The 48 Laws of Power

The 48 Laws of Power

Has anyone ever read this book? It was written by Robert Greene and Joost Elffers and seems like a modern day Art of War type of book. I think quite a few of them apply directly to poker. The ones below are my favorites but if you want to read them all then follow the link.

Law 1: Never Outshine the Master

Always make those above you feel comfortably superior. In your desire to please or impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite – inspire fear and insecurity. Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power.

To me this one is akin to not tapping the glass. I've seen so many players more interested in showing off their poker knowledge rather than staying humble and playing to win. Talking about people's style of play and/or berating them for "bad" plays just kills the game. It's much better to create a comfortable and fun playing atmosphere as opposed to one where players are afraid to make mistakes.

Law 3: Conceal your Intentions

Keep people off-balance and in the dark by never revealing the purpose behind your actions. If they have no clue what you are up to, they cannot prepare a defense. Guide them far enough down the wrong path, envelope them in enough smoke, and by the time they realize your intentions, it will be too late.

This one relates perfectly to poker. Always try to keep your opponents guessing. If you become too predictable then people will only give you action when they have you beat.

Law 4: Always Say Less than Necessary

When you are trying to impress people with words, the more you say, the more common you appear, and the less in control. Even if you are saying something banal, it will seem original if you make it vague, open-ended, and sphinxlike. Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less. The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish.

This one is similar to Law 1 in that it's best to stay humble and keep your thoughts to yourself. Talking about how great you are and how bad others are only serves to kill the game and make you look like a fool.

Law 5: So Much Depends on Reputation – Guard it with your Life

Reputation is the cornerstone of power. Through reputation alone you can intimidate and win; once you slip, however, you are vulnerable, and will be attacked on all sides. Make your reputation unassailable. Always be alert to potential attacks and thwart them before they happen. Meanwhile, learn to destroy your enemies by opening holes in their own reputations. Then stand aside and let public opinion hang them.

I like this one because it's a great reminder to always be aware of how others perceive you at the table. Your reputation is basically your table image and it's a very important part of the game.

Law 8: Make other People come to you – use Bait if Necessary

When you force the other person to act, you are the one in control. It is always better to make your opponent come to you, abandoning his own plans in the process. Lure him with fabulous gains – then attack. You hold the cards.

Perfect for poker. I love to let my opponent feel like they're the ones in control only to come out of no where with a hand they'd never expect. The more I can keep other players guessing the better for my wallet.

Law 9: Win through your Actions, Never through Argument

Any momentary triumph you think gained through argument is really a Pyrrhic victory: The resentment and ill will you stir up is stronger and lasts longer than any momentary change of opinion. It is much more powerful to get others to agree with you through your actions, without saying a word. Demonstrate, do not explicate.

A great description as it relates to people who love to win on technicalities or angle shoots. I've often let certain situations go simply because calling the floor or slowing down the game would have more of an adverse effect. Some people seem to never have learned this lesson though. The "rule nits" can really suck the life out of a game.

Law 10: Infection: Avoid the Unhappy and Unlucky

You can die from someone else’s misery – emotional states are as infectious as disease. You may feel you are helping the drowning man but you are only precipitating your own disaster. The unfortunate sometimes draw misfortune on themselves; they will also draw it on you. Associate with the happy and fortunate instead.

Any time you're dealing with poker players there's gonna be that one guy who's a total cooler. I do my best to avoid these guys and not get sucked into their drama. Once you let this type of person get ahold of you it's very difficult to get away from them.

Law 14: Pose as a Friend, Work as a Spy

Knowing about your rival is critical. Use spies to gather valuable information that will keep you a step ahead. Better still: Play the spy yourself. In polite social encounters, learn to probe. Ask indirect questions to get people to reveal their weaknesses and intentions. There is no occasion that is not an opportunity for artful spying.

This is something that I see Daniel Negreanu do a lot on TV. He engages people in seemingly harmless conversation. But what he's really doing is looking for information that might lead to him getting better reads on people. I'm always careful about what I say at the table if someone asks me a personal question. Plus I've found that if I'm friendly with people they'll give me all sorts of inside info as to how they play.

Law 15: Crush your Enemy Totally

All great leaders since Moses have known that a feared enemy must be crushed completely. (Sometimes they have learned this the hard way.) If one ember is left alight, no matter how dimly it smolders, a fire will eventually break out. More is lost through stopping halfway than through total annihilation: The enemy will recover, and will seek revenge. Crush him, not only in body but in spirit.

This one serves to remind me to maximize value whenever possible. I use this more in tournaments than cash games. I once made a final table and failed to get all this guys chips when I definitely should have. He eventually worked his way back up and took me out.

Law 21: Play a Sucker to Catch a Sucker – Seem Dumber than your Mark

No one likes feeling stupider than the next persons. The trick, is to make your victims feel smart – and not just smart, but smarter than you are. Once convinced of this, they will never suspect that you may have ulterior motives.

When I play live it almost never fails that I get stuck next to "that guy". The guy who knows everything and wants me to know that he knows everything. I generally smile and nod my head in agreement while I secretly plot to take his chips by "getting lucky".

Law 22: Use the Surrender Tactic: Transform Weakness into Power

When you are weaker, never fight for honor’s sake; choose surrender instead. Surrender gives you time to recover, time to torment and irritate your conqueror, time to wait for his power to wane. Do not give him the satisfaction of fighting and defeating you – surrender first. By turning the other cheek you infuriate and unsettle him. Make surrender a tool of power.

This one helps to remind me to keep my ego in check and realize that sometimes the best move is folding. So many times in my younger days I would get involved in pissing matches and no doubt lost tons of money because of it.

Law 28: Enter Action with Boldness

If you are unsure of a course of action, do not attempt it. Your doubts and hesitations will infect your execution. Timidity is dangerous: Better to enter with boldness. Any mistakes you commit through audacity are easily corrected with more audacity. Everyone admires the bold; no one honors the timid.

I tend to run a lot of bluffs and this one helps me to remember to be confident and not to hesitate. I once tried a huge bluff but hesitated just enough that my opponent caught it and called me. He then said it would've worked had he not seen me hesitate.

Law 29: Plan All the Way to the End

The ending is everything. Plan all the way to it, taking into account all the possible consequences, obstacles, and twists of fortune that might reverse your hard work and give the glory to others. By planning to the end you will not be overwhelmed by circumstances and you will know when to stop. Gently guide fortune and help determine the future by thinking far ahead.

Too many players out there get themselves into bad spots because of poor planning. You need to think past the flop. I've got a plan of action for every hand I'm in. It's just like chess where you need to think a few moves ahead to be successful.

Law 35: Master the Art of Timing

Never seem to be in a hurry – hurrying betrays a lack of control over yourself, and over time. Always seem patient, as if you know that everything will come to you eventually. Become a detective of the right moment; sniff out the spirit of the times, the trends that will carry you to power. Learn to stand back when the time is not yet ripe, and to strike fiercely when it has reached fruition.

Timing and patience is everything in poker. I've worked hard on always appearing in control - except for those times I want to project a different image where I'm purposely trying too loosen up my table image.

Law 46: Never appear too Perfect

Appearing better than others is always dangerous, but most dangerous of all is to appear to have no faults or weaknesses. Envy creates silent enemies. It is smart to occasionally display defects, and admit to harmless vices, in order to deflect envy and appear more human and approachable. Only gods and the dead can seem perfect with impunity.

I like to make "bad" plays or mistakes even if I lose a little money just to show people that I'm vulnerable. I want to encourage them to make their own bad plays against me sometime down the road.

Law 48: Assume Formlessness

By taking a shape, by having a visible plan, you open yourself to attack. Instead of taking a form for your enemy to grasp, keep yourself adaptable and on the move. Accept the fact that nothing is certain and no law is fixed. The best way to protect yourself is to be as fluid and formless as water; never bet on stability or lasting order. Everything changes.

Many players today seem to think there's only one ABC way to play poker. Obviously this is far from reality. I always make sure to realize that everything in poker is situational and never expect people to play only one way.

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So what do you guys think? These are just a few of the ones that can be applied to poker. Go back to the top and check the link and read the others I'm sure each of you will find ones that pertain directly to you.