Moonchild
Rock Star
Silver Level
Hi guys and girls . About two weeks ago I saw a thread about the aggressiveness of Russian Players. I cannot find it right away now, but I'll search for it again and post the Thread here later. But since I've read it I was asking myself: 'Could it be that there's a link between the nationality and their playing styles? Of course I don't mean the style of an individual player, but more in general. And don't understand me wrong: I'm not saying it like a prejudgement in a racist way. I'm just wondering if cultural characteristics in personalities are being seen in poker styles and maybe in other games or sports? I do understand very well they are generalizations but see it like this; "templates are always useful, but are never a total coverage. They relate to reality as a skeleton for a living body. "
F.ex.
And please ... I don't want to hear hateful replies ... every culture has its good and bad specificities ... I just want to start a hopefully interesting discussion about this subject. And I also acknowledge/presume that the poker pro's worked on this 'issues' with their (mental) coaches and their studies goes well above their 'cultural specifics' ... but you know what I mean (I hope).
So let me hear your thoughts and give me your examples! I'll start by saying that the first years of my poker playing online (MTT's) I was afraid of the Russians ... I learned to adept more to the aggressiveness and especially understanding the psychology behind the game and the players helped me a lot to deal with more typical dangerous play styles.
F.ex.
- Overall Italians are being seen as passionate, impetuous, macho, demonstratively, sensitive, chauvinistic, ... So does this mean they play poker more passionately and therefore more aggressively?
- Russians: Brave, self-sacrificing, megalomaniac, little bounderies, extreme,... -> extreme play, aggressive?
- Americans: contradictory, superstitious, ambitious, striving, open, ... -> so more different styles, more willing to study, chatty and bluffing more because of high self-esteem? And maybe more reckless 'cause more money-minded?
- Brazilians: creative, passionate, endearing, flexible, seize the day, ... -> so more reckless and creative in their game?
- Bulgarians: stubborn, sly, smug, cold, hard ... -> unpredictable, hard in the game, Sharks?
- The English: conservative, extensive individualism (islanders), importance of knowledge, defensive, ... -> more conservative but smart in their games and more debating in their table talk (W. Kassouf )?
- As I am Belgian, I will include the Belgians too: efficient, structured, modest, closed, cynical, prejudicial, fearful, cautious -> more poker ABC playing, paranoic about bluffs, not that chatty, ...
And please ... I don't want to hear hateful replies ... every culture has its good and bad specificities ... I just want to start a hopefully interesting discussion about this subject. And I also acknowledge/presume that the poker pro's worked on this 'issues' with their (mental) coaches and their studies goes well above their 'cultural specifics' ... but you know what I mean (I hope).
So let me hear your thoughts and give me your examples! I'll start by saying that the first years of my poker playing online (MTT's) I was afraid of the Russians ... I learned to adept more to the aggressiveness and especially understanding the psychology behind the game and the players helped me a lot to deal with more typical dangerous play styles.
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