Why Pros Need to Be Nicer: Ben ‘Machine’ Smith on Poker Culture, Solvers and Staying Sharp

 _{Ben “Machine” Smith says poker’s skill element is often overlooked, even as the UK tournament scene gets tougher each year. (Image: Ben Smith)}

Ben “Machine” Smith never planned on becoming a full-time poker pro. At 19, he was meant to be working on a business degree. Instead, poker took over.

"I started a little bit, well, actually the same year that I went to uni," he told the Casinos.com podcast. "So I’m 41 now, so yeah, 22 years."

People around him didn’t exactly cheer him on. "I think it was literally my girlfriend at the time, my brother and maybe one or two of my mates that actually understood how you can make money from the game," he said. 

"The rest of the people… they were like, well, why’d you get this degree and start playing poker, right?"

Two decades later, he plays and coaches for a living, and thinks most people still misunderstand what poker actually is.

Poker Isn’t Roulette. It’s a Strategy Game

Poker is legally classed as gambling in the UK, but Smith says that label hides the reality of how the game works.

"Yes, it is gambling,’ he said. ‘But… poker is definitely closer to chess than it is to like roulette."

That mindset shapes how serious players approach the game. Smith says real pros rarely risk large portions of their bankroll.

"Most of them have got anywhere from like 0.5 to 5% of their bankroll in play," he said. ‘And the better ones are calculated or staked.’

To him, that discipline separates lifelong grinders from weekend gamblers.

Why the UK Scene Hits Harder

Ask Smith about the UK live scene and he doesn’t sugarcoat it: it’s tough.

"I would argue it’s one of the toughest tournament scenes in Europe,’ he said. ‘Maybe Germany is slightly better."

He credits tours like the GUKPT and feeders like Redtooth Poker for building a competitive ecosystem that moves pub players into casinos.

Events such as the Goliath in Coventry show how big that ecosystem has become. In 2025, Grosvenor’s Goliath drew 12,961 entries at a £200 buy-in, making it the largest live poker tournament outside Las Vegas.

Listen to the full interview on our Podcast

The Real Secret: Structure, Not Sick Bluffs

Smith coaches with one core idea: consistency beats flash.

"I think the single most habit… it’s kind of accountability," he said. ‘No ego and always look for mistakes."

He drills fundamentals first, opening ranges, stack depth, c-betting, semi-bluffs and the maths behind them. And he’s blunt about how long mastery takes.

"I’ve spent 20 years, thousands of hours, and I’ve barely scratched the surface,’ he said. "If you’re a poker player, you’re studying longer than the doctor."

His rule for improving is simple: recreational players should spend 70% of their time playing and 30% studying. Pros should flip that to 90–10.

Why Solvers Are Great… Until They Aren’t

Smith uses GTO tools like most modern coaches, but warns players not to treat solver outputs like gospel.

"Many people forget that the solver will just output what you input," he said. "If you don’t understand the situation… it will still output the wrong data because you’re not inputting the right data."

To him, the “human element” is still the real edge.

ROI Matters More Than Top Prizes

Smith says amateurs often misunderstand tournament profit, focusing too much on headline prizes.

"A lot of people are kind of focused at the top prize,’ he said. ‘When in fact it is an ROI."

He urges players to factor in travel, hotels and potential side-game income. Otherwise, even winning players can lose money on the road.

Be Cool at the Table, Recreational Players Pay the Bills

When asked what to wear to “look cool,” Smith shifted the conversation to how pros behave.

He says shutting down with hats, sunglasses and headphones can make the game feel hostile for casual players.

"I think about it like this,’ he said. ‘If you’re a recreational player and you see someone… not talking… there’s something maybe not in the spirit of the game about that."

Worse are pros who berate amateurs after losing a pot.

"I’ve had this happen,’ he said. ‘And I’ve had to say, yo, mate, calm down."

For Smith, every full-time player is an ambassador whether they like it or not.

"If you’re a professional in this game, you’re an ambassador and you should do something about that."