Betfair Official Blog

Poker Wars - now it's an Academic Subject

Can Poker change the world? Some people clearly think so.

The Poker Anorak has written on the Global Poker Strategic Thinking Society, and how the newly-formed academic group sees poker as "a metaphor for skills of life, business, politics and international relations".

No small news for you who just want to have fun and see if you can win some money.

The Poker Anorak has made contact with the group's founder, Harvard law professor Charles Nesson, and is hoping to get an interview. Fingers crossed.

In the meanwhile, know that the new society has already seen chapters established at Yale, Brown and Stanford universities in the US.

University of Chicago economist Steven Levitt, co-author of Freakonomics, is also studying online poker. Poker is high-minded stuff.

And tonight World Series of Poker co-founder Crandell Addington and professional poker player Howard Lederer will address Harvard University Law School. The focus will be on how the game of poker mirrors risk-taking, management skills and strategic thinking.

Meanwhile, in the world of poker, we will wonder what our pocket fives mean for the geopolitical landscape and how Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's rivering will result in much turmoil...

The Global Poker Strategic Thinking Society

• Poker