Re:Why a programmer should try online poker
by andyakb on Wednesday September 05, 2012 @09:51AM
(#4479319)
Again, as I said in response to TomGullen's comment, that is still the very basic of poker math. Further, your example is incorrect. To continue with an OESD [open ended straight draw], you do not need 2 opponents. You simply need the pot odds of the bet you are facing [and factoring in potential bets on future streets while drawing, as well as expected profit when you make your draw] to be giving you at least 2:1 odds.
In poker it is very easy to think youve "figured it out," because in a casino it is hard to keep track of your profits and losses over more than a few visits, and the ups and downs can have large impacts on your short term results [which take a long time to get past in a casino].
I do agree that emotional control is the biggest thing [outside of profits] that I got out of poker, because it carries over into the rest of my life. Im more patient, and dont get upset as easily about things that are outside my control. Those are important lessons to learn in life, and if you have gotten those from poker, great, but you still have a ways to go to understand the basic math and other concepts.
Re:Why a programmer should try online poker
by TomGullen on Wednesday September 05, 2012 @08:31AM
(#4479008)
Emotional control is one of the hardest things to master in poker and is ultimately why I failed. Learning the influence your emotions have on you and your decision making is as you say a very important life lesson. Being able to recognise when your emotions are causing you to make a series of bad decisions is a very useful tool.
Re:Why a programmer should try online poker
by leonk on Wednesday September 05, 2012 @09:36AM
(#4479260)
Emotional control was the biggest skill I learnt from playing Poker.
It's a game where short term winning and losing are unimportant. I learnt to have confidence in my own game, and know that I would (probably) be rewarded (eventually).
Knowing that there are factors out of your control (i.e. luck) and becoming comfortable with that, and even getting to a point where you can embrace that (after all, without luck Poker would be no fun).
I feel I have taken this skill and adapted it to many other aspects of my life.
You learn to take decisions with vague information by approximating and using basic math. As TomGullen says, the necessary math is neither hard nor is it much. To art is to adapt your numbers to the real world situation. Example: With an open-ended straight draw at the flop, you chances are roughly 1/3 for a straight in the end. First, you need at least two other players. If you have one other player, you fold, because it is not profitable. With three or more other players you keep playing. With two enemies it gets interesting, because you need to factor more information in, to decide. What is your position? Did someone raise before the flop? How did your two enemies play their hands before? What is your image at the table? ...
Another lesson i got from poker is to control my emotions when I'm on a streak. If you are on a winning streak, you still must fold when the math says the expected value is negative. On a loosing streak you still must go all-in if the math says so. No peaking at the flop, when your initial hand is too bad.