Galt's Gulch

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  • Posted by $ Susanne 9 years, 5 months ago
    As a course in strategic analysis, poker isn't a bad forum. Neither is blackjack... Good link; Thanks, Harmon!
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    • Posted by $ jlc 9 years, 5 months ago
      I think that is the core of their decision. I was student teacher for a class on Parapsychology in college...and I know that the teacher got the class on the schedule by pointing out that it was a great vehicle to make statistics exciting to students.

      Jan
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  • Posted by Eudaimonia 9 years, 5 months ago
    Thanks for posting this, Harmon.

    Hopefully it covers more than just the basics.
    I've been interested for a while in recalculating odds on each turn event.

    I'm familiar with stats, so I know that such recalculations are probably not humanly possible without shortcuts and estimations.
    It would be nice if the course went that in depth.
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  • Posted by $ jbrenner 9 years, 5 months ago
    Given the history that inspired "21", MIT's free poker course is pretty ironic. Did you enjoy this year's World Series of Poker?
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    • Posted by $ HarmonKaslow 9 years, 5 months ago
      John entered the World Series this year ... made it to day 3 and then had that "either or" moment: play poker or be on a panel at FreedomFest. Of course, the decision was easy ... he kept his word ... left the table and participated in the panel.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 9 years, 5 months ago
    Hmmm.
    I wonder how the parents who are spending enough to feed a village in Africa for a year, in order to keep their kid at M.I.T. feel about them taking classes in poker. It's OK if the kids are doing it with their own money (doubtful) or have a poker scholarship (very doubtful).
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  • Posted by BradA 9 years, 5 months ago
    To clarify, this was a course given during MIT's last IAP, Independent Activity Period. IAP is a one month break between regular semesters during which students are given the opportunity to pursue all manner of subjects and projects that interest them outside of their normal course work. These activities typically do not apply to graduation requirements. The first clue is that completion of 1 year of Calculus is not a prerequisite for this class as it is for nearly every other non-freshman class at MIT.
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  • Posted by wiggys 9 years, 5 months ago
    mit is now into the world of mysticism, what happened to pure science at mit. it has been put to the back of the room.
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    • Posted by jimjamesjames 9 years, 5 months ago
      If your point is that poker is mysticism, you are wrong. For me, poker is simply applied statistics. Winners, over all, know the numbers, and make decisions based on those numbers and the non-quantifiable components of games. Good poker players win, over all; bad poker players lose, over all.
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        Posted by wiggys 9 years, 5 months ago
        luck of the draw
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        • Posted by jimjamesjames 9 years, 5 months ago
          Wrong again. A good poker player can win with bad cards. A bad poker player can only win with good cards.
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          • Posted by wiggys 9 years, 5 months ago
            I give in, you must make a living as a gambler.
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            • Posted by jimjamesjames 9 years, 5 months ago
              Not a gambler. Poker player. And I made a pretty good extra income back in the mid '60s, playing in the card clubs (draw poker only in those days) in Gardena, California which existed because, according the the myth, that a law was passed (in the late 1800s) outlawing gambling in California and the contention was that poker was a game of skill. Per the myth, 12 jurors played poker long enough to render a unanimous verdict that poker was a game of skill and cities were allowed to decide whether to allow poker clubs. Thank Galt, Gardena did; it paid for some tuition and book costs.........
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              • Posted by wiggys 9 years, 5 months ago
                if it was so lucrative why did you give it up?
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                • Posted by jimjamesjames 9 years, 5 months ago
                  The life and lifestyle is a grind. Great when you have a few regular losers, but sometimes, you run into some good players and have to really work at it. If you have not seen it, get The Cincinnati Kid with Steve McQueen. Good illustration of the dedication needed to live like that..... and the mindset...... which I don't have for the long haul.
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                  • Posted by wiggys 9 years, 5 months ago
                    jim,
                    so it appears that the only way to be a successful poker player is to work at it. well the only way i have become a successful producer of sleeping bag, I am the largest high quality bag sold in the world, is because i have and continue to work at it. so much for gambling as a profession. by the way if it were so good it would be worth pursuing since you would avaoid paying income tax.
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                    • Posted by jimjamesjames 9 years, 5 months ago
                      There are benefits to that life and lifestyle..... But, having been there, done that........ no need to go back. Funnest poker games were with the relatives at reunions and funerals and weddings, playing for nickles, dimes and quarters, maximum bets were $1. Keep making sleeping bags, I'll keep not playing poker......
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