Zen and The Art of Poker
 

I am reading this book and there is a section that talks about how you need to look at your luck and the trends of your session before making some decisions .... Its basically saying that if 6 times you were getting the right odds on a draw and missed ... that the 7th time .. even with the right odds .... you should let it got because you luck is bad ....I think this flies in the face of the theorys expressed in the majority of the books offered on poker .... Id like some opinion's or even someone's experience if they have any..

Re: Zen and The Art of Poker
 

This always comes up when this book is discussed. Even those who like this book do so with the proviso that one ignore what Phillips has to say about playing streaks.

I said this in print over five years ago in my review of the book:
http://www.jetcafe.org/~npc/reviews/...zen_poker.html

I know I'm not the only one who has said this on the record.

Re: Zen and The Art of Poker
 

this is another impossible to prove luck question.

personally i believe in luck because i se poker as way too streaky.

Re: Zen and The Art of Poker
 

You'll see this happen. I'm not a big believer in "luck". Luck I think of as being nothing more that a narrow minded, short view in probability. "Varience" is a much more suitable term.

Luck: The chance happening of fortunate or adverse events; fortune.
Variance: A difference between what is expected and what actually occurs.
Probability: A number expressing the likelihood that a specific event will occur, expressed as the ratio of the number of actual occurrences to the number of possible occurrences.

Re: Zen and The Art of Poker
 

[ QUOTE ]
this is another impossible to prove luck question.

personally i believe in luck because i se poker as way too streaky.

[/ QUOTE ]

Proof that luck exists...at least in some player's minds. Use your opponent's perception on luck to exploit them. As for folding because you've missed your last 99 nut-flush draws in a row, that's just crazy. The only question that matters is are you getting the right price to call. If yes call or raise (semi-bluff, pot equity). If no, fold.

If you disagree and insist on using your "luck" to make your decisions, please post the site you play and your screen name and I'll add you to my buddy list.

Re: Zen and The Art of Poker
 

I'm frequently one of those who is bringing this up.


His ideas about 'leaving the table before you hit the cold-streak' as if you are somehow supposed to magically know ahead of time when you are going to lose are just ridiculous.

Obviously if we knew that we were going to lose then we wouldn't play.

He makes sure to mention that if you are running cold then you don't want to leave 'too soon' before the cards were going to turn-around for you.


It's all idiotic.


but if the little zen-like stuff about patience and discipline is helpful to you then go ahead and implement that into your approach.
To me...I liked parts of the book...but his voodoo-superstituous-carry-your-lucky-rabbits-foot type of outlook that infects many of the sections really hurt my ability to take the other stuff as seriously as I should.

Re: Zen and The Art of Poker
 

I'm going to join in the pile on. I do not like this book. I barely read any of it because I think it is trash.

...

Anyone want to buy my copy?

Re: Zen and The Art of Poker
 

[ QUOTE ]
I'm going to join in the pile on. I do not like this book. I barely read any of it because I think it is trash.

...

Anyone want to buy my copy?

[/ QUOTE ]

Quite a salesmen. Im sure youll get plenty of offers after your glowing review lol.