What's the Most Important Skill in Poker??

[Danhdan]

Being able to read your cards.

Seriously, this seems to be a problem at the place I play.




I love it there.

[shobute]

Bankroll management.

[Rhound50]

[mapleleaf]

To become a successful (profitable) poker player its Discipline and Patience.

To become a good poker player its Adaptability and the ability to quickly do the math

to become a great poker player its reading hands and fearlessness

[Johnny Hughes]

These are all good answers. What I had in mind was decisions based on applied psychology. Knowing and reading people includes the self, the other players, the social psychology of the players at that given point in time, and knowing and reading how they perceive you.

Knowing your own comfort level, skill level, strenghs, weaknesses, and mood is a start. You have to conquer yourself before you can conquer other poker players.

I lke the concept of SELF-EFFICACY which is defined as an individuals' ability to control their thoughts, feelings, and actions, and therefore influence an outcome.(Bandura, 1986).

Perceptions of self-efficacy influence individuals' thoughts, emotions, choices of behavior, and amount of effort and persererance expended on an activity. (Bandura, 1986).

Reading other players includes game shopping, rating the players, betting patterns and tells. With poker booming, we play against new people and need to make quick reads, especially in tournaments.

The math of poker is easy to learn and memorize with the odds calculator.

Reading people is a life long form of fascinating learning.

Here's an article I wrote on tells http://www.pokerpages.com/articles/play ... ghes01.htm

[Danhdan]