Poker, art or science?

March 18th, 2007

There is no computer that can beat a world class poker player because poker is a people game. A game of poker is a game where “you play the man not the cards”. You must have heard this expression many times before, and I can’t stress enough of how important it is. Of course the cards have a huge impact on the game, but a world class poker player could win against a beginner every time.

Let me give you an example. In a blackjack game, a computer that counts the cards would without doubt make a fortune in a very short amount of time. Because there is a mathematically proven ways to beat the game. It’s all about statistics.

Poker is different, knowing what to do isn’t simply enough in a poker game, you need to know how to do it. That’s what I think is missing today. I’ve been lurking around a long time and I’ve heard/read countless of tips and techniques, but not nearly enough information on how to use these tips. Not only do you need to know when to raise, call, or fold, but how to do it.

Poker is definitely more an art than science, but the beauty of it is it can be taught, it can be learned. As you go through the tips you will find on this site, always think of how you will be using them. After all, poker is a game of deception.