Is poker a sport?
Is poker a sport?
I wanted to start a poker discussion, seeing as how the world series is in high gear, but is this the right forum?
I tell it like a true mackadelic.
Founder of Ixtlan - the SCUM of Veeshan.
Founder of Ixtlan - the SCUM of Veeshan.
I don't know if its a sport, but it is a competive game so it fits the forum.
You can't predict anyone who would make it to the final table. The sheer amount of online qualifers and first timers make it a crabshoot for any pro to make it to the money, not to say the final table. With that disclaimer my favorites this year are: Phil Ivey, Doyle Brunson, and Jennifer Harmon.
I do predict a online qualifer will win carrying on the internet qualifer streak for another year. The last 2 years having online qualifer winners is what has caused the huge explosion in poker(esp online poker).
You can't predict anyone who would make it to the final table. The sheer amount of online qualifers and first timers make it a crabshoot for any pro to make it to the money, not to say the final table. With that disclaimer my favorites this year are: Phil Ivey, Doyle Brunson, and Jennifer Harmon.
I do predict a online qualifer will win carrying on the internet qualifer streak for another year. The last 2 years having online qualifer winners is what has caused the huge explosion in poker(esp online poker).
Sumdaor-Level 60 Warrior-retired
Twinkletoez-Level 68 Bard-Retired
Twinkletoez-Level 68 Bard-Retired
- Midnyte_Ragebringer
- Super Poster!
- Posts: 7062
- Joined: July 4, 2002, 1:59 pm
- Gender: Male
- XBL Gamertag: Daellyn
- Location: Northeast Pennsylvania
- miir
- Super Poster!
- Posts: 11501
- Joined: July 3, 2002, 3:06 pm
- XBL Gamertag: miir1
- Location: Toronto
- Contact:
Haha, poker a sport?
sport:
Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.
An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively
I'm confounded at how people can sit on their asses and enjoy watching other people play poker. I've seen it on some of the sports channels and watched it out of curiosity and honestly found it about as exciting as eXtreem! basket weaving.
sport:
Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.
An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively
Counterstrike is a competative game, does it fit the forum?I don't know if its a sport, but it is a competive game so it fits the forum.
I'm confounded at how people can sit on their asses and enjoy watching other people play poker. I've seen it on some of the sports channels and watched it out of curiosity and honestly found it about as exciting as eXtreem! basket weaving.
I've got 99 problems and I'm not dealing with any of them - Lay-Z
I'm confounded at how people can sit on their asses and enjoy watching other people play poker. I've seen it on some of the sports channels and watched it out of curiosity and honestly found it about as exciting as eXtreem! basket weaving.
If you played poker maybe you would find it exciting, well that maybe a stretch enjoyable to watch in the least. My friends and I will watch poker all day if you let us. Its like any other game, if you play it you can recognize the subtles of the game. Its also one of the only games where you can play against a pro and possibly beat him on any given day if your lucky.
Last edited by Sumdaor on July 6, 2005, 12:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Sumdaor-Level 60 Warrior-retired
Twinkletoez-Level 68 Bard-Retired
Twinkletoez-Level 68 Bard-Retired
- miir
- Super Poster!
- Posts: 11501
- Joined: July 3, 2002, 3:06 pm
- XBL Gamertag: miir1
- Location: Toronto
- Contact:
I enjoy playing poker but watching it on TV is pretty mindnumbing, in my opinion.Sumdaor wrote:If you played poker maybe you would find it exciting, well that maybe a stretch enjoyable to watch in the least.
I suppose you could learn a thing or two from the professionals but the inane banter from the commentators drove me batshit insane.

Oh come on, poker is not a sport by any definition.Poker is not exactly a sport
Ballroom dancing is more of a sport than poker.

I've got 99 problems and I'm not dealing with any of them - Lay-Z
- Sylvus
- Super Poster!
- Posts: 7033
- Joined: July 10, 2002, 11:10 am
- Gender: Male
- XBL Gamertag: mp72
- Location: A², MI
- Contact:
I wasn't arguing that it was a sport, read the rest of that sentence.
how's this, instead:
While it doesn't fit every aspect of the definition of a sport (it does fit some, as does ballroom dancing), the Sports forum is the most appropriate forum for it (and for ballroom dancing).
I don't come down to where you work and slap the dick out of your mouth (the eq2 forum), so I'd appreciate the same courtesy in my forum!
how's this, instead:
While it doesn't fit every aspect of the definition of a sport (it does fit some, as does ballroom dancing), the Sports forum is the most appropriate forum for it (and for ballroom dancing).
I don't come down to where you work and slap the dick out of your mouth (the eq2 forum), so I'd appreciate the same courtesy in my forum!

"It's like these guys take pride in being ignorant." - Barack Obama
Go Blue!
Go Blue!
I agree that the sheer number of online qualifiers will guarantee them at least half the spots at the final table. But this does not change the fact that online poker is a charade. A smart poker player understands that any environment where you cannot see your opponents, the dealer, and most importantly the deck is a dangerous situation to put yourself (or your bankroll) in. While online poker can teach you a lot about the game, it is a far cry from the real thing, and in my opinion, success or failure online does not accurately represent your proficiency in the game.Sumdaor wrote:I don't know if its a sport, but it is a competive game so it fits the forum.
You can't predict anyone who would make it to the final table. The sheer amount of online qualifers and first timers make it a crabshoot for any pro to make it to the money, not to say the final table. With that disclaimer my favorites this year are: Phil Ivey, Doyle Brunson, and Jennifer Harmon.
I do predict a online qualifer will win carrying on the internet qualifer streak for another year. The last 2 years having online qualifer winners is what has caused the huge explosion in poker(esp online poker).
That being said, I also have a few favorite pros. My only hope is that an actual pro wins the thing this year instead of the last two retarded fucks who played... questionably at best at the final table the last two years and got extremely lucky.
I tell it like a true mackadelic.
Founder of Ixtlan - the SCUM of Veeshan.
Founder of Ixtlan - the SCUM of Veeshan.
A smart poker player understands that any environment where you cannot see your opponents, the dealer, and most importantly the deck is a dangerous situation to put yourself (or your bankroll) in. While online poker can teach you a lot about the game, it is a far cry from the real thing, and in my opinion, success or failure online does not accurately represent your proficiency in the game.
I agree with not be able to see the other players is a huge disadvantage. OMGIAMRETARDEDCAUSEALOTISTWOWORDS of players, esp weaker players are going to bet what they have. They don't play a-lot of position, or bluff at high cards, flush's, or straights. My friends and I play at a certain poker site and we always say the worse hand always wins on that website. I don't think its the site rigging it though, but it does seem to happen far more online. That maybe because ppl are more likely to call with bad hands. I am not really sure.
I think Moneymaker is decent, and the more skilled out of him and Raymer. He did go head to head with a legit pro and not a wet behind the ears rookie like Raymer did. The bluff Moneymaker put on Fahra heads up was gutsy move most pro's may not be able to pull off. He also finished third? In the WPT event that Phil Gordon won. In one who has a repeat to the final table of a event has more skill then the average guy. I do agree on Raymer he is a dumbass who won't see another final table.My only hope is that an actual pro wins the thing this year instead of the last two retarded fucks who played... questionably at best at the final table the last two years and got extremely lucky.
Let me ask you a question Xyun, this is a debate we have had for awhile now. What is more impressive, Doyle Brunson winning back to back championships in 71-72 or Dan Harrington making it to the final table the last 2 years battling a field of thousands?
Last edited by Sumdaor on July 6, 2005, 3:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Sumdaor-Level 60 Warrior-retired
Twinkletoez-Level 68 Bard-Retired
Twinkletoez-Level 68 Bard-Retired
Dan Harrington no question. No disrespect to Doyle or his accomplishments, but the game today is far more advanced and I'd say much much harder to get to where Harrington got. It's similar to what the Patriots have done as compared to the previous dynasties in football, simply put they (he) overcame much greater odds.
Also, check out the link in my sig. I outline the motive behind online sites rigging their software.
Also, check out the link in my sig. I outline the motive behind online sites rigging their software.
I tell it like a true mackadelic.
Founder of Ixtlan - the SCUM of Veeshan.
Founder of Ixtlan - the SCUM of Veeshan.
Hmmm.... Thats a interesting a theory. You could test it over the long run, using the probabilites of certain hands "sucking out". I am not a math wiz, but a large enough sample of certain situations would let you know. In most cases you never see the cards. It would take OMGIAMRETARDEDCAUSEALOTISTWOWORDS of playing to get large enough sample to prove that one way or the other. I don't disagree with you on it, I have seen way to many bad beats on poker stars(thats where I play).
Sumdaor-Level 60 Warrior-retired
Twinkletoez-Level 68 Bard-Retired
Twinkletoez-Level 68 Bard-Retired
Unfortunately testing the theory means donating money to stars, a catch 22 of sorts. The best way to test it in my opinion is to play heads up with both people in cahoots, recording each hand and playing each hand to the river. I might try this out with a friend of mine if/when I get the time and the inclination.
I tell it like a true mackadelic.
Founder of Ixtlan - the SCUM of Veeshan.
Founder of Ixtlan - the SCUM of Veeshan.
This is as good a forum as any unless Strip Poker is discussed...then it goes to NWS! Poker could be considered an addiction in the same way something like EverQuest might be considered an addiction.
Then again, I think I argued that Chess was a sport awhile back! I wonder how Bobby Fisher would do at Poker.
Then again, I think I argued that Chess was a sport awhile back! I wonder how Bobby Fisher would do at Poker.
- Kilmoll the Sexy
- Super Poster!
- Posts: 5295
- Joined: July 3, 2002, 3:31 pm
- Gender: Male
- XBL Gamertag: bunkeru2k
- Location: Ohio