GTO Poker Theories - Never Multiply By Zero
One of those seemingly obvious lessons that so many people don't listen to. Today we have another primer on avoiding financial disaster.
One of the real gifts poker has given me is that it has been a great jumping off point to learn things from other disciplines like economics, AI, psychology and Game Theory. So here is a series of articles where I bring some of the most interesting things I have learned from other subjects outside of poker which are applicable in this game we know and love.
We all know what happens mathematically when you multiply a number by zero. Whether it is 3 x 0 or 1,254,845 x 0, the answer is always the same. It's zero. Zilch. Nothing. Nada!
This may seem obvious but there are areas in life where we may be multiplying by zero and not realising it. The mental model of 'never multiply by zero' means looking for weak links in your habits, processes or business to see if failure would be devastating.
A simple example is driving a car. You could have brilliant technique, excellent observation and a brand new top of the range car. However, if you drive without a seatbelt or airbags, all of that could be worthless. One bad accident could ruin everything for you, it would be multiplying by zero.
Multiplying by zero, as a mental model, is about identifying single points of failure that can cancel out everything else.
Bankroll management & game selection
The obvious poker parallel here is avoiding going broke. Failing to prevent a situation where you lose your bankroll is a poker version of multiplying by zero.
Play in games outside of your bankroll and you stand a very good chance of going broke. Even very talented players will hit periods of bad variance regularly that could wipe them out if they are not properly rolled for their games, or prepared to move down in stakes.
Likewise a very talented player can go broke if they choose to play in games they cannot beat. Routinely playing at a table full of professionals is another form of multiplying by zero that could take you out of the game.
Even something as mundane as where you keep your poker bankroll is a potential example of multiplying by zero. Keep 100% of it on an unregulated site, or under your mattress, and you could go broke without playing a single hand.
The poker world is littered with stories of good players who didn't identify where a single point of failure cost them everything. Don't be one of them.
What theories from outside of poker have helped your game? Let us know in the comments.
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