The Ten Smartest Poker Players

[David Sklansky]

Thought I'd be a little bit naughty this Christmas morning and list who I consider the ten smartest among regular poker players. I'm doing this off the top of my head so it is very possible I have inadvertantly forgotten someone. I have recused myself and Mason.

This list is rating "ability to think", not mathematical ability. But the correlation between the two is high. I base the ratings on my knowledge of the player's education, the stuff that they have written, and personal conversations. I will give no reasons and will not defend my choices. In fact I will say nothing further except to possibly say "I forgot about him" or "I don't know her".

I'm doing this mainly for fun but also to let newbies know who the smartest players are. That doesn't always mean the best players, but again there is a correlation. No one on this list would have trouble making a pretty good living at poker if they had to.

Meanwhile in spite of my lack of diligence and in some cases, spotty data, you can be sure that the list below is awfully close to the real truth.

Ten Smartest Poker Players:

1. William Chen

2. Mark Weitzman

3. Howard Lederer

4. Jim Geary

5. Chris Ferguson

6. Ed Miller

7. Tom Weideman

8. Jimmy Warren

9. Barry Greenstein

10. Paul Phillips

[Bigdaddydvo]

Merry Christmas, David!

Mat Matros gets my nomination.

[MicroBob]

Nice list.
Glad to see Paul Phillips made it.

Are these 10 rated in order of how good you think they are??

I know you said you weren't going to say anymore about this...but I can't help but wonder....IF D.S. did a top 100 players list where some other names might land.

Negreneau, Hansen, Chip Reese, Raymer, greenstein and Ivey.
ummmm.... and maybe some guy in a green hat named Harrington perhaps???

I'd be curious where these guys would fall within D.S.'s top 100 (if they indeed make it at all).

[David Sklansky]

Yes. The list is in order. Also I don't consider the "ability to think" exactly the same as IQ.

Everybody you named would make it into my top 100.

[Men the Master]

How dare you forget FossilMan!!!!! [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

[Myrtle]

Good list....

Bill Chen is a trip, tho, isn't he?

From my conversations with him, it appears that he consistently thinks at a level that most of us cannot even conceptualize.

Happy Holidays!!

[MicroBob]

Interesting.

What about Phil Hellmuth, Dutch Boyd, Mike Matusow, Lee Jones, Lou Krieger and Vince Van Patten??

I'm SURE these guys would take up spots 11 through 16.

[SossMan]

[ QUOTE ]
Interesting.

What about Phil Hellmuth, Dutch Boyd, Mike Matusow, Lee Jones, Lou Krieger and Vince Van Patten??

I'm SURE these guys would take up spots 11 through 16.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm sure, just not in that order

[ClaytonN]

Helmuth yea, the rest I bet wouldn't make it into the top 100

[Mikey]

Wow, Ed Miller made the top ten. Excellent.