Is it possible to have a natural ability for poker?

Raggamuffin

Raggamuffin

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Hey ppl!
So what do you think? Is is possible to have a natural flare for poker? :)
I ask because I cant tell whether Im a fish with dumb luck or if I just have some natural ability.
I dont really study poker, I have read about 100/150 pages in total of poker books, although I have always intended to study more and have read numerous articles here on cards chat aswell as other sites. I dont have a HUD but I wish I had!
I'd taken a break from poker for the last few months and arrived back a few days ago. In my first game 3 days ago I bubbled, but went out in 7th place (10 dollar BI MTT 15 min blinds)

So the next day I played the same tourney and ended up being bubblegirl :mad:
Although I was pissed I didnt score, I was somewhat happy of my ability to get so close to the money again in such a short time.

So again Im playing the same tourney today and Im currently sitting in first with 30 people left (fingers crossed for the win)
Over the last 2 days I have really noticed my lack of skill in certain areas like not always taking position into consideration before flat calling PF etc
Some of these mistakes are fish mistakes and therefore I feel like Im still a fish.
But if Im a fish, how in the world am I bubbling or getting so close so often? Weak opposition? Or is it possible I have some natural flare for poker & if I was to put the proper time and effort in I could possibly be a pretty good player with a decent win rate?
Or would it be common to get close so often at lower buy ins like 5 & 10 dollars because of the opposition . Although I must say I dont find these players all that weak, maybe 20 out of the 100 seem a little fishy! Maybe its the length of the blinds? They give me enough time to play TAG without getting into too much trouble most of the time up until the push/fold rounds. But I struggle to find many tourneys with blinds that long so if ye know of any decent GTD ones, please share. I currently play on Party & Tilt! :)
 
fubarcdn

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You may well have a natural ability for the game but you can be assured that if you study the game and learn all of the things like odds hand ranging and all the other things that I also have not taken the initiative to learn you will be much more profitable but you might not have as much fun.
 
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11012015

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And even need. First, people have come up Hold'em strategy appeared after.
 
horizon12

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In live poker yes, in online no. In online your natural abilities will not help you, the software is much stronger and it is very sad. In the long run without the software you will always lose money.
 
Raggamuffin

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In live poker yes, in online no. In online your natural abilities will not help you, the software is much stronger and it is very sad. In the long run without the software you will always lose money.

But I only play online! Im way over what I have invested in poker so I havent lost more than gained thankfully! But I agree people withHUDS have a huge advantage!!
 
Raggamuffin

Raggamuffin

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You may well have a natural ability for the game but you can be assured that if you study the game and learn all of the things like odds hand ranging and all the other things that I also have not taken the initiative to learn you will be much more profitable but you might not have as much fun.

Technically I have learned about hand ranges & pot odds etc but I seem to fail at putting them into practice. Its something I plan on working harder on, but I tried this before a few months back and found I was losing more regularly & gave up. Im no where near the stage of being able to do it at the table mid hand, more like scribbling it down and rushing so I dont time out.
Maybe I was focusing too much on the stats and not enough on my table. I really hope to improve this time around and not drop out again when the going gets rough! If your up for a study buddy let me know and maybe we could motivate each other to get it done :D
 
Raggamuffin

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And even need. First, people have come up Hold'em strategy appeared after.

Great point!!!!! People were good at it BEFORE the millions of books came out! :) Thanks for pointing that out!
 
Raggamuffin

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Bubble burst, 16 left sitting in 4th...cmon 1st place!!! 200 bucks would make my day..feck that it'll make my week :D Fingers crossed!
 
fubarcdn

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Technically I have learned about hand ranges & pot odds etc but I seem to fail at putting them into practice. Its something I plan on working harder on, but I tried this before a few months back and found I was losing more regularly & gave up. Im no where near the stage of being able to do it at the table mid hand, more like scribbling it down and rushing so I dont time out.
Maybe I was focusing too much on the stats and not enough on my table. I really hope to improve this time around and not drop out again when the going gets rough! If your up for a study buddy let me know and maybe we could motivate each other to get it done :D

I just play for fun and to kill the too much time I have on my side.
There are a lot players here that are into the science and math of poker but for me I save my analytical mind for earning my living trading stocks and bonds. For recreation I prefer to just shoot from the hip. I don't win much but I don't lose much either and I do have fun playing whereas if it was a chore I wouldn't enjoy it.
That of course is just me the fubar. :)
 
4soul

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Good abilities for poker....mental strenght, resistance on pressure, discipline and positivity. Without these you cannot defeat the others in water :D
 
Marcwantstowin

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Hiya Raggamuffin.

I think people all have a natural ability for poker, it just depends on how they choose to use it. Some people will just choose to ignore their first thoughts on any given situation, others will take them on board and develop their thoughts incompassing them. In the end we all need to learn the aspects of poker and "how people play in certain situations", now whether you choose to "follow" these rules or develop your own, is up to you.

However, you will find that people tend to call you a fish or a LAG or "an idiot", when you use your own initiative, (and don't conform to the rules), but as I see it - I pay for it so I can play as I like, and if you make money while playing "your own game" well good luck to you I say!!

We all must remember that not too long ago 4-betting was unheard of and I expect that at the time if I had done it in a club, everyone would have said - look at that idiot!! My answer to that is "NOW LOOK". Gl in the future...................:D:D:D
 
Raggamuffin

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I just play for fun and to kill the too much time I have on my side.
There are a lot players here that are into the science and math of poker but for me I save my analytical mind for earning my living trading stocks and bonds. For recreation I prefer to just shoot from the hip. I don't win much but I don't lose much either and I do have fun playing whereas if it was a chore I wouldn't enjoy it.
That of course is just me the fubar. :)

Lol fair enough Fubz!! Enjoy the game :)
 
Raggamuffin

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Good abilities for poker....mental strenght, resistance on pressure, discipline and positivity. Without these you cannot defeat the others in water :D

I have to admit the positivity does get sucked out of me when I lose half my stack to an unlucky hand :D
Could you elaborate a little more on your answers?
How do you recommend strengthening said abilities?
Like, resistance to pressure? Sometimes I do allow myself to get flustered when faced with a difficult hand/decision. Meditation maybe?
 
Raggamuffin

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Hiya Raggamuffin.

I think people all have a natural ability for poker, it just depends on how they choose to use it. Some people will just choose to ignore their first thoughts on any given situation, others will take them on board and develop their thoughts incompassing them. In the end we all need to learn the aspects of poker and "how people play in certain situations", now whether you choose to "follow" these rules or develop your own, is up to you.

However, you will find that people tend to call you a fish or a LAG or "an idiot", when you use your own initiative, (and don't conform to the rules), but as I see it - I pay for it so I can play as I like, and if you make money while playing "your own game" well good luck to you I say!!

We all must remember that not too long ago 4-betting was unheard of and I expect that at the time if I had done it in a club, everyone would have said - look at that idiot!! My answer to that is "NOW LOOK". Gl in the future...................:D:D:D


Hey thanks for the reply! Im glad to say we think along the same lines when it comes to poker..how was it a bad move if I won the pot? Sounds like a good move to me :) Thankfully I dont really get called anything when playing, but I only play online so maybe people tend to be meaner in person :D
But Im well aware of what some people consider a fish & with the moves I sometimes make Im sure they would consider me one at times!
For a few years I have just enjoyed playing poker, but with my current situation I now have the time to invest in it if I so choose :)
 
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scarparoM

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luck??

I think, like everything in life, we go through phases of power, sometimes more intense and positive. We must condition ourselves to keep them.
 
Raggamuffin

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I think, like everything in life, we go through phases of power, sometimes more intense and positive. We must condition ourselves to keep them.

Na I dont think its just luck, pre-Christmas I won over 600 bucks from 2 tourneys but then took a break. Now Im back & seem to be bubbling easily again, although Im struggling to get to the final table. Pre Xmas I was coming 1st-3rd. The last 3days Ive went out sooo close to the FT! (14th today :( )
Last year I watched my bf study study and study some more. He was reading everything he could get his hands on, had the odds poster stuck to the wall above his PC, had all the calcs loaded and ready for every game. Yet he never once final tabled, all the while I was just jumping in games and cleaning up. I dont know what it is about howI play, even he has asked what exactly do I do! Which was crazy giving all the time he had put in versus my lazy approach.
 
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My son taught me poker and he has better poker ability cause he bluffs more easily than me. I am too hesitative and prefer limp and fold to raise and call.
 
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My son taught me poker and he has better poker ability cause he bluffs more easily than me. I am too hesitative and prefer limp and fold to raise and call.
 
akyurukov

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No,generally for poker no.For Luck - YES!
My opinion is that every person has his own luck percentage,and as soon as luck is involved in poker,one players will be better than other....
 
YourHuckleberry

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Is it possible to have a natural ability for poker?

Yes.

I also have a talent for brevity. It's a gift... if you're into that kinda thing.
 
S3mper

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In live poker yes, in online no. In online your natural abilities will not help you, the software is much stronger and it is very sad. In the long run without the software you will always lose money.

Don't be spreading the rig fear around. :eek:

The software doesn't favor or hate anyone else. lol. :D
 
S3mper

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I would say the answer is a yes.

Stu Unger is the first person that popped in my mind right as I read the thread title.
Even if you have natural ability you will still need to put the time in effort forward to win long term and to continue doing well.

If someone is naturally fast but sits around and eats junk food and watches TV all day guess who is no longer fast. :D
Natural Talent will only get someone so far and if you only let it get you that far hard work will succeed you. So use your natural talent when you work extremely hard. :D

To know if you're just experiencing luck or not you will need a large same size. MTT's are also filled with variance. So you'll know in time but while waiting work hard. :D
 
BiliousBetil

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Like chess, or golf or basketball, your natural ability defines your ceiling. Your commitment to working on your game defines how close you will get to that ceiling.


Cheers!
 
Martin Birulia

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Think, that there are many people who have good abilities to play poker. In true - the best player in poker builds skill with some time
 
Havik

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You may well have a natural ability for the game but you can be assured that if you study the game and learn all of the things like odds hand ranging and all the other things that I also have not taken the initiative to learn you will be much more profitable but you might not have as much fun.

I was the same way didn't want to learn the game and mostly just guess at odds. I do seem to do pretty well but, now i regret not learning. I would like to learn the odds, the thing is its so hard to retrain myself and don't even know where to start.
 
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