We’re thrilled to bring you the next installment of our new “Ask the Pro” series, where elite players share their paths, philosophies, and strategies at the poker’s elite.
In this edition, we spotlight our own Justin Saliba—a top high roller, 2x WSOP bracelet winner, and Head of Content at PokerCoaching.com. From battling his brother in chess and sports to facing down the toughest fields in the world, Saliba’s journey is a masterclass in resilience, discipline, and strategic growth.
Born for the Arena
Saliba’s competitive spirit was forged early, shaped by sibling rivalry and a passion for chess and soccer. “From a very young age, everything was about competition and trying to improve,” he recalls. Facing off with his older brother pushed him to outthink and outwork his peers. Chess nurtured his strategic side, teaching him to immerse deeply in complex problems and learn fast. Soccer—especially as a goalkeeper—trained his nerves and focus under pressure.
Being a goalkeeper, he says, means “you’re alone, and when your moment comes, you have to perform. That mirrors high-stakes poker—long stretches of quiet, then sudden, crucial decisions.” He also adds, “If you lose your confidence as a goalkeeper, you’re dead. The same is true in poker. You need that self-belief to survive tough moments and come out ahead.”
Hitting Bottom, Bouncing Back
Saliba’s first serious introduction to poker basics began in college after a shoulder injury sidelined him from sports. Obsessed with improving, he immersed himself in study and earned a coaching internship with Jonathan Little. After building a bankroll grinding online, he got cocky, fired shots at $2K NL cash games, and lost everything in a few nights. “I was devastated. I emailed Jonathan to say I was quitting poker. But he called me, told me it wasn’t a big deal, and offered me a job to rebuild. That moment changed everything.” He recalls the aftermath clearly: “I didn’t leave my bed for two days. It felt like my whole world crashed. But that moment gave me the resilience I needed to push forward.”
Saliba re-committed with discipline, moved to Vegas, and began the grind. A chance pickup basketball game led to a friendship with Aram Zobian, who inspired his shift into high-stakes tournaments. After early struggles, he hit his stride, winning two bracelets and going on a multi-million dollar heater. That momentum launched him onto the international high roller scene.
Finding His Edge
“I knew I was behind in experience, so I had to outwork everyone,” Saliba says. He turned a chip on his shoulder into fuel for relentless study, committing to outprepare every opponent. He also realized mindset was key. “At first I was just happy to be there. But you can’t win if you’re starstruck. Now, I approach every event like it’s war. I’m there to compete and make the best decision every hand.”
His study approach is grounded in core principles: understanding global frequencies, poker ranges, and exploit opportunities. “I start with what theory says—how often to bet or check—and build out to practical applications. I want to take people into parts of the game tree they’re uncomfortable with.”
He elaborates, “When I study solvers, I focus less on the exact output and more on how it feels—what it looks like in game, and how I can replicate that under pressure.”
Tailored Preparation
For high-stakes series like Triton, Saliba prepares meticulously. He studies format-specific ICM poker dynamics, short-stack play, and profiles likely opponents. “I track who’s confident, who’s improving, who plays which spots oddly. Then I taper off before the event, like a sprinter tapering before race day.”
What separates top pros, he believes, isn’t just knowledge, but the ability to apply it in real time under pressure. “Lots of people know charts. Fewer can recreate them in their mind when it counts. That’s the difference between GTO poker theorists and poker players.”
He adds, “In the moment, it’s about staying present. I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel. I just focus on making the best decision with the information I have.”
Living the Grind
Now a central figure at PokerCoaching.com, Saliba balances playing with content creation. “Poker is nonlinear—you can do everything right and still lose. But content creation is linear. You put in work, you get output. That balance helps keep me grounded.”
When asked what improvement looks like for someone already at the top, Saliba points to execution and endurance. “It’s not just about theory anymore. It’s about staying focused in Hour 12, showing up fresh after a bad beat. I immerse myself—eat, sleep, breathe poker during big series.” He reflects, “I’ve studied for seven years so that in game, I’m just asking, is this guy bluffing or value betting? That simplicity is what I strive for now.”
Final Word
Justin Saliba’s path from online grinder to tournament poker high roller staple underscores a timeless poker truth: the climb is steep, but with discipline, humility, and relentless effort, it’s possible. “I still make mistakes. I still learn every day. That’s the job.”
He leaves us with this: “Even now, I feel like I’m improving with every session. That’s the beauty of the game—it never stops evolving, and neither can I.”
Stay tuned for more inside access to the minds of the game’s elite in future editions of “Ask the Pro.”
