What mental skills or functions would you say are important in poker?

[goodgrief]

Memory is not terribly important in hold 'em unless you're really challenged. I mean, you can't have Alzheimer's, but come on -- the community cards are out there for all to see. What's to remember?

A high tolerance for bipolar [censored]tards can be a good thing in the live game. Focus, yes, the ability to make a good decision quickly, yes -- if you have a positive expectation, you want to get in more hands per hour. I see too many people posing as professionals who don't know this basic rule of positive expectation gambling. Discipline, certainly. A tolerance for swings. An ability to read people, yes, although I'm a little surprised at how seldom poker players can carry their people reading skills over to real life. It makes me think there's another factor I haven't put my finger on.

[Brad1970]

I haven't read all of the responses (too lazy) but from a mental standpoint, it depends on what game you are playing. Stud takes more memory skills that holdem. But as holdem is the preferred game nowadays....you need situational memory to be proficient. That is, how a player plays (tag, lag, etc) & his betting patterns.

[hornpout]

the ability to be apathetic at the table gives you a sense on others thoughts and feelings and is a HUGE asset.

[Albert Moulton]

Able to think in terms of relative value instead of absolute value at whatever level you're playing so that you can make marginally +EV decisions regularly without thinkging, "Why would a risk a car payment when I'm only 45% to win..."

This skill goes hand in hand with bankroll management. Some have described it as a disregard for the value of money. But I think it is simply treating ever decision as an EV decision based on pot size, stacks, and as many other variables as you can piece together. If you think in absolute dollar values (either because they're "too small" at micro limits, or "too big" at larger stakes, then you get in trouble.

[doormat]

1) clairvoyance
2) X-ray vision

[foal]

Pattern recognition
Mindset

I'm guessing that at the higher levels, fast REM or range, equity, maximization calcuations (obviously they will be estimations, but they need to be good ones) start becoming a lot more important. This my prove to be my weakness.

[RydenStoompala]

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What mental skills or functions would you say are important in poker?


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1) Pyrokinesis
2) Vulcan mind meld
3) Unlimited capacity for boredom
4) Imagination (ability to mentally undress hot Vegas waitresses)
6) Towering ego
9) Ability to count

[Poker Clif]

[ QUOTE ]
What mental skills or functions would you say are important in poker?

Below is a list of what I've come up with so far. Please add on. Also, please list what you believe to be the most important mental skill(s)/function(s). I'm looking to improve in every category.

In order from most to least important:

1. Focus
2. Remaining calm (so tilt doesn't set in)
3. Ability to think fast and respond quickly
4. Memory

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I can't believe no one has mentioned intelligence yet. Maybe it's politically incorrect or something, but I don't think a lot of people with an IQ of 105 are going to be great poker players.

Sometimes I listen to the academic and other accomplishments of the players at a final TV table, and you know that the players are very smart when you hear things like (not exact quote, but close enough):

Ph.D. in computer science and artificial intelligence (Jesus).

1550 out of 1600 on SAT (David Williams)

Graduated from high school early, and from Duke in two years (Rene Russo).

As they say in MENSA, "Intelligence isn't everything, but it's not nothing either."