[Big Dave D]

Wazz, Of course the meta game stuff is what makes poker interesting. I was referring to the specific game mechanics/skill/understanding of the game/struggling to find the right phrase stuff. Most of the chess giants started as children. Backgammon pro's typically practice, not play, but practice, as if it were a full time job. You just don't need that dedication to get the basics of poker. And these basics are much less important than the meta game stuff.

I know, and I'm sure you do too, several old time live pros that have a pretty bad understanding of the "game" of poker but their temperament relative to their foes is so much better that they end up winners anyway.

gl

bdd