play one's cards right

/plˈeɪ wˈɒnz kˈɑːdz ɹˈaɪt/

/plˈeɪ wˈʌnz kˈɑːɹdz ɹˈaɪt/

[phrase]

to play one's cards right

[PHRASE]

to make good use of the things that are at one's disposal so as to succeed or gain something

Examples

1. Fact is, each type of relationship requires different things from you and the other person, but if you play your cards right, these relationships allow you to relax and escape the stresses that come with the constant search for affection.

2. Chemistry holds the secrets to how life first formed, how cancers are cured, how iPhones have bigger hard drives than 5 year old laptops, and how life on this planet might just be able to continue thriving, even ours, if we play our cards right.

3. Soon, if she played her cards right, she would be head of the London office.

4. If you play your cards right, you could make quite a lot of money out of this.