Recently, I read The Tao of Poker: 285 Rules to Transform Your Game and Your Life by Larry W. Phillips, a follow up to his previous book Zen and the Art of Poker: Timeless Secrets to Transform Your Game. This is not your traditional poker book. There is no discussion of cards is involved. Instead Mr. Phillips concentrates on the emotional part of your poker game. We all know that it’s important to avoid going on tilt, Mr. Phillips covers this to some degree, but there are a hundred other emotional factors that go into your game. He also takes a new prospective on concepts such as luck.

For instance, Mr. Phillips argues that luck is a resource to managed like a bankroll, i.e. when your having a streak of good luck, it’s not wise to “push the accelerator to the floor” until you’ve used it all up, but instead to use that luck factor selectively and make it last as long as possible. Luck as a resource.

Now I know that I’ve made post about my views on the subject of “luck.” But Mr. Phillips here argues convincingly and in the short term, I’m willing to concede that such a thing as “luck” exist and can be squandered if not used with care (even if I don’t quite agree with the author that poker is 90% luck and 10% skill).

Rules are broken down into categories and although repetitive in places, for the purposes of reinforcement, it’s essential. Some the rules include:

- Twenty-Five Common Traps
- Bluffing
- Betting and Control
- Staying on your game and avoiding losing the rhythm
- Body Language
- What other players perceive about you

Most of the book is aimed at live play, but there is a useful section about online play and discusses how to gain a slight edge by picking up very subtle clues in the dearth of information this is available in the digital environment.

As I said, this book does NOT talk about what cards to play when. This book is strictly aimed at those interested in the philosophy of the game. Why the other players are sitting at the table (or online) and why you are there. Then what can be gained from this information and how can you use it to your advantage.

I highly recommend this book for players who want an extra emotional edge at the table.

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