Size your bets wisely. This emphasis, along with aggression and excellent hand-reading, has allowed Sangni Zhao to dominate live cash games in Las Vegas, where he plays $2/$5 and $5/$10 no-limit hold’em. Rather than blindly betting a “standard” amount on the flop, the 28-old poker pro often bets smaller so that his opponents’ range stays wide. Then he applies considerable pressure on the turn and river.
This was one of a few cash game strategy tips Zhao shared during a recent visit. When we met at Musashi, a sushi spot near the Strip, it was obvious that Sangni had a gifted poker mind and — there’s no other way to put it — a Phil Hellmuth-ian confidence in his abilities.