, and they will begin playing back at you. You better notice when this tide turns, and you better make an adjustment, or you can watch your hard earned chips get pushed across the table. This adjustment will inevitably mean playing fewer hands and only raising with stronger hands. In other words, slowing down…shifting to a lower gear.

Some of the best players in the world – men like Phil Hellmuth, Doyle Brunson and Howard Lederer – often say that they don’t have an identifiable style, but rather they prefer to adapt to the dynamics of their opponent (what’s also implied in this is that they can play fast or slow as well as anyone). Each different table, with the divergent personalities and playing styles that come along, is a unique force, with a whole host of chemistries and energies. The top players make the subtle adjustments that provide them with the best chance of succeeding at a given table, and they find the right speed. Whether it means playing fast, slow, or somewhere in between, the proper course of action is always out there – the hard part is finding it.