Poker is often compared to war, and the analogy is apt. Players who play poker online advance on their opponents with a goal of plundering spoils (the pot). When afraid of defeat, players retreat and withdraw from battle. But though poker appears simple - attack, engage with the enemy or surrender - it is actually played with subtle nuances especially at the casino.
Many how-to books by acclaimed poker stars offer advice on tried-and-true poker strategies. Yet there is one classic book, written eight thousand years ago, that can give a poker player time-honored insights into winning battles when playing poker online.
The Art of War by Sun Tzu is a Chinese treatise that details 13 aspects of warfare. Written in the 6th century BC, The Art of War has long been considered the definitive work on military strategy. Its succinct advice to commanders, mixed with philosophical truisms, can be applied to the poker table too.
For instance, Sun Tzu states that “warfare is based on deception.” All poker players, from beginners to seasoned veterans, know that this is especially true in poker. Winning pots with inferior hands or building bigger pots are the outcomes of strategic deceptive tactics, such as slow playing a monster hand or bluffing with a draw. The principles laid out by Sun Tzu eight thousand years ago offer proven wisdom and practical application for poker players today.
