Examples:

If I play my cards right, I'll be able to graduate next year.

If I play my cards right, I'll get a huge bonus check at the end of the year.

If you had played your cards right and focused on your grades, you would have gotten a college basketball scholarship.

My roommate played her cards right by working throughout college so now she doesn't have a lot of student loans like I do.

I wish we had played our cards right and paid off our mortgage instead of remodeling our home.