POKER is it a gift?

[gambleingaz]

in this crazy world i call my mind ive been doing abit of thinking lately(and alot of playing)i would like to ask you all as a well respected group of poker playrers(i use this term lightly)   in your opinion do you as poker players believe that you are gifted or have been educated.....let me explain  i myself av never read a poker tutorial book but after playing online since day1 i make a constant profit each year.........i ask this question because of all these new gizzmos coming on the market(poker trker n the likes) do you think in the long run natutal ability or robots will win?

[Dingdell]

I've sent the question to AQA. I'll report back.

I think they must have been asked this before - their answer is:

It depends on the type of poker. Natural ability will win in the long run at Texas Hold'em which is as much an art as it is a science.

I wonder if the Gutshot will try and open as an art gallery now then?

[Claw75]

I can only speak from my own exprience.  I've never read a poker book or used any poker tools, and I'm a winning, but not masively so, player.  My live record is far better than my online record, which I think is because I rely a lot on watching people and make judgements (sometimes more gut instinct than logic) based on physiological reactions, speech play etc. 

I would say that online the games are probably beatable with sophisticated robots, but never in the live game where there is so much more information to be used than just the cards and the betting.

[vegaslover]

I think it's both, just dependant on how you learn. I'm a winning player both live and online, albeit for small amounts online.
I learnt how to play then read acouple of books to find out more about the game.
Live poker is easier for me as I use feel quite a lot and can exploit situations more easily.

[kinboshi]

Why not use everything at your disposal to maximise your edge?  After all, that's all a winning poker player has - a consistent edge.

[Colchester Kev]

No its a curse when you are running colder than than an eskimo.

[AlexMartin]

The real question should be....."how long before they create a degree in playing poker"?

[Rookie (Rodney)]

No its a curse when you are running colder than than an eskimo.

hell yeah

[Graham C]

The real question should be....."how long before they create a degree in playing poker"?

Unless there's added value in it, I can't see it being popular

[Bongo]

I would say that online the games are probably beatable with sophisticated robots, but never in the live game where there is so much more information to be used than just the cards and the betting.

It's only a matter of time until they make a robot capable.

Imagine being able to home in on any visible signs of a heart beat to check oppositions pulse, track their breathing, any variations in their voice, speech patterns as well as betting patterns etc and then being able to compare these to a perfect record of every other hand the robot has seen that player play...

[quantify]

on line poker cannnot be seen as a gift, as it is pseudo randomnumber generators that define the cards, it is mathematical  probability playing multi tables, creating success through rakeback..............

so how do you define the word gift online.....................


live poker is mental , psychological, and the same players seem to win the big events, now there is the arguement they play in more tournaments so they are bound to cash, but they are all psychologically strong, excellent readers and have nads of steel................ somebody once said to me, on a number of occasions, how lucky roland de wolfe was , i asked him if he thought julian gardner was  also lucky,

both are scary to play with had success regularly and cash in the big ones.........................they are both gifted tournament players.........................



so in my humble opinion the best players are gifted  just like other games or sports.....................

i thinkit ironic that darts players are gifted . footballers are gifted , golfers, tennis players , chess players , etc  but poker is deemed to have an element of luck ,,

,
well what is am own goal . a tennis shot that clips the net and sneaks over , a mishit golf shot that ends up in the hole, .......................



poker is a game of skilll  the best are the best for one reason .

[Dingdell]

The real question should be....."how long before they create a degree in playing poker"?

And the AQA answer is; It is unlikely that poker will become a degree in the future as it is a form of gambling. However many business degrees cover the law of probability.

Imho if they can make a degree out of Eastenders they can make a degree out of poker.

[Longy]

As with alot in life, i think its a bit of both.

There are traits in your personality/academic ability which make you more likely to be good at poker. Logical thinking, mathematical ability, psychological talent etc..........

Yet there is no doubt with a dose of some of the above, you can make yourself a reasonably big long term winner with lots of study.

[Tonji]

If Poker was a Gift, mine should be taken back to the shop & requested a cash refund 

[#1Instigator]

I leave u with thoughts..............................
most use words such as 'feel' 'instinct' 'guts' openly but are they 'real'? Poker players r not the only ones using such simple terms to describe things...if u've been in the casino long enough u'll hear people say 'I had a feeling its going to be number 8...see I just won...what did I tell you!'
At times, i do wonder whether all these 'feelings' only apply when the person has been right on those particular occasions...I used to play alot with this old man called Victor Nosko...now alot of people thinks his really good at poker and his 'feelings' are legenary. I noticed that his feelings come very frequent and he would predict people's hands and the next turn card all the time. Now when his right...people are amazed (like those just observed magic) but when he gets it wrong...its by-passed and insta-forgotten! i can teach a monkey to call with Q high and eventually win (making it a great poker player?)
Theres alot of different qualities that makes a great poker player: maths, psychology, bravery, concentration, memory, displine...many more
but which of these can't be trained?
u learn maths...psychology can be learnt + experience...bravery comes from enough experience playing at levels ur comfortable with...concentration + memory + displine can be learnt or trained.....so if all the qualities that defy a great poker player can be learnt in some way...than is it still a 'gift'?
Most sucessful sportsman or sportswomen have probably spent more time than us playing poker learning and perfecting their individual sport. All those years they spent perfecting their arts and learning new things should prove they are not really that 'gifted'. so does spending alot of time perfecting one skill make u 'gifted'?
tiger woods, micheal jordon, schumacher, zidane, phil ivey have all spent their lifetime learning and perfecting...probably spent more time than most other people at their required skills to make them the best of the best! no doubt i think poker is skill, just like most other sports...but i also believe like most other sports, poker is something u can learn and with time improve...and depending on ur dedication...one day...reach the top of ur skills ladder!