One of the biggest differences between strong poker players and everyone else is what I call poker vision. It’s similar to a chess grandmaster seeing moves ahead or a quarterback reading a defense. They’re not just reacting to the current decision; they’re already seeing a few moves ahead. When pros are playing well, they’re constantly running quick mental checklists before they act.
Preflop checklist
Preflop, before I open a marginal hand, the first thing I look at is who’s behind me. Especially the button and the big blind, since they will probably "VPIP" the most. Are these aggressive players who like to three-bet, or are they players who overfold their blinds? That alone can completely change whether opening light is profitable.
The second thing I check is stack depths. If someone behind me has under 10 big blinds, I might be priced into calling if they shove. If players behind me have around 13 to 25 big blinds, that’s the classic re-shove stack where they can jam pretty wide. So, you may have to be a little tighter there. So before I even raise, I’m already asking: What happens if someone goes all-in? That’s basically thinking about effective stacks before the hand even starts. This is determined by the shortest stack at the table.
Post-flop plans
Once we see a flop, I usually start with the GTO framework. First question: Who has the range advantage? Second: Who has more nut hands? Third: How stable is equity on this board? Is this a board where equities stay relatively stable, or one where everything can shift dramatically on later streets?
Then I layer in player tendencies. Do they fold to c-bets a lot? Are they aggressive when checked to? If someone loves betting when I check, I’ll strengthen my checking range and start looking for check-raises.
Next, I think about bet sizing. What does this bet size actually accomplish? What does it say about my perceived range? Am I trying to deny equity, apply pressure, or set up stacks for later streets? Good players aren’t just betting; they’re building a story with their sizing.
Making clear poker decisions
Finally, I’m always thinking about future streets. What will the SPR look like on the turn? How big will the pot be? And how easy will it be to get stacks in by the river?
The goal isn’t memorizing every situation in poker. It’s training yourself to see the hand ahead of time. The more consistently you run these checklists, the clearer your poker decisions become.
Jonathan "apestyles" Van Fleet is one of the most legendary online players and respected coaches in the game. He has over $22M in online cashes and $500k in live cashes, including a WSOPC ring.
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Images courtesy of World Poker Tour.
