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Zen and the Art of Poker
Product
Zen and the Art of Poker by Larry W. Phillips
Hits
- Great tips and advice for better discipline in your game
- Teaches how to even out emotions and avoid tilt
- Universal techniques that will work in many aspects of life, not just poker
- An easy read with lots of sensible advice
Misses
- Does not teach technical poker strategy
- Can feel redundant as principles are repeated many times over
Review
Poker players like Mike Matusow and Phil Hellmuth, both notorious for their emotional outbursts and tilting off money, have proven that just knowing the technical aspects of the game isn't all it takes to be a winning player.
Becoming a winning player also means mastering your emotions and disciplining your game, so that no matter what, you're always playing your best. Zen and the Art of Poker focuses on this aspect of poker theory.
"Fighting through your emotions so that you can play with a cool head may be the single most difficult thing you'll ever have to do to become a winning poker player," pro Lou Krieger is quoted as saying in the book.
And that is what Zen seeks to help players do, but only after they've learned the technical end of poker. Once you've learned the basics, it's time to work on the emotional dimension of your game.
Author Larry Phillips says in the book that a player's personal system, developed from knowledge and hours of playing experience, dictates when he sends chips into the pot. But emotions can also have a hand in the process.
"This interloper, this troublesome meddler, is given free rein to do the same thing, and can therefore throw a wrench into your hard-earned system ... Emotions have no place in poker."
Zen and the Art of Poker uses Zen Buddhist principles to help the reader develop a psychological balance of rhythm and instinct and thereby enter "the zone" while she is playing.
The principles are laid out as 100 rules grouped under different categories such as folding, calmness, rhythm, emotions and opponents. At times the book seems redundant as rules tend to overlap and, in some cases, virtually replicate each other as they apply to the same issue, just from a different angle. However, that too is the Zen way: the teacher repeats and reinforces the same principle in different ways in order to help the student master it completely.
The book is very interesting and offers a lot of great advice in a unique style. Phillips even includes quotes from sources other than Zen Buddhist ones, such as sports, literary and historical figures, to bolster his points.
The book focuses mainly on the general aspects of poker, basically using Zen to hone your cash game. But there is added value as it tacks on two appendixes at the end, one briefly talking about Zen and tournament play and the other dealing with poker computer software.
If you can apply the different rules outlined in the book, it's entirely possible that you'll be able to take the emotion out of the game and tilt off less money. You'll learn to go with the flow of poker rather than try to direct the flow and cause disruptions in the game.
Many players may be skeptical that the "flow" concept can work with the competitive spirit of poker. They may even tell you that their "passion" and intensity are an asset in the game. But once you read Zen and the Art of Poker, you'll realize that calm, cool-headed play makes more sense and definitely could add up to more dollars in your pocket.
Details:
- Paperback $14
Plume
