Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

I'm just curious, among the current poker greats, including Ivey, Brunson, etc. how high are their IQs? (on a range of 0 - 200, with 100 being average and 160+ fairly genius).

I would think that to be at their level of thinking while playing, it takes a fairly high IQ. Perhaps Slansky could give his insight on this.

Because if that is the case, then not just anyone can be a poker great - if they do not possess the high IQ and ability to think and learn.

I would assume that most poker pros have a 130+ IQ, and some (like Gus Hansen, Slansky, Ferguson, etc. for example) probably up in the 160+ range.

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

I have no idea, but Stu Ungar was rumored to have an IQ of 180.

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

A high IQ is not necessary because it is mainly the repetition of various scenarios coupled with rudimentary study that leads to a great player.

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

if the IQ test is standard like a normal (binet?) test then 160 should be well beyond fairly genius because every 10 points is a standard deviation. so an IQ of 130 is already in the top 1%.

but to answer your question no you don't need that good of an iq. so much can be done through study. i feel that if you were capable enough to graduate from high school, then you could probably make 40K$+ annually playing poker given the current poker 'market'.

that being said, if you worked your ass off in high school and graduated with a 2.0ish GPA and got a 18 on the act or 875 on the sat, then it will probably be a LOT of study, practice, and hands before you can become good enough. but you definitely could get there imo.

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

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10 points is a standard deviation. so an IQ of 130 is already in the top 1%.

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I think the SD in a typical IQ test is 15 or 16. My IQ is in the low 160s, and I'm pretty sure I'm around sigma 4.

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

Two plus two posters are the dumbest people ever.

People with 160 IQs build space shuttles, skyscrapers, stealth bombers and submarines, I think thats a tad more complicated than poker.

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

People with high IQ's do these things...

they also play chess and backgammon and poker and other such "useless" pursuits.

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

tell that to employers please, Im around 160-165 and I cant even get an internship. IQ means less than most people think

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

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Two plus two posters are the dumbest people ever.

People with 160 IQs build space shuttles, skyscrapers, stealth bombers and submarines, I think thats a tad more complicated than poker.

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Well FARK ME....I was a Nuclear Engineer at one point [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

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10 points is a standard deviation. so an IQ of 130 is already in the top 1%.

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I think the SD in a typical IQ test is 15 or 16. My IQ is in the low 160s, and I'm pretty sure I'm around sigma 4.

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that may have changed with the time. initially, meaning when they were first created, they were setup to have a mean of 100 and SD of 10, for the obvious reason of making it very easy to do calculations. i noticed most 'test yourself' or online iq test have much much wider SD which i think is only natural because they are being marketed to the masses and you much rather sell them a test that will give them a big number than a low one.

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

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A high IQ is not necessary because it is mainly the repetition of various scenarios coupled with rudimentary study that leads to a great player.

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I agree with you that it takes study and practice to become a great player. But to be at the thinking level of a Ivey or Hansen, high intelligence must be a prerequisite.

I'm sure there are many fairly successful poker pros who are not in the genius range, or perhaps not even above an IQ of 130, but also keep in mind that most pros aren't in the league of "great".

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

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tell that to employers please, Im around 160-165 and I cant even get an internship. IQ means less than most people think

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Getting a job has more to do with hard work than intelligence a lot of the time. I know many very intelligent people who are simply lazy. My IQ was tested to be 160+ several years back, and I am a huge procrastinator.

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

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10 points is a standard deviation. so an IQ of 130 is already in the top 1%.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think the SD in a typical IQ test is 15 or 16. My IQ is in the low 160s, and I'm pretty sure I'm around sigma 4.

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wow you my hero i masturbate to you

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

it would be funny to do a poll on this forum of what peoples IQ is. i have a sneaking suspicion that people MIGHT think their IQ is a bit higher than it actually is.

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

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it would be funny to do a poll on this forum of what peoples IQ is. i have a sneaking suspicion that people MIGHT think their IQ is a bit higher than it actually is.

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yes that is probably true just like how everyone thinks they're so good at poker. there was a thread awhile ago, post your SAT score and IQ and pretty much everyone was a genius.

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

The thing is, most people who say what their IQ is got it from some online tests, which I've noticed cause people to test higher than they really should be.

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

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But to be at the thinking level of a Ivey or Hansen, high intelligence must be a prerequisite.

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Sklansky seemed to agree with you in his post just before XMas of 2004 where he rated the 'smartest poker players' (his list included Greenstein, Reese, Ivey, Lederer, Phillips...Hansen didn't make his top 10 but I think he said would probably make his second 10).


It's in the archives somewhere.
I'd dig up the link for you but a common characteristic of super-geniuses like me is laziness.

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

I think the main reason many intelligent people are plagued by laziness is simply boredom. What's the point of doing trivial work if it doesn't interest, or more importantly, challenge us?

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

[ QUOTE ]
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10 points is a standard deviation. so an IQ of 130 is already in the top 1%.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think the SD in a typical IQ test is 15 or 16. My IQ is in the low 160s, and I'm pretty sure I'm around sigma 4.

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that may have changed with the time. initially, meaning when they were first created, they were setup to have a mean of 100 and SD of 10, for the obvious reason of making it very easy to do calculations. i noticed most 'test yourself' or online iq test have much much wider SD which i think is only natural because they are being marketed to the masses and you much rather sell them a test that will give them a big number than a low one.

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I believe that when it was first created it was calculated as your mental age divided by your actual age, then multiplied by 100... so a 10 year old with an IQ of 120 would have the intelligence of an average 12 year old.

Also I believe it was primarily intended to measure intelligence in those under 16. Supposedly it's not even really a good measure of intelligence for those older than their teen years.

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

Since a big part of IQ tests is related to pattern recognition, I would think that high IQ correlates with success at poker.

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

IQ tests are pretty useless and they in no way define your intelligence..

Also anyone who brags about a high IQ is pretty much an idiot. Anyone with enough effort put into an IQ test can get a high score.

IQ test are more of used to spot learning disabilities. As a poster above said, mainly used with kids.

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

I am something of a genious, my IQ is around 200. I found it particularly easy to pick up poker as opposed to say chess, where I am a grandmaster. but you people who aren't as inteligent shouldn't lose heart because there are many situations where you will do just fine, you just don't ever want to run into me at the big game.

Ps - David Skalnsky if you read this I would love to have a debate with you.

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

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I am something of a genious, my IQ is around 200 ... you just don't ever want to run into me at the big game.

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haha

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

[ QUOTE ]
I'm just curious, among the current poker greats, including Ivey, Brunson, etc. how high are their IQs? (on a range of 0 - 200, with 100 being average and 160+ fairly genius).

I would think that to be at their level of thinking while playing, it takes a fairly high IQ. Perhaps Slansky could give his insight on this.

Because if that is the case, then not just anyone can be a poker great - if they do not possess the high IQ and ability to think and learn.

I would assume that most poker pros have a 130+ IQ, and some (like Gus Hansen, Slansky, Ferguson, etc. for example) probably up in the 160+ range.

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A high level of intelligence is certainly needed. But human intelligence is difficult to measure and to reduce it to a single number on a linear scale obviously absurd. Forget IQ numbers - they give a general guide to intelligence levels but are no good for measuring exceptional people.

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

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tell that to employers please, Im around 160-165 and I cant even get an internship. IQ means less than most people think

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Why not produce some piece of work that only someone exceptionally intelligent could do. That's more likely to impress potential employers. [And no, multi-tabling 8 tourneys doesnt count.]

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

"Everyone is ignorant...just about different things."---Will Rogers.

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro *DELETED*
 

Post deleted by JHF

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

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I am something of a genious, my IQ is around 200 ... you just don't ever want to run into me at the big game.

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haha

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I hope the reason that there aren't more responses to this douche is because either they don't deem it worthy of a response or because they haven't read it. Just out of curiosity, why are you even posting on 2+2, instead of doing a little dabbling in say, quantum physics? Tell Stephen Hawking I said hi. I believe your claim of a 200 IQ about as much as I believe that he can walk.

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No, "douche," there aren't more responses because most of us have IQs high enough to recogonize that his post was not meant to be serious. You appear to be the exception, and therefore obviously of low IQ.

NCAces

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

[ QUOTE ]
I am something of a genious, my IQ is around 200. I found it particularly easy to pick up poker as opposed to say chess, where I am a grandmaster. but you people who aren't as inteligent shouldn't lose heart because there are many situations where you will do just fine, you just don't ever want to run into me at the big game.

Ps - David Skalnsky if you read this I would love to have a debate with you.

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My IQ was tested at 189. In fact, I broke the machine, and they were pretty upset about that. I told them not to worry, because if it could break that easily then it probably wasn't very accurate in the first place.

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

things poker players have in common:
a) when posting, everyone has a ROI of about 30%.
b) when posting, everyone has an IQ of 177 or more
c) when playing, it's everyones's "first time"

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

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tell that to employers please, Im around 160-165 and I cant even get an internship. IQ means less than most people think

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Employers hate people who are smarter than they are, pretend to be dumb, and act amiably, also show naive enthusiasm, it always works in the movies. And if not there is always the back-up plan that they will think you are retarded and employ you out of sympathy. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Mack

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

[ QUOTE ]
things poker players have in common:
a) when posting, everyone has a ROI of about 30%.
b) when posting, everyone has an IQ of 177 or more
c) when playing, it's everyones's "first time"

[/ QUOTE ]


d) they need to bathe more

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

Neither Reese nor Ivey were in his top ten IIRC.

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

Okay. I was going off memory as best I could.


I could have sworn that Reese was though.
However, as mentioned before, I'm too lazy to go back and look it up.

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

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However, as mentioned before, I'm too lazy to go back and look it up.

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My IQ is only 117, so I'm not to lazy to look it up. Unfortunately I'm too stupid to figure out the search facility. [img]/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

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The thing is, most people who say what their IQ is got it from some online tests, which I've noticed cause people to test higher than they really should be.

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I never saw anyone with a result lower than 130 in online tests.

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

here it is. not so lazy after my coffee

another poker/IQ discussion David takes part in



edited to fix the 2nd link

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

[ QUOTE ]
here it is. not so lazy after my coffee


another poker-iq discussion David takes part in


edited to fix the 2nd link

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Crap, I just found it for myself!
Here's one of David's 10 smartest non poker players:
10 smartest non poker player per DS

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

that's a nice addition.

Forgot about that one.


I think it's okay to bump these every once in awhile because this is the kind of topic that comes up around occasionally. And obviously a lot of people missed these classics the first time around.

Re: Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro
 

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.People with 160 IQs build space shuttles, skyscrapers, stealth bombers and submarines, I think thats a tad more complicated than poker.

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This is idiotic, for reasons I think even you can understand.