Changing the Math -What and How
Many people try hard to find the meaning of this phrase that Doyle coined.
Let’s consider an example in the poker world: Suppose you bluff on the river in a situation where you know that your rival does not hold much and your hand is worse. Out of the ten big bets in the pot, you can bluff and win at sometimes. In this situation, make a decision to bluff can be considered as the correct. This is an example of a What to do situation.
Let’s discuss something significant by means of an example. Rhonda bluffs at a scenario, where she wins in 75% of the situations; Billy bluffs and wins only 15% of the times. Definitely Rhonda plays better than Billy. Compare the two situations, after 100 similar hands, which play $10/20. Rhonda will be ahead $14,500 and Bill will be head $1300 only. So, though Rhonda wins the bluff five times more than Billy, she wins eleven times more than Billy.
This isn’t a very realistic example. But, if players like Rhonda execute better than players like Billy, they are sure to win much more. This is in spite of the fact that both of them choose the same action. This shows that winning in poker is all about the how of poker, the better success rates and the steps of game play.
But there is no right or wrong in a game like poker. Billy had made the right choice, and he could be a winner also. Only that his game peaks out at about 10% of what. He only made use of the simple way of figuring out the apt mathematical choice. But, he failed to direct the how of it.
Every player plays for money. Each action of the player results in an equation in mathematics. But the players literally don’t make use of mathematical calculations. But, they use it subconsciously. If you analyze how Rhonda and Billy bluffed, it actually results in a mathematical result. Identifying the what is the basic requirement. You have to identify the right what and its a basic step.
Further, players normally keep changing the math in the situations they face. They decide the hows of the game that make them win the bets. And the win is all about bets; whether they are won, saved, or stolen.
Consider another situation, where the river card is dealt. You are the last to act, against three rivals. Also, consider that you hold the nut hand. You will have to bet. This is a what. Though the what of the game is already decided, the how is not decided as yet. How you make the bet may earn you a couple of extra bets from the rivals. Generally, the how of the game is to be decided by the player itself; only that you may make the decisions based on mathematical calculations.
So, the how you do is much more important than what you do. Think of how you are going to do, rather than what you intend to do.
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