Do you consider poker a sport?

I only pose this question out of an heated arguement with a poker buddy of mine.His position is that poker is like checkers or chess, although competitive it's still just considered a hobby.Another point that was made was that if it wasn't on espn there wouldn't even be a conversation about if it is a sport or not because most people would say no.I would love to know what the criteria is for something to be considered a sport because to me poker is as competitive as all things "considered" sports.

Something having a competitive element does not make it a sport. The national spelling bee is competitive and on ESPN. Spelling is not a sport. Poker is a wonderful game as are chess and even checkers but IMO none of them are sports.

As much of a sport as competitive sleeping is.

Mr. Mayonnaise said:

As much of a sport as competitive sleeping is.

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lol i will take that as a no but some folks(not me) consider the wwe as sports entertainment and that crap isn't even real!I suppose i asked a 2 part question because i get that most people don't consider poker to be a sport but what element if not competitiveness is missing from the game that disqualifies it from even being considered?

fitness to some degree.

physical fitness to be a little more specific.

Mr. Mayonnaise said:

fitness to some degree.

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I can kind of see where your going with that and i would argue that some activities such as nascar and hunting both are considered sports that aren't very physical and you don't have to be exactly fit to compete in any of them.Heck you can even be drunk and hunt!

i don't consider it a sport... though sometimes if you "like" a certain poker player they'll be in your favourite athlete section at a certain social site. having hellmuth beside the likes of a Jeter is weird

do u see overweight people in nascar?

WSOP13 said:

do u see overweight people in nascar?

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no no i am not saying that at all i just dont see "physical in nascar

Nascar can be quite physical.

Better comparisons would be bowling or darts? Sports?

I've heard this debated quite a bit over the years and have come to the conclusion that I just don't care. More important things to argue about, tbh, and I don't think it can be accurately defined to make everyone happy.

I believe you can call poker a competition but not a sport.

JMcCabe said:

Nascar can be quite physical.

Better comparisons would be bowling or darts? Sports?

I've heard this debated quite a bit over the years and have come to the conclusion that I just don't care. More important things to argue about, tbh, and I don't think it can be accurately defined to make everyone happy.

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Agreed, i had to think about that for a moment and bowling would be a better comparison.I also have come to accept the fact that their is no right or wrong way to answer this question.

For me it's a competition, but not a sport.

Though it has some sport-like qualities to it.

Chess would be in the same category for me.

you could call it a sport and have a bunch of homos debate about it.

or just call it a competition and everyone shuts up and agrees...lets jus call it a sport for some drama

From wikipedia:

A sport is an organized, competitive, entertaining, and skillful activity requiring commitment, strategy, and fair play, in which a winner can be defined by objective means. It is governed by a set of rules or customs. Activities such as card games and board games, are classified as "mind sports" and some are recognized as Olympic sports, requiring primarily mental skills and mental physical involvement.

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Also, chess is considered an Olympic sport, and is definitely not something that can be just a "hobby". IMHO, it's all a matter of semantics. Also, poker fits the above description of what a "sport" should be.

I'd consider it a mind sport, in the same line as chess for example.

definition wars ftw.

\thread

To be honest what a previous poster said about it being a competition and not a sport seems to be right up me alley of belief

Do u consider lottery a sport? Come on!

PattyR said:

you could call it a sport and have a bunch of homos debate about it.

or just call it a competition and everyone shuts up and agrees...lets jus call it a sport for some drama

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:congrats:

Neoblast said:

I'd consider it a mind sport, in the same line as chess for example.

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:dito: the force is strong in this one
"Poker may be a branch of psychological warfare, an art form or indeed a way of life – but it is also merely a game, in which money is simply the means of keeping score." (Anthony Holden)

GTaddei said:

Do u consider lottery a sport? Come on!

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Do you consider poker a game of nothing but luck? If so are poker players just the luckiest people in the world? Were they born with a rabbits foot or something?

Poker is not a "sport" by definition, but it is a game that takes years of practice and training and skill to be good enough to be considered a pro. Poker takes a minute to learn, but a lifetime to master.

Don't think its a sport at all! It's a mind game, no physical challenge involved, not even a question in my mind!

What I usually tell my golfing and bowling friends. If you can smoke a cigarette and have a drink while playing it is not a sport.

JasonD1014 said:

Were they born with a rabbits foot or something?

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LOL! So *that* is the problem with my game... I wasn't born with a rabbit's foot! Anyone have any ideas for a non-rabbit footed ex-poker player?

Check out the definition of Sport on Wikipedia. Taking that as the reference, it's definitely a sport imo. It does not have to make you sweat and breathe heavily to qualify as a sport - although poker sometimes also do that
I approach poker as a sport, trying to improve and recognizing that skill beats luck, and that practice (training) makes the master. I train to get better, I compete, but still I enjoy the game. That's sport to me.
Whether other people consider it a sport or not doesn't bother me at all. If I can demonstrate solid winrates over long intervals, anyone claiming I'm just lucky will stand out as ignorant. That said, poker players who think it's all luck are very welcome at my table :-D