Poker News

George Epstein

Many years ago, as I was advancing in my engineering and business career, a friend recommended I read a book entitled The Art of War by an ancient Chinese general named Sun Tzu. Indeed, I found his teachings very useful during my career. (So too was Dale Carnegies’ book on How to Win Friends and Influence People.) Recently,while reading about a fierce high-school class election competition, I was reminded of Sun Tzu’s teachings on how to win a war. Then I realized that his advice about waging war might be quite applicable for the game of poker as well as the high-school or any other election - if you want to be a winner.

After all, in a sense you are “at war” with your opponents when you sit at the poker table. Sure, smile and be polite, and exchange pleasantries and jokes; but, in the final analysis, you do want to take your opponents’ money away from them and take it home with you. . . Of course, you want to do it honestly; no cheating allowed. Besides it would be immoral. So how can Sun Tzu’s advice on waging war help you accomplish your goal of going home a winner from the poker game?

“The skillful fighter puts himself into a position that makes defeat impossible.”

Those were the words of the ancient Chinese general. Let’s think about it. No, we cannot make defeat impossible in the game of poker; luck is too big a factor. Even casinos in Las Vegas have occasions at the blackjack table or other gambling game when a high roller walks away with a pile of its money. But, in the long run, the casino comes out ahead - way ahead. That’s because it has an “edge.” It may be only a few percentage points, but that’s enough to “make defeat impossible” in the long run. (That’s why they can build ever bigger and more expensive casino-resorts. And that’s why the Indian casinos want more and more slot machines. That small “edge” adds up to billions of dollars!) As a poker player, you can do the same. I mean that literally. Give yourself the “edge” over your opponents. Of course that’s really what “skill” is all about. But how can you put yourself “in a position” to make that happen? My Poker Rule #3 (referring to my book) tells how in two, four-letter words:

Don’t Lose. To make that more understandable, I explain: “Play only those hands you have a good chance of winning.” That’s giving yourself an “edge” over your opponents who don’t do that. Space doesn’t permit delineating the hands and situations where this would apply. Basically it’s just a matter of knowing which hands should be folded before you make any investment; which hands might be played in certain situations - so-called “marginal hands,” and which hands are the most likely to lead to winning the pot. That’s the first step. Now you want to apply the best strategy to enhance your chances of winning the pot, and building the pot — you expect to win — to the “max” without seriously endangering your chances of winning it.

Yes, that’s what we mean by “skill.” To rephrase General Sun Tzu’s words, A skillful poker player puts himself into a position that ensures going home a winner in the long run.

So readers, what’s YOUR opinion?

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