Never bluff your way in poker Mr. Papandreou when you have low cards

Image by David Wulff via Flickr

Dear Mr. George Papandreou, I see you are a poker fan. You literally turned our democracy into a heated match today. Indeed, bluffing always is the flashiest and most adrenalin-pumping action in a poker match especially when you know that you are losing ground with your opponents as well as the fans watching the game. But know this, that there are some rules in political poker that you should follow especially when you have a hand of low cards… and between you and I sir your popularity with your ministers, the people and the markets is at its lowest ever right now. Another thing to keep in mind is that bluffing might eventually be a great way to build your stack in politics, but I really think you need some more lessons before heading off for yet another game.

Firstly, you should never go into a political game with the idea that you are going to bluff to your opponents into thinking that you will pull out of the game, to only surface your last ace at the last minute because the "pot" is too big... because contrary to what you might believe you never know what you could possibly be up against. A good player Sir doesn't just go into a game and bluff with a short stack... and think that through cheating, lying and manipulating everything and everyone around him he will come out a winner. For God sakes... everyone who is anyone knows that!

Also, never bluff blindly!  What I mean by this Sir is that you should never deceive your opponents in a game just because you're desperate for a few measly chips (votes). I mean come on… everyone who plays poker knows that if a flop (like today's mesh of political events) brings three flush cards (this is your third bad political bluff), and you don't have one of the draws (or the b...lls), then bluffing your way in order to gain at this point in the political game -when you know that you have lost credibility with every living and breathing thing around you- is usually suicidal as your opponents will call you with a high flush draw (and they did).

Another good idea would be to also know how much you should bet and at what point to make your bet. And I say this because many players, especially wanna-be’s, think that bluffing works best when you bet ridiculously big. They are so wrong… because in the end they only end up looking weak. Besides, if you don't have a good hand Mr. Papandreou… just get the hell out of the game as soon as possible, or you will end up losing everything! (In short... stop agonizing the Greek economy, its people and this country.... and just resign!)

Next time you toy with our democracy… and turn it into a heated poker match, take these simple rules into account and maybe just maybe you will be able to bluff a lot more successfully in the future!

Signed
Marina Spanos