Strategic Thinking
Strategic thinking is smart thinking. In any sort of competitive endeavor, and poker is a competitive endeavor, you start with formulating an objective. In poker this objective is to win money. Then you develop a strategy. A strategy is a path that will lead you to that objective. But, the path isn’t going to be a straight road. It’s going to be bumpy and will have some sharp turns. You’ll have opponents who’ll be building their own road and sometimes removing the materials from your road to use in building theirs.
Throughout most of this book I’ll be assuming that the objective is to win money. But, it’s important to recognize that’s not the objective of many players. They often think that’s their objective, but the reality is that what they really want to do is not be the first one to bust out of a tournament, to finish in the money in a tournament (which isn’t the same thing as making money), or to make their money last all night, or to not look foolish, or to win enough to pay the rent, of whatever. If you can recognize these kinds of non-functional objectives in your opponents then you can profit from exploitation of that.
Before you plot a path to an objective you have to consider both the strengths and weaknesses of your opponents. That’s strategic thinking. They’ll be using their strengths to try to block your path to your objective, but you can use their weaknesses to find a shortcut to your objectives.
Strategic thinking is proactive thinking, not reactive. You will react. But, your reactions are planned. You can use strategic thinking to anticipate problems and solve them before they happen, examining the pros and cons of various moves in order to identify the best path to success. You have to anticipate their reactions to each of your actions or potential actions and plan your response.
Strategic thinking is smart thinking. In any sort of competitive endeavor, and poker is a competitive endeavor, you start with formulating an objective. In poker this objective is to win money. Then you develop a strategy. A strategy is a path that will lead you to that objective. But, the path isn’t going to be a straight road. It’s going to be bumpy and will have some sharp turns. You’ll have opponents who’ll be building their own road and sometimes removing the materials from your road to use in building theirs.
Throughout most of this book I’ll be assuming that the objective is to win money. But, it’s important to recognize that’s not the objective of many players. They often think that’s their objective, but the reality is that what they really want to do is not be the first one to bust out of a tournament, to finish in the money in a tournament (which isn’t the same thing as making money), or to make their money last all night, or to not look foolish, or to win enough to pay the rent, of whatever. If you can recognize these kinds of non-functional objectives in your opponents then you can profit from exploitation of that.
Before you plot a path to an objective you have to consider both the strengths and weaknesses of your opponents. That’s strategic thinking. They’ll be using their strengths to try to block your path to your objective, but you can use their weaknesses to find a shortcut to your objectives.
Strategic thinking is proactive thinking, not reactive. You will react. But, your reactions are planned. You can use strategic thinking to anticipate problems and solve them before they happen, examining the pros and cons of various moves in order to identify the best path to success. You have to anticipate their reactions to each of your actions or potential actions and plan your response.
posted by Gary Carson at 11:43 AM
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