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Huge Success In Poker - Hard Work vs. Natural Ability

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  1. djohns04 djohns04 is offline

    Barrie
    Canada

    Posts: 379
    Joined: May 07

    Aug 8th, 2007 (8/8/2007 12:07am)

    This may be kind of confusing and i'm not quite sure how to word this but i'm really interested to hear everyones opinion on how much hard work is involved in being a TOP online player (ie. ranked player) vs. how much is just that individual "getting it" ...... I guess what I mean by this, do you guys think that "anyone" that spends huge amounts of time reading books/reviewing HH/talking to other players (forums) could make it large playing online or do you think some people just "get the game" and some people don't.

    My dad has been a stock/options trader for his whole life and has done really well but is by no means an all star trader or anything but he watches me play poker all the time and always comments on how similiar the two jobs are. Which is really cool because I only play for a little extra income and it's certainly not a job for me but it's great to have a parent who understands that skilled gambling is NOT the same as rolling a dice. It makes my blood boil when you tell people you play poker or that you have dreams of playing poker for a living one day and they automatically assume you're some degenerate gambler who needs immediate assistance.

    Anyways, where I was going with the stock trading thing was that my dad always told me that the best traders he traded with were usually not the smartest people he's ever met, not always the hardest workers but they all just had this natural uncanny ability to predict the market.. Is this the same as poker??? Or can anyone start from the bottom and become an elite player if they pour their heart and soul into learning the game?

    That's probably not written very well but i was just wondering what your guys thoughts were on that..

    Thanks!!!!
     
  2. JDeEzLy JDeEzLy is offline

    Austin, TX
    United States

    Posts: 701
    Joined: Jul 07

    Aug 8th, 2007 (8/8/2007 12:17am) in reply to djohns04

    I say both. There are some people who, through diligent hard work and effort, can become very good players. They will memorize percentages, know all the complex intricacies and theories, and always get their money in good. But there are some people who don't just know the game, the game is like breathing to them, it comes naturally. They don't call an all-in or make a fancy play because it's +EV, they do it because they KNOW they are good.
  3. Stockwatch Stockwatch is offline

    United States

    Posts: 427
    Joined: Apr 07

    Aug 8th, 2007 (8/8/2007 12:23am) in reply to djohns04

    I feel that anyone can put in the "work" and be a top online player, but your always going to have those people that just "get it" and have natural ability.

    It's just like anything in life, there are people that work hard and achieve great things and those that never reach their goals no matter how hard they work.
  4. hyacinthgirl hyacinthgirl is offline

    Albuquerque, NM
    United States

    Posts: 6,177
    Joined: Feb 06

    Aug 8th, 2007 (8/8/2007 12:37am) in reply to djohns04

    i'm a big believer in the math of the game. i think anyone who puts in the time and learns the odds and how to make the most +EV plays in the most situations can become a winning player. there's no question in my mind, though, that some people just have a "feel" for the game that can't be taught or replicated by someone who doesn't have it.

    just like many, many other things. you can be technically perfect, do everything right, and even excel. but if you lack a natural born "gift," you'll never be one of the best ever.
  5. Seykota Seykota is offline

    TX
    United States

    Posts: 8,385
    Joined: Jul 05

    Aug 8th, 2007 (8/8/2007 12:49am) in reply to djohns04

    Awesome post. I trade stocks and options and use lessons I've learned from trading in my poker game a lot. IMO, trading and poker have a lot of similarities. Having a parent understand what you're doing helps a lot in both gigs too. My Dad has always been a gambler, so I've been lucky to miss out on a lot of that "judgment" that can come from a family member who wouldn't understand. At the same time, I've also tried to take the time and learn from my Dad's mistakes.

    When I watch the market sometimes, you can see certain patterns just from watching the tape or making observations. Like when traders are selling into rallies, or like how the Dow barely could even hit the 14k mark and did so weakly. As soon as you think you have it figured out the pattern can change. Similar things happen in poker, which is why I think I love both.
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