Life is like poker, poker is like war in free will and determisism

5000 years of history: http://www.mapsofwar.com/images/EMPIRE17.swf Life is like poker. The cards dealt to you represents determinism but the way you play your hand is free will. Waterloo had a good poker lesson: During the battle of Waterloo, the French secured Napoleon's favored position between Wellington's Allied army (north-west) and Blucher's Prussian (north-east). Napoleon considered the Prussians the greater threat and attacked their outposts. He sent the French army's left wing, commanded by Marshal Ney, to secure the crossroads before Wellington could gather his army. Once secured, Ney would swing east and reinforce Napoleon. Although Coalition members were well informed of Napoleon's movements, Wellington failed to react to the news of the outbreak of hostilities in a timely manner. Marshal Ney encountered a small number of Allied troops but had previously experienced Wellington's skill at concealing his strength. Ney overestimated the forces opposing him, fought cautiously, and failed to capture the crossroads. By the middle afternoon Wellington took personal command of the Allied forces. Allied troops continued to converge on the crossroads and reinforce its position throughout the day. At that time, Wellington's Allied forces were able to advance and drive the French back.