[Rasputin]

This isn't a post about whether poker is gambling, of course it is.

It's about personalities and poker. Some people like to take chances and live on the edge and all that stuff. Some folks don't. This isn't a black and white trait like color blindness or blood type, people fall all along the spectrum.

What I would like you to consider are on the one hand a guy who likes to gamble, likes the action, likes the edge, but not to the point of being an addicted gambler. He plays recreationally and likes to play aggressively but won't risk his house on the turn of a card. We'll call this guy the gambler.

On the other hand, consider a guy who is more conservative, wants to limit his downside even at the risk of limiting his upside. He plays poker recreationally and can take the risks involved in bluffing off a buyin or two but would be absolutely horrified to the point of nausea at the notion of betting his house. We'll call this guy the more conservative guy.

Now take these two guys out of their normal lives and make them professional poker players and answer two questions.

1) Which of them is likely to be the better player?

2) Which of them is more likely to be able to make it as a professional player?