A way to answer the great questions of our time is to flip the perspective of what needs to be explained.
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.
Explanatory Inversion is a concept that challenges our conventional understanding of phenomena by flipping our perspective on what needs to be explained. This approach often reveals surprising insights and can lead to significant shifts in scientific and philosophical thinking.
The principle of Explanatory Inversion suggests that we should focus on explaining what we typically take for granted, rather than what we perceive as unusual or mysterious. Instead of asking why we need to sleep, ask why we need to be awake at all. Instead of asking why humans make irrational decisions, ask why they ever make rational ones.
Explanatory Inversion tackles the issue of poverty, by instead asking why is there prosperity. This highlights that poverty is the default and, therefore, studying prosperity instead might help lift people out of poverty.
Study a hand from your opponent’s perspective
One of the best things about solver technology is you get a way to study the same hand twice, from your perspective and your opponent’s.
This is poker’s version of Explanatory Inversion. A great way to study a hand is to just ask how you could have played it better, but what your opponent could have done to beat you.
Not only do you get more bang for your buck, essentially reviewing the same hand twice, you take a more objective approach and remove some of the emotion that came from winning or losing the hand. Something which should serve you well at the tables.
It also fosters a curious mindset and removes a little bias from your hand reviews.
What theories from outside of poker have helped your game? Let us know in the comments.