War on the Poker Table

A seasoned general is a master of all trades. If you can master the art of warfare you can master life. Life and everything it contains is a battlefield. Today I will enlighten you on a concept you have probably never heard of before. Today you will learn how the military tactics of some of the world's greatest generals including: Vauban, Hitler, Napoleon, Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, Washington, and Stalin can be used in the struggles of everyday life, and more specifically in Hold 'Em poker.

Let's take the fundamental concept, tactic if you will, of Hold 'Em Poker. The one I'm considering is bluffing. If you've ever started out at poker you'll realize how hard it is to bluff at first. How much do you bet? Do you smile, keep a neutral face, or grimace? Are they reading you? Is your bet left naked? Will they raise? Most of these questions show up on your face allowing any opponent with talent to strike you down. Now let's look at the same situation from a seasoned military general's perspective. Bluffing is a common tactic in warfare. To bluff successfully requires two very important life skills: knowing your enemy and tactical deception. The first thing a good general does is analyze and understand their enemy. Once you understand someone you know their strengths and weaknesses you know how to deceive them and how to discourage them. In poker, you must know your opponent and have a strong understanding of tactical deception.