Is poker skill just intelligence?

[phildirt]

No it is not just intelligence! Execution of a superior strategy. Take a rocket scientist and a regular guy. Rocket man should be able to figure out what plays to make very quickly. Back to our bag of rocks he blows his first deposit, buys SSHE, finds 2+2, and studies. Now both have the ablity to play excellent poker but, the one almost always plays his best will be the winner.

[valenzuela]

I dont mean to be a smart ass but I think that in that 85% we are also considering social position.

[autobet]

It's just a made up number.

The point being a lot of intelligent people fail at poker because they don't put in the hours, blow their roll at craps, or play drunk/coked up, etc.

It takes intelligence to know the right decision, and character to actually make the right decision...

[Nytecaster]

Those of us who understand there is always more to learn are the most intelligent of poker players.

[SheetWise]

[ QUOTE ]
Those of us who understand there is always more to learn are the most intelligent of poker players.

[/ QUOTE ]
But by the time you understand that -- luck just is an illusion for others to dabble with.

[DCWGaming]

[ QUOTE ]
It's just a made up number.

The point being a lot of intelligent people fail at poker because they don't put in the hours, blow their roll at craps, or play drunk/coked up, etc.

It takes intelligence to know the right decision, and character to actually make the right decision...

[/ QUOTE ]

Uh...what?

Intelligent people wouldnt play craps as anything more than a social event because they know the odds are always against them.

And there are plenty of people with awful character who are great at the game, ie Phil Hellmuth. He's arrogant, he doesnt know how to talk to people, he's basically got the character of a 5 year old boy, yet he is still easily one of the best players.

I think your analysis is way off.

[Bodhi]

"Character" is ambiguous and you don't have to take in the normal 'nice-guy-who-shows-up-to-work-on-time' way.

I think the more accurate word is 'discipline,' which certainly falls under the topic of character. If you are weak-willed, poor in discipline, and lacking in practical judgement, you could be an Einstein and still suck at Poker from the bank-roll management perspective. Stu Unger was a good example of what I'm talking about.

Phil Hellmuth may be an [censored], but I'd be suprised if his 'character' didn't give him a lot of discipline with his bankroll and the practical-reason to do what it takes to win.

[Smokey98]

[ QUOTE ]
I read somewhere that success is 15% intelligence and 85% character.

Some of the qualities of character that are important in being successful at poker over a long period of time include determination, patience, tolerance, flexibility, discipline, courage, perseverance and creativity.

[/ QUOTE ]

Wow that post hit me like a ton of bricks. Nice post!

[bohemian]

If there's such a link, then Stu Ungar was one of the brightest men alive.

[Nikanoru]

read Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman

I bet you'll like it