Why do so many MTG players end up getting into poker??

excession · #1 12-30-2005, 05:31 PM

MtG is very strong on adaptablility. You tend to play best of 3 matches vs 6-8 other players in a day long MtG tourney and as you each are playing decks of your own design you get very used to adapting from player to player real fast. You also have a similar situation in that the turn of one card can dramatically alter the position and you may need to then switch from offence to defence in an instant..You also needs 'balls of steel' to make certain decks work properly - I would expect that it's actually better training for NL holdem than, say, Limit holdem is..

Equal · #2 12-30-2005, 05:41 PM

MTG is excellent training for poker and I think the big advantage a player has switching from MTG to poker is that MTG is much more complex. I know I'll get flamed for that but if you have played Pro Tour level MTG, you'll know it's correct.

Moving from MTG to poker is like moving from MLB to tee-ball.

StacysMom · #3 12-30-2005, 05:55 PM

[ QUOTE ]
MTG is excellent training for poker and I think the big advantage a player has switching from MTG to poker is that MTG is much more complex. I know I'll get flamed for that but if you have played Pro Tour level MTG, you'll know it's correct.

Moving from MTG to poker is like moving from MLB to tee-ball.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ding Ding Ding, we have a winner. Magic is more complex and ever changing with new sets. Poker onlyhas to be learned once. As for transferable skills:
1. Reading the board. 100x tougher in magic.
2. Figuring outs based on board. Again much harder in magic as in poker you only need to go as far as 2 cards, magic you will calculate up to 5 running outs sometimes, and play accordingly.
3. Dedication. Serious magic players will travel across the country for a weekend tournament and play for 48+ hours.
4. Playtesting. Magic players are used to getting to gether and practicing with their friends. This is huge for learning poker as nothing is as good as peer analysis while learning.
5. Money. Many magic players try to scrounge out a profit and are used to big money matches, at least big money to them. Poker is more money and easier.
6. Reads. In magic we constantly try to ascertain an opponents holding based upon their play.

Magic v. Chess. Magic is more similar to Poker as it has incomplete information.

I was on the protour, not a big name, when I quit the game in favor of more lucrative poker.

Recliner · #4 12-30-2005, 06:28 PM

StacysMom,

I thought you quit to clone yourself?

Anyways, magic would be fun if there was more money in it, but every time I've thought of taking it up I realize that I'd rather spend the money on something else. I guess I won't be able to cross train [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img], because I'll be busy spending my money from poker. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]