Why you need to dismantle your poker game (Part 1 of 5): An introduction to Systemantics

“A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that worked. A complex system designed from scratch never works and cannot be patched up to make it work. You have to start over with a working simple system.”

This quote is taken from the book Systemantics: How Systems Work and Especially How They Fail by, John Gall.

While the above statement is quite a mouthful, and a little cryptic it applies quite nicely to poker. Basically, you must view your progression as a poker player in steps. As the old saying goes, “You have to be able to crawl before you walk”.

Far too many people want it all, and want it all right now! In this age of instant gratification players feel that if they read a book, and follow the strategies within, they should be able to crush any game they play in. What these misguided poker wannabes fail to realize is they’re not going to be Daniel Negreanu or Doyle Brunson right out of the chute. It’s going to take some time to have these players’s experience, and acquire their skill set.

In the poker world, the key to success is to create a solid foundation you can build upon. Not create such a complex strategy with so many holes; you couldn’t fix it if you wanted to! There’s no use in knowing every advanced play in the book if you have major flaws in your game: ‘You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig.’

A solid basic strategy consists of the following skills:

1. Knowing starting hand attributes
2. How to properly use aggression
3. Understanding positional advantages and disadvantages
4. The importance of odds

The above skills are your foundation, you must master these skills -your foundation- before you attempt to throw up some walls and a roof, and move the furniture into your house.

These are the only skills you need to beat the lower limit games [in fact, knowledge of advanced plays usually is a detriment at these levels. Straightforward play tends to be the most effective strategy at the lower limits.]There’s no point in learning about thin value bets, game theory’s application to poker, or the proper execution of a 3-bet bluff on the river. You just end up confusing yourself, and over thinking many situations.

Once you have this basic strategy in place you can start adding all of the advanced concepts and deceptive plays into your arsenal.

This five part series is your doorway into a whole new you. If you’re a knowledgeable and experienced player, who struggles to break even, maybe it’s time to toss your entire game into the muck and start over from scratch: Learning the right way.

Stay tuned for upcoming installments in this series:

• Part 2: Starting hand attributes
• Part 3: Proper use of aggression
• Part 4: Positional advantages and disadvantages
• Part 5: The importance of odds