The End of Poker

[Caruso329]

Just a fair warning, this post contains some farfetched and imaginative ideas, please proceed with caution if you have trouble accepting thoughts such as these.

Last night I was playing my weekly home game with several close friends. It was late and the only drunk guy started asking some questions to stir some conversation. It started out as what is your biggest fear. Then someone else asked another silly question: "If you could give up sex for anything, would you and what would it be?" Most if not all of us said we would not give up sex, but after doing some bathroom thinking today I rethought my answer.

I think that I would give up sex for the power of ESP. The ability to read minds. There are hundreds of advantages to this (some being less moral than others), being able to use others private ideas for your own success, being able to say what someone is wanting to hear (to get out of a ticket), and to be able to have an 100% exact read on someone at the card table.

As I was thinking of this I remembered Brunson's comments on ESP in Super System.

Page 23 "Is it really too unreasonable to suspect that such a highly sophisticated electrical device as the human brain, during the intensity of concentration in a big pot, could broadcast a simple message like a "Pair of Jacks" a mere eight feet?"

I have not done any formal research on ESP, but I know there are advances being made in the field. Experts say that ESP is very possible in the future if they can learn more about the secrets of the brain. The common holding is that we only use about 10% of our brains capabilities. I looked into this and there are countless sites saying and showing my this cannot be true. Here is one for anyone interested:
10% Myth

Suppose one day that ESP is possible and available to the masses. I, personally, think this would surely be the end of poker. ESP would introduce an entirely new and highly sophisticated form of collusion. Players would need no partners except their brain, they would know exactly what your hole cards are just my reading your thoughts. I'm sure most people think to themselves "Pocket Aces", "Ace Jack of Diamonds", etc. when first looking at their hole cards.

Of course, there could very well be "ESP scramblers" or other methods used to prevent this new form of collusion from occuring. But that is just one thought.

I sincerely think that until the game was updated to prevent this sort of collusion from occuring that it would be the death of poker as we know it.

P.S. Even given the options between sex and ESP, I would take the sex. There.. manhood defended.

[Cooker]

Wouldn't such a device be an enormous invasion of privacy? Don't you think the government would probably outlaw such a device except for police use? Heck, tapping someone's phone is illegal, and that only hears their conversations. I basically believe that given the choice between reading other people's minds but having to allow them to read yours also or no mind reading at all most people would prefer no mind reading at all.

Granted, if such a device existed, there will be people that try to get them and use them, but all in all, I don't expect they will be a big problem. Besides, I imagine that when one plays online they would be well outside the range of an ESP device, so that won't change my poker playing experience at all.

[Caruso329]

I was talking about unleashing an ability to read minds, not using a physical device to achieve the same ability. If it was a device being used I'm sure that most B&M casinos would be able to use metal detectors to catch them before they even entered the floor. My post is geared towards the mental ability to read minds though.

You do bring up a good point though, what if everyone can read your mind? Now imagine the beginning of the discovery of ESP. The few people working on the project are going to be the only ones who will be able to use their new discovery for awhile, then the government will have access, probably followed by large corporations. Now what if some big name CEO with access to this ability is a poker player? Instant edge.

And I also ruled out the possibility that humans could very well evolve the ability. Would poker and other games like chess become obsolete?

[colgin]

[ QUOTE ]
Suppose one day that ESP is possible and available to the masses. I, personally, think this would surely be the end of poker. ESP would introduce an entirely new and highly sophisticated form of collusion.

[/ QUOTE ]

Wow. Someone finally develops true ESP and the best thing they can think to use it for is . . . cheating at poker.

[Caruso329]

Do you really think that with the discovery of ESP all the top professionals who do this for a living and the countless enthusiasts are going to just up and quit playing poker?

[drexah]

solution: keep having sex and play poker online.

[kev0ut]

Just wear a tin-foil hat and you're good to go.

[Caruso329]

I applaud you on your first post kev0ut, I think we can expect great things from you in the future..

Drexah, so far that's my current plan of action and I report nothing but success at the tables, beds, chairs, floor, shower, etc.

[chesspain]

[ QUOTE ]
I applaud you on your first post kev0ut, I think we can expect great things from you in the future..


[/ QUOTE ]

Kreskin, his first post was better than your first post in this stupid thread.

[Caruso329]

Who the hell is Kreskin? I said that about his first post and I stand by it.

Computer technology is already impacting poker online, how many winning players here do not use Poker Tracker (this is not a bash on Poker Tracker, I have bought it, but have yet to configure it), or some other program to track there play.

You talk of programs that give you real time odds and percentages (I'm guessing thats what you meant), already been done.
Calculatem
Just set that baby up to run in the background and you have instant odds and your estimated percent chance to win, just like on TV.

Hey, this maybe a stupid topic posted by me, but I'm glad at least a couple of people posted some relevant replies.