The Door Into Summer

Among the works of the late novelist Robert Heinlein is a book called “The Door Into Summer”. The title arose from Heinlein`s observation of the behaviour of domestic cats.

When a cat goes to leave the house by the back door and discovers that the weather is bad outside, he will often go and investigate the front door instead, apparently hoping that there will be better weather there. He is looking for the door into Summer.

I was reminded of Heinlein`s book when I saw one of my own cats display this behaviour today as, in fact, I have seen them do countless times before. Those of you who are cat owners will likely have seen the same yourselves.

“Easily explained”, you may say. The cat is a dumb animal and cannot understand the mechanisms behind the weather. We should pity him for his foolishness.

But hold on a moment. Cats are among the most intelligent of creatures. Tests and observations have shown that they dream and have cognitive function, that they have an internal representation of the physical world, that they comprehend at least some physical laws (for example, that objects don`t cease to exist when out of sight), that they have a good sense of the passage of time, and so on and so forth.

It is highly likely that the cat knows that his chances of success when looking for the Summer from another door are low. He may not understand how climate works, but he almost certainly can recall that he has tried this procedure before with disappointing results.

So, why does he do it ? Well, don`t we humans also allow hopeful emotions to override knowledge and experience. Don`t we sometimes (often ?) allow our optimism to cloud our judgement.

We buy lottery tickets hoping they will make us rich. We know that, more likely, we just wasted our money.

We buy Diet Coke hoping it will keep us slim. We know that we should get down to the gym and do some exercise.

We call the all-in move from that tight player. We know he hasn`t played a hand in the last half-hour and probably has a monster, but maybe our pocket 7`s are good. I mean, they could be, couldn`t they ? And, if we take his stack, we will have a strong position in the tourney. We have earned it. Maybe it is meant to happen. Maybe the summer will be outside this door this time.

Stop. Think. Don`t do it. Your hopefulness has no effect on the cards, just as the cat`s has no effect on the weather.

When you are at the table, be like a cat by all means. Copy his patience, his alertness. Observe your prey closely and choose your moment to pounce. Copy his aggression, destroy your opponent without mercy.

Don`t copy the leak in his game.

Your emotions don`t belong at the poker table. However much you want it, the Summer isn`t out there. Always pick your moment based on your logic, your analysis, not your optimism. Summer comes around in its own time. You can`t rush it.


Miaow.

Sounds like someone had a rough night of cards last night :|

I like this story.

As far as it pertains to poker, I call it playing "hoping poker."

You raise with JJ and the flop comes with 2 overcards and a flushdraw. Your opponent calls your c-bet and the turn is a blank.

Now, contrary to all evidence that you need to slow down, you convince yourself (hope) your opponent is on that flush draw. So, you push...he insta-calls with AK and top 2 pair.

That's "hoping" poker, or, the door into summer.

Brann

Nice story, well written, IMO submit to Readers Digest or Poker Player for publication.....

very nice article, can feel myself relating to it.

Very nice post, Mike.

Also, living in England in Summer, most cats will know that by the time they walk from back door to front door, the weather will probably have changed....possibly for the better!

Lol. I think you found a fatal flaw in my argument, Joe.

All I can say is WOW, nice post there and well written ET.

I enjoyed this article, I wouldn't be suprised to read this on a poker blog....possibly in one of my posts or in my tip of the day(thats up to you Egon on the approval), but I really think that some things in life are looked at this way and like said it clouds our heads, we should become more realistic about things and know the odds.

Feel free to link to my ramblings or re-post them elsewhere if you want, KC.

I am flattered you enjoyed the post so much.

all in?

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I am not a cat person, but one came to live here a few years ago. Tonite I watched with her everything on the street, as the sun went down. The dog hid behind a bush and watched. And we watched some more in our little yard.
Wish I could get a hand, she said.

Lol @ Makwa.

mike-tou are truly a glorious beacon of light to mice and cats everywhere

Very good writeup.

man, cant believe I missed this thread, it's beautiful OP, Egon, really is.
Cats are just the coolest creatures alive, so laid-back, and independent.
thanks for thread!

Thanks, KD. I had a little thinking time yesterday and figured I was overdue to write something with some meat in it. I don`t believe I have made a HA or Strategy thread for quite a while.

You should write something of the sort yourself, m8. I recall that, a year or more ago now, you gave me some good ideas about trapping loose-aggressive players in ring games.

^^^thanks Egon, but lately Ive had so much going on that I couldnt concentrate on a serious poker thread, what with my 2 blogs, playing poker, hanging-out with friends, plus its summertime and the gorgeous babes are hanging out at my local beach(15 min walk away), I just havent got the time, or maybe the brainpower..................
Wintertime, maybe, when the babes go home again, I might write something of meaning, just having too much fun donkeying(in poker, as well as life) around at the mo.
But again, Egon, fantastic post!

Hi Egon,

Well, as you heard, my attempt to forward this great missive to another forum resulted in great demerits for me, for not crediting this forum or yourself properly (in modspeak opinion). Id like to publicly apologize to all who never got to read this because of that. Over there.

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Makwa, I bear you no ill-will, matey, but you can`t fairly be cross with the mods for doing their job.

When you take something that belongs to your neighbour without asking, you can`t expect the cops to believe that you meant it as a compliment.

Taking or passing on? Copyright and who owns?
I cryptocized this excellent text to get it by one set of mods, got railed by another. I did not represent it as my own.
Copyright in cyberspace is a great theme.
Sry mate, it was a compliment on a great message I thought could be shared further.

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