The Art Of War In Poker

Created by Gerry Roozendaal

THE ART OF WAR IN POKER

Using the ancient concepts of Sun Tzu in the modern poker game


7 Principles Selected

• Strategy of war

• Use of resources

• Attack by stratagem

• Intelligence or Information

• Terrain

• Deception

• 5 Dangerous faults in a General


5 Fundamentals of Strategy

Those who understand these fundamentals will win.Those who don’t, will be defeatedSun Tzu


5 Fundamental Strategies Sun Tzu

1. Moral CauseInspire people to share the same ideasand expectations.

2. Nature (Heaven)Changes in climatic conditions.

3. Situation (Earth)Distant or immediate, obstructed or easy, and conditions for the chances of life or death.

4. CommanderWisdom, humanity, credibility,courage, intelligence and firmness.

5. DisciplineOfficials views employ moral cause, reward,

punishment, logistics and flexible system.


5 winning Strategies for Poker• Will to Win (Moral cause)

Are you prepared, do you have the vision and the skills to win. Did you come expecting to win

• Elements (Nature)Is your Luck running hot or cold. As well as understanding your own Nature

• Situation (Situation)Early or late position at the table, opponents. chipstack, opponents chipstacks and blind Levels.

• Commander’s Abilities and Skills Knowledge of the game, Knowing your odds and outs observation skills

• DisciplineSelf Discipline, hand discipline, positional discipline, Observation discipline


Strategy

To secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by

the enemy himself - Sun Tzu

In Poker most of your gains will be as a result of a mistake by your opponent and not your

brilliant play


Strategy

Making no mistakes is what establishes the certainty of victory,

for it means conquering an enemy that is already defeated.


Strategy

. Therefore the clever combatant imposes his will on the enemy

But does not allow the enemy's will to be imposed on him - Sun Tzu

In poker this is fundamentally the difference between a call and a raise


Strategy

Entice opponent with bait of small gains. Be vigilant when opponent is alert.

Retreat temporarily when opponent is strong -Sun Tzu

In Poker, Fold to strength. Bluff to weakness


He who wishes to fight mustfirst count the cost

Sun TzuPoker is about risk vs reward

Use of Resources

Risk

Reward

Reward must outweigh Risk


Poker vs GamblingGamblers place bets when the odds are

against them A poker player will bet when the odds are

in his favour


Use of Resources

One unit of opponent supplies:Is worth 20 units of your own

Sun TzuConsider the value of your chips in front of YOU, rather than added to an opponents

chipstack


Attack By Stratagem

Those who are skilled in executing strategy, ensure victory without fighting.

The best plan is to win by strategy.Sun Tzu


The 5 Winning ways1. He will win who knows when

to fight and when not to fight

Sun Tzu

In Poker as in Battle, timing is everything.


The 5 Winning ways2. He will win who knows how to

handle both superior andinferior forces- Sun Tzu

Knowing how and when to play the suited connectors or laying down

a big hand like AK.


The 5 Winning ways

3. He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its

ranksSun Tzu

This translates to motivation. A poker Player must be at the table 100%.

Motivated and observant for the entire time


The 5 Winning ways

4. He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared

Sun Tzu

Poker is all about deception and guile.


The 5 Winning ways

5. He will win who has military capacity and is not interfered with by the sovereign

Sun Tzu

The poker player too, has interference, not from a sovereign but by emotions. Don’t let the heart

interfere with the head


Attack By Stratagem

In respect of military method, we have,

• Measurement

• Estimation of quantity

• Calculation

• Balancing of chances

• Victory.

Sun Tzu


Attack By Stratagem

In respect of poker method, we have,• Measurement – Hand value• Estimation of quantity – players still in the

pot• Calculation – Cost of entry into the pot• Balancing of chances – cost vs % chance• Victory.Sun Tzu


Intelligence - Information

The work of intelligence cannot succeed without subtlety and ingenuity. Therefore, subtly, very subtly, the use of

intelligence must not be neglected. Sun Tzu

In poker too subtelty and ingenuity applies in the use of gathering and using intelligence (information)


Intelligence - Information

Only a wise ruler and brilliant leaders who are able to conduct intelligence with

superiority and cleverness, are certain to achieve great results.

Sun Tzu


Intelligence - InformationA commander who does not want tobuy information is not a good leader.

Hence, can never win in battles. Sun Tzu

Sometimes, in poker, you have to bet to get the information you need


Using Intelligence in Poker

• You must be smart enough to correlate data. • You must be open and unbiased to evaluate it. • If you aren’t sensitive to subtleties, you won’t

find the truth in information. • You must pay close attention to small details. • Information is helpful in every aspect of the

game. • Sometimes you have to pay for information by

betting.


Terrain

Terrain can help put one's army in an advantageous position. But it is superior

commanders that puts the advantage to good use by calculating the distance or proximity of

dangers and obstructions – Sun Tzu

The Poker Battlefield

Understanding the nuances of terrain in poker


Terrain

Six type of position terrainMust be studied carefully andunderstood well by all commanders

Sun Tzu

In Poker we reduce this to four


Terrain -

1. Easy terrain:

- Late position - Dealer and Cut Off Accessible to both yourself and enemy and those who occupies higher ground on this terrain has an edge over the opponent.

In Poker he who has position has the higher ground.


Terrain

2. Difficult terrain:- Blinds - Small and Big Blinds

Areas which are easy to enter but difficult to withdraw later. If opponent is unprepared, those who move first will win.

Sun Tzu

It is easy to be drawn into battle from blind position. Use caution. Blind vs Blind normally the first to bet will win.


Terrain

3. Neutral terrain- Middle PositionAreas where both you and your enemy find difficulty to launch an offensive. Despite any advantage, do not move first.

Sun TzuMiddle position in Poker requires caution and more attention to hand values


Terrain

4. Distant Terrain- Early Position Areas where both forces are equal and difficult to provoke a challenge. A challenge will not be advantageous.

Sun tzu Fold all but the top ten starting hands.


Poker and Position

• In Poker and in war position matters

• Later Positions have more information

• More Information means informed decisions

• Avoid engagements from inferior position.


Deception

All warfare is based on deception.Sun Tzu


Paradox of Strategies

• The capable: Must pretend to be incapable.

• When able: Appear unable.

• When active: appear inactive.

• When close: Appear distant.

• When distant: Appear close.

• When complete: Appear to prepare.

• When angry: Appear to submit.

• When comfortable: Appear to toil


Reading Deception

• Simulated disorder postulates - perfect discipline,

• Simulated fear postulates - courage

• Simulated weakness – postulates strength.

Sun Tzu


Sun Tzu identified 5 dangerous faults which could lead to a

generals downfall. It is as applicable to a Poker

player

5 Dangerous Faults


1. Recklessness, which leads to destruction

Poker has a way of humbling

those who get overconfident

5 Dangerous Faults


2. Cowardice, which leads to capture

In poker parlance - losing your nerve or fear of betting

5 Dangerous Faults


3. A hasty temper, which can be provoked by insults

In poker parlance – Prone to steaming or going on tilt. Letting the actions of others

“Get” to you

5 Dangerous Faults


4. A delicacy of honour which is sensitive to shame

There is a moral code in poker but it bears no relevance to morality in society.

Lies and deceit are tools of the trade for a poker player

5 Dangerous Faults


5. Over-solicitude for his men, which exposes him to worry and trouble

In Poker our men are our chips. You have to send them out to do battle.

5 Dangerous Faults


Foretelling Triumph

Those who will win, compute a great number of factors before a challenge.

Those who are defeated, compute a small number of factors before a challenge.

Sun Tzu


In PokerForetelling TriumphEach hand is a challenge. Take into account

all the factors before deciding to enter the hand. Enter only the challenges that favour

you. In the longer term you should be victorious over those who do not compute all

the factors


A final thought (apply to you and poker)

The art of war is of vital importance tothe State.

It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin.

Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.

Sun Tzu

Education

The Art Of War In Poker