So what do all the best poker players have in common these days?

* The winning player is always in the zone. He always makes cool calculated decisions at the table even when he suffers bad beats.

* The good player understands poker theory and basic probabilities. He can calculate pot odds easily and always uses common sense and logic in his decisions.

* A good player has a solid understanding of bankroll management. He has thirty times the buy-in for no limit cash games and much more for tournaments.

* The good player doesn't involve his ego in his decisions. He knows how to place things in perspective and has nothing to prove so to speak.

The games have gotten much harder since the MoneyMaker boom unfortunately. The skills that are bulleted above are not enough to make it to the top these days, you need something else.

How to become a world class player in today's games?

* The best of the best talk ranges. They know the range you're representing, the equity of their hand and the most profitable line of play. They make smart decisions and narrow down your hand ranges based on inductive reasoning.

* The top player can maintain a very high level of play even during the worst downswings. He knows that his edge will come over the long term.

* All the top players share the desire to become the best. They are driven by results and have a very competitive nature. They never stop to learn.

* Outstanding personal management skills. Always bring their A games, never tilt and never let short term results cloud their decision making skills.

We hope this article will have opened your eyes to what it takes to be a successful poker these days.