# Verifying Rationality via RationalPoker.com

Related to: [Problem of verifying rationality](http://wiki.lesswrong.com/wiki/Problem_of_verifying_rationality)

We're excited to announce the (soft) launch of [RationalPoker.com](http://rationalpoker.com)! It's a new guide developed by me, Zvi, Kevin, and patrissimo detailing how to use online poker as rationality training to conquer your cognitive biases. We want our community to go from [knowing a lot about cognitive biases](/sequences) to actually [having a training method](http://rationalpoker.com/2011/03/15/knowledge-of-biases-isnt-enough/) that allows us to integrate that knowledge into our habits -- truly reducing biases instead of just leaving us perpetually lamenting our flawed brain-ware. In the coming weeks, we'll be making the case that online poker is a useful rationalist pursuit along with developing [introductory "How To" material](http://rationalpoker.com/category/poker-how-to/) that allows those who join us to play profitably.

We want to make sure we aren’t [wasting our time](/lw/2po/selfimprovement_or_shiny_distraction_why_less/) practicing an [ungrounded art](/lw/9t/extreme_rationality_it_could_be_great) with [methods that don’t work](/lw/2j/schools_proliferating_without_evidence/). Poker gives us an objective way to [test x-rationality](/lw/9p/extreme_rationality_its_not_that_great/). The difference between winning and losing in poker once you know a small amount of domain-specific knowledge is due to differing [levels of rationality](/lw/2s/3_levels_of_rationality_verification/). Our site will be presenting the case that a strong rationalist who can act on their knowledge of cognitive biases (a defining feature of x-rationality but not traditional rationality) should have a distinct advantage. We'll be offering the connecting material between [the sequences](/sequences) and [online poker](http://rationalpoker.com/) to teach you how to apply knowledge of cognitive biases to poker in a way that [verifies your current level of rationality](/lw/h/test_your_rationality/) and naturally teaches you to improve your rationality over time.

Incidentally, this also presents a solution for those of us looking to [earn money from anywhere](/lw/2qp/virtual_employment_open_thread/) with a [flexible schedule that leaves time for outside interests](/lw/38u/best_career_models_for_doing_research/).

We’re just getting started so please be kind! Our site is definitely not a final product yet. If you're curious about where we're going with this though, [add us to your RSS feeds](http://rationalpoker.com/feed/) or check the site every few days. We hope some of you who aren't convinced yet consider playing once you feel like we’ve finally given you enough information to understand why poker is a profitable rationalist pursuit. 

Also, if you sign up for one of the online poker rooms like [Full Tilt](http://www.fulltiltpoker.com/?key=MDAwMTc3OTEwMDAzOTVFQzIwODI0MDI0MDAwMDAwMDA-) using our affiliate links, the residuals get donated to Less Wrong/Singularity Institute. That way, the more poker you play after you sign up, the more money you direct towards [raising the sanity waterline](/lw/1e/raising_the_sanity_waterline/) and [creating provably friendly artificial intelligence](http://intelligence.org/).

We’re not counting on it, but even a very small group of us could theoretically fund SIAI in a very real and meaningful way _just as a side-effect of playing a lot of online poker_. I know I'm partisan, but this seems like an unreasonably exciting opportunity! So if you support SIAI and you (or your friends) want to sign up to play online poker anyway, please [sign-up using our links](http://rationalpoker.com/).

Anyway, we hope some of you [want to get stronger](/lw/h8/tsuyoku_naritai_i_want_to_become_stronger/) by joining us in the [Rationality Dojo](/lw/gn/the_martial_art_of_rationality/) of online poker. You can be part of our crew of aspiring rationalists who want to [increase our rationality](/lw/41/individual_rationality_is_a_matter_of_life_and/), earn money, and help [save the world](/lw/373/how_to_save_the_world/) \-\- all by playing a fun computer game with no boss, no schedule, and the potential for lots of [self-development and personal growth](http://rationalpoker.com/2011/03/21/poker-as-a-transferable-skill/).

So check out [our site](http://rationalpoker.com/) and let us know if you're interested in joining.