Is a high IQ necessary to be a poker pro

restrikt · #1 01-15-2006, 04:43 PM

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.

Quicksilvre · #2 01-15-2006, 04:45 PM

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

The Young Gun · #3 01-15-2006, 05:05 PM

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.

threeonefour · #4 01-15-2006, 05:05 PM

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.

Quicksilvre · #5 01-15-2006, 05:32 PM

[ QUOTE ]
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.

Ben79 · #6 01-15-2006, 05:35 PM

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.

UATrewqaz · #7 01-15-2006, 05:47 PM

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

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

RiverTheNuts · #8 01-15-2006, 05:52 PM

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

MeanGreenTT · #9 01-15-2006, 05:53 PM

[ QUOTE ]
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.

[/ QUOTE ]

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

threeonefour · #10 01-15-2006, 06:13 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
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.

[/ QUOTE ]
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.