The Art of War is an old book that has inspired strategists even until now. It is an ancient Chinese military treatise dating from the Late Spring and Autumn Period (roughly 5th century BC).
The “Art of War” is attributed to Sun Tzu, a Chinese military strategist.
But what makes the “Art of War” such a great strategy book? Many Leaders have praised the book. But what does it teach?
It teaches to understand the fundamental of war, written in a simplified manner for everyone to understand.
But could we use the Art of War in poker?
Let us find out.
Support the site by just tuning in to our sponsor. Just listen to the song.
We appreciate all the support!
Thankies!
The Art of war applied to poker
Note: The Art of War is a long book that we have decided to break down and would look into each stanza every week.
Adding some guest pros on what they believe the lesson you can learn from them. We hope we can turn this into a regular segment.
Note 2: The original text is in Chinese, like any translation. A few keywords can be translated differently. Every reader can interpret it differently. We will base on some of the key elements we believe is important.
Chapter 1 – Laying Plans
孫子曰：兵者，國之大事，死生之地，存亡之道，不可不察也。
Sunzi said: The art of war is of vital importance to the 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.
In some translation and books, the stanza “兵者，國之大事(The art of war is of vital importance to the State)” is separated from the rest.
The original word 兵者 as a rough translation can mean soldier. But in most translations of the text, it was meant as Warfare(Art of War). which can also mean strategy.
One of the interpretations we found was actually quite intriguing.
The original text was not separated. However, to emphasize the deeper meaning of the word. It was separated.
The art of war or warfare is of vital importance to the state. The strategy you would use is very important, emphasizing strategy.
Differentiating strategy and tactics.
Strategy and tactics are different.
Strategy
Strategy defines your long-term goals and how you’re planning to achieve them. In other words, your strategy gives you the path you need toward achieving your organization’s mission.
Tactics
Tactics are much more concrete and are often oriented toward smaller steps and a shorter time frame along the way.
Emphasizing the importance of having a good stategy
Differentiating strategy and tactics are emphasized later on in the Art of War.
But what it emphasizes heavily, is that you need to have a good strategy in order to win. Without a strategy, then everything you would do later on will fail.
Applying to poker
Goal, Strategy, and tactics
Let us say you are a Poker site owner, Club owner, agent, or just a poker player.
As a poker site owner and club owner. of course, the goal is to be number 1.
but what is your strategy?
Are you planning to tap a new market or an old one?
What is your tactic?
Let assume you want to tap a new market, how will you attract them?
A new online site launches a 300k PHP tournament just to attract players which ended in a massive failure. in the end they had to cancel the rest of the series citing technical difficulties.
Believing they could get the players by simply launching a big tournament is not that easy. Even Pokerstars suffered a huge overlay by having a five million USD GTD tournament with only 109 USD buy-in.
But Pokerstars had a plan, the next event of that series did not suffer an overlay.
While the other site simply made an excuse and canceled the rest of the series.
Hence be careful which site you join.
Support the site by just tuning in to our sponsor. Just listen to the song.
We appreciate all the support!
Thankies!
How a poker players applies it
Gerardo Lubas
Gerardo Lubas
Having a strategy is very important. Like me, I want to be a professional poker. I need to have a plan on how to become one. you can not just sit at the table and hopefully you become a champion.
My strategy is that I’ll play good games, I study poker books, I apply them to my game. If I lose or make a mistake. I ask my dad who is my number 1 idol in poker for opinions.
My goal is to be a professional poker player, So my strategy is to keep learning the game as poker keeps evolving.
Jason Ambata – Poker Pro
Jason Ambata.
You can not just play poker and “Bahala na si batman”.
If you want to do this for a living. You have to have a plan and then a strategy on how you can sustain it.
Dapat pinag-iisipan mo, dapat may plan ka kung paano ka mabubuhay sa poker. Maghahanap ka ba ng staker, or gusto mo sariling pera tapos grind grind.
Gusto mo Manalo, ano plano mo para manalo? Basta may open na seat laro ka na?
Dapat isipin mo paano mo maabot goals mo.
Strategy is important
Before you do anything. Plan ahead.
If you want to earn a living with poker, what books do you have to read? what if you have a bad run? how much is your capital? how many buy-ins? tournament or cash game?
You have to plan it out so you won’t get stuck in the middle and end up lost.
We hope players like our new series. Stay safe Poker playas
