This concept is another important aspect of poker; indeed, it’s crucial for any game that is to be taken seriously. The nature of poker, however, gives it even more weight. Everyone interacts with the metagame to some extent, though the very best players are conciously aware of it and understand its ins and outs as well as the game of poker itself. I have said many times before, these are the things that interest me most in any competitive situation. Poker is so rife with them, that I suspect it is the reason I like it so much.

But, this is a term some people may not be familiar with. As the title of this post suggests, it is derived from the greek (yes that is the only link to the movie 300, I just thought it was a funny pic to throw up there). “Meta” can be translated as “beyond”. It is usually used in English to indicate an abstraction of some sort, or to talk “about” something on a higher level than the subject itself. So, to talk about the metagame of poker is not to make reference to chips, hand values, betting, etc…. It is intended to refer to the broader arena of the game’s play.

Some examples might make this more clear. These are some meta concerns that most people are aware of, though they may not have realized that they could be classified as such; and, therefore, better understood.

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Here is the rest of the list of personal financial lessons that can be learned from the great game of poker. What can’t it do?

Lesson 4 - Don’t Buy Into Appearances

People put up fronts at the poker table. Everyone knows that. Figuring out what exactly the front is may be more difficult if they are good at it. But don’t forget that people do it in life too. Keeping up with the Jones’s is a great way to put you in debt. How much do you think Mr. and Mrs. Jones owe on that new car? I’ll keep my used hatchback thank you and enjoy my credit score and peace of mind.

Lesson 5 - Don’t Go On Tilt

Getting a bad beat is hard to handle sometimes. No matter how cool you are, sometimes there is a hand that gets to you. The good players feel that way too but the difference is they don’t play under those conditions. Walk away from the table for a bit when you feel a tilt (which requires some self-awareness that only comes with paying attention to yourself). Same is true with your money off the felt. When something gets you down, don’t drown your sorrows with a spending spree you can’t afford. If your stocks lose value, don’t panic. Stay cool and make a dispassionate decision when your able.

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I hate the “… For Dummies Books”

They have become so ubiquitous that I must confess to having one on my bookshelf (It was given to me. Just so we’re clear!). It infuriates me to no end that people spend money on books that say in the very title that they are completely dumbed down. Why would one buy a poker book on that level? There are tons of great books out there written by incredible poker players that give their personal insights.

Even for a person that doesn’t read much, they are still better off going straight to the primary sources. I mean Phil Helmuth and Doyle Brunson might be amazing poker players, but neither they nor their ghost writers are T.S. Eliot. The language is pretty easy to understand.

So please don’t patronize these asinine books that only add to the dumbing down of our culture. Read something with at least some semblance of intelligence. If you’re going to do something, like play poker, you owe it to yourself to do it right.