Thanks to the continuous face-to-face duels, Texas Hold’em live poker can be considered as the perfect arena for the empirical phase of a wide range of theories concerning the study of communication. Strategically speaking, though it isn’t the purpose of this discussion, the studies of authors have proved useful, such as, for example, de Saussure, Hjelmslev, Durkheim, Bateson, Sapir-Whorf, Habermas, Levi Strauss, Jonas, Goffman, Buordieu, Birkenbihl and many others, who filled the information gap inherent to the probabilistic calculation applied to live tournaments.
Still a cultural problem
At the time of the origins of Texas Hold’em poker, many of the scientific disciplines that adopt the qualitative method in their analysis process did not exist and the older ones, such as psychology, in scientific circles were often considered little or no reliable. In relation to the research objectives of my Thesis, these disciplines have proved to be fundamental to design a new tournament model that would be able to enhance and preserve the individual skills of the single athlete.
The complementarity of communication theories in live poker
The adoption of communication theories for the management of the game dynamics in a live tournament, can be considered as those tools necessary to refine the strategies “exploitative”, essential to define each situation at the table. It’s all about understanding the need to implement interdisciplinary analysis in the evaluation of the various spots. In this context, mathematics becomes accessory and, together with the theories of communication, completes the critical analysis of the dynamics of live play.
The change of paradigm lies in the replacement of the traditionally adopted calculation process, with the process of signification for the analysis of the various spots.
We are communicative beings, therefore we all use the tools of the communication sciences to deal with daily activities, whether personal, professional, leisure, or other. The technical awareness of these theories allows every poker player to formulate innovative gaming strategies, specific to live poker spots.
From personal experience, adopting these theories since 2017, I can say that they favor aggressive strategies, implying an average higher management cost, but, since ever, you get what you pay.
Go to the next article not to lose the thread of the discussion on the Skill Poker Index, or go to the first article of the series to resume it.
Pietro Semeraro
Transl. by Margherita Basile
