Old timers, whippersnappers.....

[The Baron]

Jennifer Tilley is an experienced player.........

Was that a euphemism or a whoosh ?

Hey come on, she fits right in with that list of names...

Shame Affleck didn't win one.

[tikay]

There was a Brits v Scandies Challenge on the Ladbrokes Cruise.

The last 4 remining players were all Brits.

The Scandie Team included Bengt Sonnert & Juha Sointula. The Brit's Team included Bob The Butcher Clarke.

[Sark79]

I am 26.  If I wanted to take up golf at 26, people would laugh me off the course. " there is no way you can become a world class pro after starting so late". 

But with poker, as it is a mental sport. We should all be able to play well into old age, provided we are fortunate enough to hold onto a reasonable mind. Unlike golf or another more physical sport, poker players can continue to improve as they gain more experience.

In my opinion everyone on blonde is mentally capable of learning the required skills to compete with the poker elite. It doesn't matter if some of us don't fall into the first group of 'young' players.

I fall into the middle group. But even if I was a 65 year old rookie, I would still have the desire to win as much as an 18 year old like actionjeff does. So age has no bearing on success.

As far as geography goes, I also think that where a person lives is not important. We all breath, eat and sleep. It shouldn't matter if one person is from Denmark or from the UK. I think, as alot of the Scandies have had success recently, people are more likely to think they are more talented. Next year it may be people from Austrailia who are winning the online games . Will we be saying then " who is better the young Aussie pro's or the British pro's".

I am sure a 70 year old british pensioner could compete with a 18 year old Dane kid. If he was motivated to do so...

[Ironside]

aussie will never dominate the online game due to the time difference

[The Baron]

Age may not affect us but circumstances do.

Look at Chip Jett before and after family life.

[Sark79]

aussie will never dominate the online game due to the time difference

lol. good point.   I will change that to Austrians ... 

[TightEnd]

In my opinion everyone on blonde is mentally capable of learning the required skills to compete with the poker elite. It doesn't matter if some of us don't fall into the first group of 'young' players.

this ignores the argument we frequently have on here...."some players are born witth it and some players learn it"

there seems to me to be an unbridgeable gap between a complete natural with those unteachable instincts in key situations and a "learn it by the book" player.

it is to my mind these instincts that can seperate the great from the good.

[Sark79]

I thought someone would bring up this debate...lol

I definately think anyone can be a pro, if they want to be. 

Natural talent exists in other sports such as football and rubgy. These are physical sports. Poker is a mental sport like chess and backgammon. In these sports reasoning ability, experience and the ability to learn are the most important things.

[Royal Flush]

In my opinion everyone on blonde is mentally capable of learning the required skills to compete with the poker elite. It doesn't matter if some of us don't fall into the first group of 'young' players.

this ignores the argument we frequently have on here...."some players are born witth it and some players learn it"

there seems to me to be an unbridgeable gap between a complete natural with those unteachable instincts in key situations and a "learn it by the book" player.

it is to my mind these instincts that can seperate the great from the good.

The only thing players can be born with is a mind more suited to learning the game. There is no natural talent to poker, just enviroment and the ability to learn have an affect imo

[12barblues]

At the risk of going over old ground, I'm with Mr End on this one.

The gap between each of the social player, the talented amateur, the journeyman pro and the international superstar is vast in my experience whether the game is mainly physical or mental.  It is possible sometimes to jump one category by sheer hard work but more than that?  I don't see it.  In poker terms, how can you explain, for example, the Phil Ivey hand versus AJ?  How do you learn that?

My attitude is to aim at the stars but, when my limitations become all too apparent, accept things as they are.  There is no disgrace as long as you are as good as talent and time permit.  As my running coach once said to me, 'the only reason those guys at the front are stars is because of all you buggers trailing along in their wake.  Just make sure you give them a hard time so they know they've been in a race'.

The important thing imv is to have a bloody good time while you are putting the maximum effort that family and work allow.

Rant over.  Do you want your soapbox back now?   

P.S.  Those who have genuine talent in any field and then waste it will be first up against the wall when I take charge 

[TightEnd]

In my opinion everyone on blonde is mentally capable of learning the required skills to compete with the poker elite. It doesn't matter if some of us don't fall into the first group of 'young' players.

this ignores the argument we frequently have on here...."some players are born witth it and some players learn it"

there seems to me to be an unbridgeable gap between a complete natural with those unteachable instincts in key situations and a "learn it by the book" player.

it is to my mind these instincts that can seperate the great from the good.

The only thing players can be born with is a mind more suited to learning the game. There is no natural talent to poker, just enviroment and the ability to learn have an affect imo

I am not sure I agree with this.....heart and instinct do provide for a natural talent in poker IMO albeit many many players can attain extremely high standards through technique and non instincitve abilities

[matt674]

I am 26.  If I wanted to take up golf at 26, people would laugh me off the course. " there is no way you can become a world class pro after starting so late". 

I disagree - in recent years there have been 15 different players on the PGA tour in America who have won golf tournaments who are over the age of 40. With plenty of practice over the next 10 years provided there is ability there to start with there is no reason why you couldnt become a world class pro after starting so late.

Of course you need the ability there to start with - as you do with poker........

[Sark79]

Thats true, I guess.  However, I think poker is a game that a person can improve with age. Just look at Doyle Brunson.

Do you think the 1972 Doyle Brunson could beat the 2006 Doyle Brunson. I think he is better now. Afterall, he has played against various generation of players, Moss and Amirilo Slim .....and now the Negreanu's and Iveys of the poker world. He is still able to compete with them.

But golf players tend to get worse as they get older. Look at Faldo or Jack Nickolas. Neither of them could compete with a modern day pro like a Woods or Vijay Sing( sp? ...lol ).

I agree with the 'ability being there to begin with' . But I always think physical sports have an element which mean a person can only take it so far. But, poker hopefully is something that can be learned and improved over time.

Do you know these two players, Matt?

http://www.vintagepostcards.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=VPC&Product_Code=SPORGO-F6794&Category_Code=SPORGO

[matt674]

Apologies, dont know either to be honest, though he does look as though he has a better swing than me to start with 

Your quote about players tending to get worse as they get older may be true when they reach 65-70 years old but you mention in your piece Vijay Singh - here is a prime example of what i was referring to in my first post. 10 years ago he was only 17th on the money list with winnings of $855k, Vijay was 33 years old back then. He broke $1m for the first time in 1997 when finishing 16th at age 34.

With plenty of hard work and practice he finally won his first PGA tour money list in 2003 aged 40 with just over $7m in total winnings then followed it up with a repeat in 2004 by becoming the first player to win over $10m in one season.

He always had the ability to start with but needed the application and dedication to practice to become one of the worlds greatest players.

[Sark79]

ok, you may be right.










Note to self...... next time, use Ping-Pong as an example.  Monkeys know to much about golf...lol