Did you ever think about how poker is a little bit like boxing? I have. Especially when people who play “well” (I use this word loosely) fail to adjust well to an opponent who plays poorly; then I think that they’re a little bit like a standard boxer fighting a one-armed man. You know what I mean?

If you’re fighting a guy who has only one arm - the right one, let’s say - it would make a whole lot of sense for you to skip your left-hooks (the ones he can parry) and try to swing as many right-hooks as possible, for instance.

Or if you’re fighting someone who doesn’t parry at all, but does nothing but swing. Or how about someone who never throws a punch at all?

Sure, a decent boxer could still beat a one-armed guy of course - and easily - but think of how much faster that KO would come if he stopped punching with his left arm and focused on his opponent’s weak side instead.

I heard that Holyfield spent weeks before the championship fight just practising how to disarm Tyson’s “bull-charge”; that’s when immediately upon a new round Mike runs right for his opponent, punching fast and hard. That’s what it’s all about: Adjusting to your opponent.

I like to think about that fight - Holyfield vs. Tyson - when I realize I’m dealing with a maniac at the table, and I adjust properly. I like to be prepared for his bull-charge.

I especially like to think about that fight when I then proceed to lose lots of money to the maniac player, and I still feel like a winner* because I adjusted well.

/FP

*Despite having had my ear bitten off.