Is Poker a Sport?

[kinboshi]

Brilliant, complex game - yes.

Sport - no.

Not the way I've been playing it recently...

[DAN DAN]

Yes, I think there is a great many similarities between poker and snooker, just don't ask me what they are.

[ItsMrAlex2u]

What about shooting. Lie down for half an hour and shoot six rounds at a target 300 yards away. Is that a sport? if so, why?

[kinboshi]

What about shooting. Lie down for half an hour and shoot six rounds at a target 300 yards away. Is that a sport? if so, why?

It might be one of the less energetic sports, but it involves physical dexterity and hand-eye co-ordination.

[DAN DAN]

[It might be one of the less energetic sports, but it involves physical dexterity and hand-eye co-ordination.

What about the physical dexterity of chip tricks and throwing your cards without showing?  Hours of practise needed for that. It's all part of the game, letting your opponent know what a professional you are.  then there's keeping your heart rate down when you have a monster hand and bluffing faces, all these things take practice to master.

[Colchester Kev]

No, of course not, what ridiculous thing to say.

Lets hope he doesnt see this as a deliberate attempt to wind him up, and then throw his toys out of the pram

Not at all, I dont mind you using my original post to answer my own question

PMSL ...QUALITY 10/10

[Sheriff Fatman]

The difference for me is that I consider a sport to be something where results are directly proportional to the amount of training/practice you put into it and where the 'luck' factor is relatively small (i.e. results will, on the whole, be largely proportional to relative skill levels).

Poker fails on both counts for me.  You can play for years and years without improving unless you specifically look to make the effort to spot leaks, etc.  Also, the luck factor is too high for me in the short term.  I'd hate for someone to be crowned an Olympic Champion in poker as you could pretty much guarantee that they wouldn't be the best player participating at the time.  In a poker tournament, or festival, its accepted that the luck factor is there and poor players do sometimes win but an Olympic Champion would be seen by the outside world as being the best player of the time.

[byronkincaid]

The difference for me is that I consider a sport to be something where results are directly proportional to the amount of training/practice you put into it and where the 'luck' factor is relatively small (i.e. results will, on the whole, be largely proportional to relative skill levels).

Poker fails on both counts for me.  You can play for years and years without improving unless you specifically look to make the effort to spot leaks, etc.  Also, the luck factor is too high for me in the short term.  I'd hate for someone to be crowned an Olympic Champion in poker as you could pretty much guarantee that they wouldn't be the best player participating at the time.  In a poker tournament, or festival, its accepted that the luck factor is there and poor players do sometimes win but an Olympic Champion would be seen by the outside world as being the best player of the time.

[As a result of poker’s worldwide popularity, the APAT are determining the feasibility of lobbying for the inclusion of amateur poker as a trial event within the 2012 Olympic Games.

The APAT will consult with the appropriate bodies, including the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (“LOCOG”), before finalising our position on whether a poker tournament would meet the criteria for acceptance as a credible Olympic event, and determining our next course of action
/quote]

[Wardonkey]

Anything you can do on the internet is not a sport.

Poker is a game. Not being a sport does not make it any less of a game.

[DesD]

The difference for me is that I consider a sport to be something where results are directly proportional to the amount of training/practice you put into it and where the 'luck' factor is relatively small (i.e. results will, on the whole, be largely proportional to relative skill levels).

Poker fails on both counts for me.  You can play for years and years without improving unless you specifically look to make the effort to spot leaks, etc.  Also, the luck factor is too high for me in the short term.  I'd hate for someone to be crowned an Olympic Champion in poker as you could pretty much guarantee that they wouldn't be the best player participating at the time.  In a poker tournament, or festival, its accepted that the luck factor is there and poor players do sometimes win but an Olympic Champion would be seen by the outside world as being the best player of the time.

[As a result of poker’s worldwide popularity, the APAT are determining the feasibility of lobbying for the inclusion of amateur poker as a trial event within the 2012 Olympic Games.

The APAT will consult with the appropriate bodies, including the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (“LOCOG”), before finalising our position on whether a poker tournament would meet the criteria for acceptance as a credible Olympic event, and determining our next course of action
/quote]

Very fair post Sheriff and APAT will only follow up on this initiative if it is supported by the membership.   

A great deal of APAT's first few months has been spent developing the Amateur Poker Tour, as it embodies the experience that we believe our members are seeking in tournament poker.   Specifically, events with added value, standardised rules across venues, decent structures, recognition for player achievement and tournaments played and run in a very positive way.

APAT's key focus in 2007 will be the Amateur Poker Association, and formulating and delivering policy in consultation with the membership and the gaming industry.

There are some who may doubt it, but I believe APAT has achieved some significant wins between August and December 2006.  There remains a great deal to do at the start of 2007, and I can assure you that APAT will not let initiatives like the UK Olympics sidetrack us, unless the membership give it a resounding endorsement.

Regards,

Des.

[thetank]

If we start calling poker a sport then we have to call bridge and hearts a sport too.

I really don't want to do that.

[MadYank]

Constantly seeing this question is making me long for the not so old dayz of endless ridiculous debates about Supersattelites for every tournament under the sun.


But the quick answer is NO, poker is NOT a sport.
1) Too many blatant classless ***** in it.
2) Any MoFo can do it, and on the right/lucky day beat the best.
3) There is no ball involved and we all know a sport has to include a ball.

The long answer is
(Loosely in the words of George Carlin)

There are only 3 sports. Yes that's right boys and girls, ONLY 3.
American Football,
Baseball,
and
Basketball.

-Soccer is NOT a sport (Because there are spots on the ball)

-Running is not a sport (Anyone can do it. "Hey! I'm going to run down to the shop for a loaf of bread." "That's great, Joey, but it ain't a FKN sport")

-Swimming is NOT a sport (It's a way to keep from drowning)

-Volleyball is NOT a sport (It's team ping pong played with an inflated ball and a raised net while standing on the table)

-Tennis is NOT a sport (It's ping pong played while standing on the table)

-Hockey is NOT a sport (It's three separate activites done at once: Skatig around in an oval, playing with a little piece of plastic with sticks, and beating the shit out of someone) It's fun to watch but it AIN'T a FKN sport.

-Lacrosse is DEFINITELY NOT a sport (It's a faggot college activity)

-Boxing is NOT a sport (It's beating the shit out of someone) Once again it might be fun watching two guys beat the shit out of each other but it AIN'T a sport.

-Curling is NOT a sport (It's some bizarro Scottish mating ritual)

-Skiing is NOT a sport (It's a way to get somewhere)

-Autoracing is NOT a sport (Once again it's simply a way to get somewhere) Also driving in a circle for 500miles certainly doesn't impress me.

-Golf is NOT a sport (It's a walk in a park with occasional wacks at a tiny little ball with a stick)

and others........


Hopefully that answers your question.

Have a nice day.

[DaveShoelace]

American Football - You dont use your feet, its for pussies because they wear armour and it stops and starts every 5 seconds
Basketball - is not a sport, its a being very tall competition
Baseball - Yeah, cant think of anything for this, I prefer cricket

Sorry, I just came over very British

[thetank]

lol Sholelace

one day very British will be xenophobic

untill then

 

[bolt pp]

Illness