What characterizes a top poker player
 

What characterizes a top poker player? I am mainly thinking of online players.

1) highly intelligent
2) rarely tilt
3) disciplined mentality (connected with point 2)
4) hard work, putting in lots and lots of hands
5) many of them played a lot of computer games when they were younger but have now become tired of Quake and Starcraft and card games like Magic. (Can point towards that most are not "gamblers" but "gamers").

I think this is what seperates a player beating NL 25/50 from someone struggling at NL .5/1. Players who say they want to keep poker as a hobby and stay at 3/6 FL forever are lying.

Logic gets in the way. If a player could make $150k per year playing poker he would do it. But this player lacks talent. Poker is cold reality. Less skilled/talented players make less money. There are no excuses.

Re: What characterizes a top poker player
 

#5 should be number #1.

Hardwork is by far what all the pro's are doing right now on the circuit. They are circuits.

Re: What characterizes a top poker player
 

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#5 should be number #1.

Hardwork is by far what all the pro's are doing right now on the circuit. They are circuits.

[/ QUOTE ]

You mean #4 should be #1.

I listed them in random order though.

Re: What characterizes a top poker player
 

You should exemplify a "Nash Clown" playing style.

http://www.poker-babes.com/bio/phil-...h/Hellmuth.jpg

Re: What characterizes a top poker player
 

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Logic gets in the way. If a player could make $150k per year playing poker he would do it. But this player lacks talent.

[/ QUOTE ]

You say that like $150K a year is some sort of astronomical sum. It's a good living - but I have several friends whose annual bonus is more than that.

[ QUOTE ]
Players who say they want to keep poker as a hobby and stay at 3/6 FL forever are lying.

[/ QUOTE ]
It depends on the person's reasons for playing. Some might like their jobs and are content to keep poker as a profitable hobby. They may not have the drive to continually move up in limits, because poker is just a pasttime, and they like the relatively stress-free earnings they can make at the lower limits. I'd place myself in this category. I'm not sure how I'd do at the 215s (probably very badly), but the drive to reach that level doesn't keep me up nights.

Re: What characterizes a top poker player
 

There was a good thread about this not too long ago on the Mid-Hi NL forum, and the two everyone agreed on that you don't have here are:

1) great bankroll management skills

2) balls

And after some thought here. I'd also add:

3) a deep desire or need to win

Marlow

Post deleted by Mat Sklansky
 

Re: What characterizes a top poker player
 

Thanks all for the good replies.

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You say that like $150K a year is some sort of astronomical sum. It's a good living - but I have several friends whose annual bonus is more than that.

[/ QUOTE ]

Where do I queue up for that job?

You are right. I forgot wealth is relative.



[ QUOTE ]
There was a good thread about this not too long ago on the Mid-Hi NL forum, and the two everyone agreed on that you don't have here are:

1) great bankroll management skills

2) balls

[/ QUOTE ]

May I translate:
1) great bankroll management skills = Spend less money than you make.

2) balls = high risk tolerance.

Re: What characterizes a top poker player
 

Apparently not caring about money, having big balls, and always being able to borrow from friends even after winning 1 million at WSOP to just "pay off some markers"

see Paul Phillips blog

http://www.livejournal.com/users/extempore/

Re: What characterizes a top poker player
 

[ QUOTE ]
May I translate:
1) great bankroll management skills = Spend less money than you make.

2) balls = high risk tolerance.


[/ QUOTE ]

Bankroll management is more than spending less then you earn. I used to do that and it never worked for me. I think it is about having goals and matching those aginst the realities of your nut. Also, for me at least, it's about understanding how high you can play in proportion to how much you got.

Your assessment of "balls" is partly right. It's one thing to call a big bet thinking that villian is weak. It's quite another thing to make a big bet when you KNOW you're weak.

Marlow