Women"s Poker Strategy: Differences Between Male and Female Players
Men and women have different brains--and therefore different ways of thinking and processing information. Women can better benefit from learning poker strategy for women! This article explores major biological and social differences between men and women that impact the poker experience.
In 1979, Doyle Brunson wrote in his ground-breaking poker strategy book Super System, "I've never met a woman who was a really top player." In the 2006 World Series of Poker, Doyle's own daughter, Pam Brunson, won over $34,000. Not only are women here to stay in the poker world, but we have many advantages over the men.
In her 2007 book The Female Brain, Dr. Louann Brizendine explains what women's brains can do:
- "Just about the first thing the female brain compels a baby to do is study faces" (p. 14). As women poker players, we've been studying the game since day #1!
- "Girls can also hear a broader range of sound frequency and tones in the human voice than can boys" (p. 17). Reading tells is that much easier for women poker players!
- "Remember, he's thinking about sex literally every minute" (p. 92). Women poker players don't have to worry about this distraction!
- "The areas of the brain that track gut feelings are larger and more sensitive in the female brain" (p. 120). Women poker players are processing all kinds of "clues" about the other players at the table--without even trying!
- "It's easier to push a man's anger button...Women have a much less direct relationship to anger" (p. 129). Women poker players have a lower chance of going on tilt! Thank you testosterone!
- "The female brain is gifted at quickly assessing the thoughts, beliefs, and intentions of others, based on the smallest hints" (p. 120-1). The female brain is a poker tell-reading machine!
In addition to biological differences, there are obviously social differences between men and women:
- While studies show that men and women have the same capabilities at mathematics, most women feel that math is a weakness for them...perhaps due to its reputation for male-domination.
- Poker is dominated by men and has been for centuries. Like football, the male influence on poker has shaped its norms. Poker has adopted male values and feminine habits and mannerisms are deemed foreign. How else can you explain the term "the nuts?"
- Looking at the social side of our biological differences in sex drive, any woman who thinks she can sit down at a male-dominated poker table without sex being an issue--to one degree or another--is mistaken.
- Women are socialized to be cooperative rather than competitive, to be passive rather than aggressive. While most modern women enjoy a little healthy competition and despise "doormat" behavior, it is still part of our framework.
Because of these differences, we as women will have more success at poker if we approach the game differently. Many of the strategy books push the importance of math and odds over "gut feelings," however, women players should pay great attention to gut feelings. On the other hand, women can become highly successful at poker by learning how to calculate poker odds.
Additionally, strategy books tell you that the best time to bluff is on the button when everyone else has limped in. While this is good advice, women can very successfully time bluffs by how they are perceived at the table by male opponents. The best time for a woman to bluff may be after losing a heads up showdown or when you first sit down at the table--because the male players are likely to assume our feminity is our weakness.
We are all already experts in the social differences between men and women because we live them everyday. However, the more you understand the biological differences, the more you can tailor the male-influenced poker literature and strategy out there for you.
For more on poker strategy for women, go to Poker4Girls.Net [http://www.poker4girls.net].
In 1979, Doyle Brunson wrote in his ground-breaking poker strategy book Super System, "I've never met a woman who was a really top player." In the 2006 World Series of Poker, Doyle's own daughter, Pam Brunson, won over $34,000. Not only are women here to stay in the poker world, but we have many advantages over the men.
In her 2007 book The Female Brain, Dr. Louann Brizendine explains what women's brains can do:
- "Just about the first thing the female brain compels a baby to do is study faces" (p. 14). As women poker players, we've been studying the game since day #1!
- "Girls can also hear a broader range of sound frequency and tones in the human voice than can boys" (p. 17). Reading tells is that much easier for women poker players!
- "Remember, he's thinking about sex literally every minute" (p. 92). Women poker players don't have to worry about this distraction!
- "The areas of the brain that track gut feelings are larger and more sensitive in the female brain" (p. 120). Women poker players are processing all kinds of "clues" about the other players at the table--without even trying!
- "It's easier to push a man's anger button...Women have a much less direct relationship to anger" (p. 129). Women poker players have a lower chance of going on tilt! Thank you testosterone!
- "The female brain is gifted at quickly assessing the thoughts, beliefs, and intentions of others, based on the smallest hints" (p. 120-1). The female brain is a poker tell-reading machine!
In addition to biological differences, there are obviously social differences between men and women:
- While studies show that men and women have the same capabilities at mathematics, most women feel that math is a weakness for them...perhaps due to its reputation for male-domination.
- Poker is dominated by men and has been for centuries. Like football, the male influence on poker has shaped its norms. Poker has adopted male values and feminine habits and mannerisms are deemed foreign. How else can you explain the term "the nuts?"
- Looking at the social side of our biological differences in sex drive, any woman who thinks she can sit down at a male-dominated poker table without sex being an issue--to one degree or another--is mistaken.
- Women are socialized to be cooperative rather than competitive, to be passive rather than aggressive. While most modern women enjoy a little healthy competition and despise "doormat" behavior, it is still part of our framework.
Because of these differences, we as women will have more success at poker if we approach the game differently. Many of the strategy books push the importance of math and odds over "gut feelings," however, women players should pay great attention to gut feelings. On the other hand, women can become highly successful at poker by learning how to calculate poker odds.
Additionally, strategy books tell you that the best time to bluff is on the button when everyone else has limped in. While this is good advice, women can very successfully time bluffs by how they are perceived at the table by male opponents. The best time for a woman to bluff may be after losing a heads up showdown or when you first sit down at the table--because the male players are likely to assume our feminity is our weakness.
We are all already experts in the social differences between men and women because we live them everyday. However, the more you understand the biological differences, the more you can tailor the male-influenced poker literature and strategy out there for you.
For more on poker strategy for women, go to Poker4Girls.Net [http://www.poker4girls.net].
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