Poker According to Sun Tzu

By Mike Evan

Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War” has been studied by great military leaders throughout the centuries. Its methods have shaped military strategy and tactics, even up to the present day. Along the way, many have found its teachings valuable for a host of non-martial fields, such as business, management, and sports. Indeed, its lessons on how to embrace conflict, and turn disadvantage into advantage, are universally appealing.
Now, Sun Tzu’s timeless work offers its wisdom and insight to the competitive poker player. Players at all levels will find a multitude of lessons to help them maintain discipline, find their “center,” and raise their play to the level of a master. This book is not merely a commentary on the original masterpiece. Rather, it is an adaptation of the famous military treatise, changing the language and context from warfare to the game of poker, while preserving the style and tempo of the original work.
The correct mindset, the ability to handle the internal conflict between mind and will, is crucial for the skillful competitor. “Poker According to Sun Tzu” offers pearls of wisdom to help any player hone his instincts, master his impulses, and raise his game to a higher level.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mike Evan
• Release date: Nov 7, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301147489

Book preview

Poker According to Sun Tzu

Mike Evan

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2012 Mike Evan

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Poker According to Sun Tzu

~~~~~

Mastering the Art of the Game

Table of Contents

1. Laying Plans

2. Playing the Game

3. Attack by Stratagem

4. Tactical Dispositions

5. Energy

6. Weak Points & Strong

7. Maneuvering

8. Variation in Tactics

9. Players on the Move

10. Engagements

11. The Nine Situations

12. Attack

13. The User of Information

PREFACE

This work is an adaptation of the great classic, The Art of War, written in the 6th century B.C. by Sun Wu, better known as Sun Tzu. It is the earliest known treatise on war, and studied by some of the most influential military figures through the centuries, including Napoleon Bonaparte, George S. Patton, and Douglas MacArthur, as well as Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, and Ho Chi Min.

Rather than being an exhaustive manual of military science, The Art of War is more a guide to aid the military leader in attaining the correct mindset. Organized into thirteen chapters, lessons come in the form of Eastern proverbs and aphorisms. Many of the teachings appear to contradict one another if taken individually, but within the overall context of the work, and in the fashion of Eastern literature, these seek to guide one toward what one might call their center. Hence, the prudent general is both aggressive and defensive; quick to take advantage of the weakness of the enemy, while being wary of a trap; brutal, yet seeking to avoid conflict.

The classic work has been adapted over the years to fields outside of military studies, most notably in the areas of business, management, and advertising. It has been essential reading for many athletes, and indeed, it is easy to see valuable lessons for competitors of all types. Hence, one may find instruction for contests that carry far less significant consequences than the destruction of armies or the conquest of empires. It is in this spirit the current book was written.

Poker According to Sun Tzu takes a slightly different approach than earlier adaptations. Rather than presenting commentary on the ancient work and then applying it to the game of poker, we have modified the text to fit the purpose, while remaining near to the original in terms of style. There is exactly the same number of proverbial lessons, organized within thirteen chapters. Where appropriate and acceptable, the text remains as originally translated, presenting truths that, although somewhat esoteric in nature, offer value to the one seeking mastery of the game. Some statements need slight modification to direct them to the present subject, such as changing the term enemy to opponent, or changing war to the game. Others are directly inapplicable to a contest such as poker: attacking with fire; employment of spies; execution of soldiers. From lessons such as these, the objective has been to take the underlying truth and restate it within the context of poker.

We have made every attempt to keep the book and its teachings general with respect to poker, in all its various forms. However, some lessons do refer to tournament play, and some carry an emphasis on Texas Holdem. These occurrences are relatively rare and insignificant to the work as a whole. The cash game player and the Omaha or Stud player should find the same wealth of knowledge as the tournament Texas Holdem player.

Finally, the text of The Art of War, as translated by Lionel Giles in 1910 is included as a footnote to each chapter. This, hopefully, will offer a more complete experience, and provide added insight for those comparing the text provided in this book to the original translated work.

INTRODUCTION

A famous legend surrounds the history of the man known as Sun Tzu. In the early 6th century B.C., after reading his thirteen chapters, Ho Lu, the king of Wu, summoned Master Sun and pressed him to prove his military prowess. In response, Sun Tzu requested, and received, permission to assemble 180 of the young ladies of the palace.

Sun Tzu divided the women into two companies and placed one of the king’s favorite concubines at the head of each group. Then, ordering them all to take hold of spears, he asked, Do you know the difference between forward and back, right and left?

The women replied Yes.

When I say, ‘Eyes forward,’ you are to look straight ahead. When I say, ‘Left face,’ continued Sun Tzu, you are to face towards your left hand. When I say, ‘Right face,’ you are to face towards your right hand. When I say, ‘About face,’ you are to turn and face towards your back.

After explaining the commands, the drums sounded and Sun Tzu gave the order, Right face. The girls did not move, but burst out in laughter.

Sun Tzu said, If orders are unclear, if the words of command are not fully understood, then the commander is to blame.

Once again, he started the drill. This time he sounded the command, Left face. Again, there came a burst of laughter. Again, Sun Tzu said, If orders are unclear, if the words of command are not fully understood, then the commander is to blame. But if his orders are clear, and the soldiers fail to obey, then the fault lies with their officers.

So Sun Tzu ordered the two concubines beheaded and installed another pair as leaders in their place. Then the drum sounded again, but this time the girls turned left, right, and to the rear. They marched ahead as ordered with great precision and without uttering a sound.

Then Sun Tzu sent a message to the king: Your warriors are now properly drilled and disciplined, ready to be inspected by Your Majesty. They will serve as you command. Order them through fire and to the ends of the world, and they will not disobey.

The thirteen chapters of The Art of War,