I'll make this my last post of the night and see what you guys do with it until tomorrow.

What do you guys think are the traits of a good poker player?

Honestly anyone with half a brain could memorize odds and starting hands and everything else you find in books, but what is it that seperates the best from the rest?

I'll give you my top 2 things

#1 The ability to apply knowledge. Knowing the right thing to do is a far cry from doing it. Like i said any knucklehead can learn that you need 4.5 to 1 odds to draw to a flush but how many people actually apply this knowledge?

#2 The ability to make quick decisions. This is like the difference between a book smart person and somone with a high IQ. the high IQ person is more of a quick thinking, independent, problem solver where the book smart person can learn the right thing to do but needs time and help (from someone else or through a book) to learn what to do.

think of it like a military strategist versus a General, the strategist may come up with the best plan before the war but the general will be able to make the best decisions in the heat of battle or when circumstances change.

Any other thoughts on what makes a poker player good?????????

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The abilility to remember how an opponent palyed a certain hand, a long itme ago.

I have a reasonably high IQ(155-160) and I don't think, that I think that fast.

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“There's no sense in being precise when you don't even know what you're talking about.” - John von Neumann

lol

I find this funny because I've known like 5 people who "have iq's of 170+" and are 'genius'. They take those silly online tests which I honestly believe are rigged(I'd tell you that you are genius if you give me $19.99).

I believe you are supposed to take an iq test as a young child because they divide your score by age :O

Also it looks like you are bragging.

Good players need a ton of skills.. too many to mention.


What seperates a "very good" player from "good" player is the ability to adjust. Not just the table or the player, but the hand and the situation.


A "good" player(definition-- winning player) knows the basics and maybe some advanced stuff, but they might not know how to apply it.

If you're looking for specific character traits, I'd say you need a will to succeed, an average brain, and aggression.

Ok it's late... or I should say early and I'm real tired... Perfect time to think .

Lemme see. Good poker player... Think think think. I guess you'd have to give a definition of what you consider a good poker player to be first? he he, me smartass .

IMHO, the 2 things successful/good poker players need FOR SURE are...

1: The ability to reason and think logically, while applying poker principles they've learned through books, other players, and their table hours, to play the most +ev moves consistently... Thereby winning mad cash woot woot! Yeah consistent is key in this one.

2: They gotta be able to become consumed/obsessed by the game, while being very very hella hardcore in yo face donkey kong competitive. Yes, competitive is key in this one.

Cheers,

Mike

PS. IMHO you can have a below average brain, and still become a good poker player. My #2 is very powerful and can move mountains .

PSS. So very tired. lol! GN

I only used the IQ vs. Book Smarts as an example, a high IQ doesn't neccasarilly make you a quick thinker and vice versa. However a real IQ test, not one online, is weighted not only for age but speed. Therefor the person who is a quick problem solver will score the best. Many of the questions are patterns, number sequences, word problem type stuff where you need to be able to quickly and logically solve puzzles and problems.

Here are my top 10 traits a good poker player should possess (in no particular order, I think they are all pretty important).

#1 The ability to make quick rational decisions or let's call it processing information. When you play there is so much going on and so much you have to take into consideration before you make your decision.

#2 The ability to apply knowledge, as I said earlier knowing what to do is a far cry from doing it.

#3 They must stay level headed. no explanation neccassary. See Mike Matusow for further study!!!!

#4 They must play under ideal circumstances. Not just the best limit and softest table but not play drunk, tired, high, angry, distracted by outside things, etc.

#5 They must be a student of the game. Read, run sims, think about scenarios, listen to other players, etc.

#6 You need to love the game. Playing poker should be something you WANT to do, not something you HAVE to do.

#7 You must be able to adjust to different game conditions as well as the different players in the game. There is no 1 best strategy.

#8 They must be able to learn from their mistakes. everyone makes them but the person that recognizes them and doesn't repeat mistakes will excel.

#9 A desire to win (or as another poster said competitiveness).

#10 a great memory, not just for opponents tenencies but in certain games remebering dead cards as well as many other things.

Thought, comments, suggestions?

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A good poker player can afford to lose and isn't afraid to lose.

I think one of the most important traits is respecting position and playing it properly. After that it is the ability to lay down monster hands when you think your beat.

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beating the game you are bankrolled for at 3bb/100?

The ability to easily hold a full size horse shoe in your ass, cause I swear to god my brother in law has one there....

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