The Essential Theorem Of Poker

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The essential theorem of poker sounds a lot more intimidating than it is because it uses a couple words that most people don't hear everyday. In fact, the fundamental theorem of poker is quite simple and plainly spoken - yet at the same time it's even more complex than the scientific-sounding name implies.

The essential theorem of poker is another contribution to the poker world by notable poker player, theorist and author David Sklansky, who also created the gap concept, among other things. The theorem reads as follows:

"Every time you play a hand differently from the manner in which you would have played it in the event that you could see all your opponents' cards, they gain; and every time you play your hand the same way you'd have played it if you could see all their cards, they lose. Conversely, each and every time opponents play their hands differently from the way they would have if they could see your entire cards, you get; and each time they play their hands the same way they might have played if they could see your entire cards, you lose. "

It's a whole lot of words to sum up a reasonably simple idea, and that is this: if you could see your opponent's cards, then it might be possible to produce decisions centered on complete mathematical certainty. Thus, assuming you knew your math and understood some basic poker concepts like pot odds, you could always make the best possible decision to bring you closer to winning the table. By the same token, if your opponent could see all your cards, he would have the same decision-making power.

What the essential theorem of idn poker emphasizes is the fact that information is probably the most important resource that any poker player has. The more information you have, the better your chances of making the correct decision.

Unfortunately, there is little that players can do to genuinely increase their available information. While you may possibly have the ability to "read" your opponents, any information that you will get from this is far from complete. Plus, there is always the chance that your opponent is earnestly deceiving you, feeding you misinformation that'll surely end up in you making an incorrect decision.

What you can take far from the fundamental theorem of poker is that there surely is always the correct decision. While you shouldn't beat yourself up for making an incorrect decision, you should use every hand as an opportunity to gain as much information as you are able to. Learn about your opponents so that you can better predict their actions in the future. Even if the sole information you could glean is that your opponent is playing completely randomly, that is still information that you can use.

Don't think too hard about how exactly this theorem applies to your everyday game - you'll just drive yourself crazy. Instead, consider it in a wide sense and try to keep your mind open to every possible avenue for new information.