Friday, September 16, 2005
Of Poker & Leadership
From http://politicalwire.com/:
In a must-read Los Angeles Times piece, Glengarry Glen Ross author David Mamet argues that Democrats can learn an important lesson by playing cards. "In poker, one must have courage: the courage to bet, to back one's convictions, one's intuitions, one's understanding. There can be no victory without courage. The successful player must be willing to wager on likelihoods. Should he wait for absolutely risk-free certainty, he will win nothing, regardless of the cards he is dealt."
"For example, take a player who has never acted with initiative -- he has never raised, merely called. Now, at the end of the evening, he is dealt a royal flush. The hand, per se, is unbeatable, but the passive player has never acted aggressively; his current bet (on the sure thing) will signal to the other players that his hand is unbeatable, and they will fold.
"His patient, passive quest for certainty has won nothing.
"The Democrats, similarly, in their quest for a strategy that would alienate no voters, have given away the store, and they have given away the country."
This, I think, is sound advice. Really.
Living in Vegas I play some poker. Not a lot, but some. I've come to really enjoy the game. There are, as Mamet points out, many things in Poker that can be applied to "everyday" life. Courage is one facet of poker that I agree can be brought out in real life from poker because you have to have the guts to see where the pot (with your money) will go. How much faith do you have in your cards and/or your ability to play them? Which tables are you comfortable sitting at? Structured game or No Limit (no thank you!)? Can you spot someone who is good? Do you tap the tank? (hat tip, E)
¶ 8:28 AM 
In a must-read Los Angeles Times piece, Glengarry Glen Ross author David Mamet argues that Democrats can learn an important lesson by playing cards. "In poker, one must have courage: the courage to bet, to back one's convictions, one's intuitions, one's understanding. There can be no victory without courage. The successful player must be willing to wager on likelihoods. Should he wait for absolutely risk-free certainty, he will win nothing, regardless of the cards he is dealt.""For example, take a player who has never acted with initiative -- he has never raised, merely called. Now, at the end of the evening, he is dealt a royal flush. The hand, per se, is unbeatable, but the passive player has never acted aggressively; his current bet (on the sure thing) will signal to the other players that his hand is unbeatable, and they will fold."His patient, passive quest for certainty has won nothing.
"The Democrats, similarly, in their quest for a strategy that would alienate no voters, have given away the store, and they have given away the country."
This, I think, is sound advice. Really.
Living in Vegas I play some poker. Not a lot, but some. I've come to really enjoy the game. There are, as Mamet points out, many things in Poker that can be applied to "everyday" life. Courage is one facet of poker that I agree can be brought out in real life from poker because you have to have the guts to see where the pot (with your money) will go. How much faith do you have in your cards and/or your ability to play them? Which tables are you comfortable sitting at? Structured game or No Limit (no thank you!)? Can you spot someone who is good? Do you tap the tank? (hat tip, E)
¶ 8:28 AM
