Author: Lydia Lee · 18 March 2025 · 6 min read

Texas hold’em isn’t just a game of cards - it’s a balance of skill, strategy, and luck. In Chinese astrology, luck isn’t random; it’s something we can harness. By aligning astrological wisdom with strategy, we can maximise opportunities at the table and turn chance into strategic advantage.

Luck, Timing & Strategy

While we can’t control the cards we’re dealt, you can control how you play them, how to position yourself, and when you make your move.

Right Timing: Every Chinese zodiac sign has peak and low-energy periods. Playing during your most auspicious cycles can sharpen focus, heighten intuition, and improve decision-making, giving you a natural position over opponents who rely solely on skill and chance.
Elemental Strengths Matter: The five elements - Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water - shape personality and playing styles. Fire signs, driven and impulsive, might thrive in aggressive games. Water signs, adaptable and strategic, excel at long-term play. Know your element and refine your strategy accordingly.
Balancing Risk & Reward: Yin and Yang, the foundation of Chinese philosophy, teaches that success lies in knowing when to push forward and when to wait. Poker is a game of patience as much as action. The best players embrace both.

Opportunity Beyond Luck

Luck might deal the cards, but opportunity comes from recognising patterns, reading opponents, and making intelligent and intuitive moves. The best poker players have signature styles - some are aggressive, others methodical. But all successful players remain adaptable.

Read the Table: Just as Chinese metaphysics emphasises harmony with surroundings, poker demands situational awareness. Who’s bluffing? Who’s playing tight? Adjust accordingly.
Apply Personal Feng Shui: Your playing environment matters. Some poker players swear by lucky charms or wear lucky colours. Creating a intentional space that fosters clarity and confidence can give you an edge.
Make Your Own Luck: True mastery blends skill, intuition, and preparation. Work on your game, study your mistakes, and refine your playbook. The more you prepare, practise, and strategise, the luckier you become.

Astrology offers insight, but experience is invaluable. Profitable poker players put in hours of study, analyse patterns, and sharpen their instincts. Whether we’re guided by the stars or statistics, one truth remains - luck favours the prepared. Position yourself wisely, play smart, and when the moment is right, go all in.

In My Humble Opinion

I’ve been playing Texas Hold’em on and off for over 20 years, with a basic understanding of textbook poker. My maths is shocking, and I’m hopeless with stats. I learned the game through in-person casino cash games and local pub tourneys. For years, I considered myself above average at the best of times, cashing in and making final tables, though I rarely finished first. Everything changed when I began integrating Chinese astrology into my poker strategy. Since then, I’ve been winning more frequently and consistently than ever before.

I’ve never studied poker, but recently stumbled across MasterClasses by Negreanu and Ivey. I admire Negreanu’s meticulous approach and resonate deeply with Ivey’s intuitive relationship with implied odds. These MasterClasses revived my love for poker, so I entered tournaments again in 2024, after taking a couple of years off to focus on being a first-time mum (also because I’ve since moved away from the closest casino). When I was pregnant in 2022, I played casino cash games regularly and was consistently profitable. During my pregnancy, I believe I unintentionally tapped into some kind of maternal, unconditional energy that elevated my game. Since then, I’ve learned to play from that elevated state, never from fear. Sounds crazy, but it’s true.

Over the past 12 months, I’ve been fortunate to consistently finish in the money in around 10 out of the 15 or so local tourneys I’ve entered. Winning never feels like an entitlement, but rather an unexpected gift that I am truly grateful for. I’m continually striving for personal excellence, without attachment to any outcome. While I’m still an average player, I believe the subtle edge I’ve gained through a mix of strategy and metaphysical application has exponentially improved my game. I’m usually passive, ranging from being tight-passive to loose-passive (I Googled suitable poker terminology for this part). Being passive fully aligns with my Chinese astrology, as a Yin Water element.

Chinese astrology has enriched my life in ways far beyond poker. I believe poker is not just a game, but a tangible manifestation of my personal expression. The key to playing my best game lies in detaching from the ego, observing without judgment, letting go of bad beats, and freeing myself from victim-mentality and limiting beliefs. When approached with intention and mindfulness, any activity becomes a powerful practice for cultivating energy, staying present, connected, and flowing – especially in moments of adversity. And just like in life, sometimes we win, sometimes we lose, but every hand teaches us something when we’re paying attention.

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