What occupations create the best poker players?

Associated Press

I'm catching up on back episodes of one of my favorite new TV shows, FX's The Riches, starring the dreamy Minnie Driver and the very funny Eddie Izzard.

The two play the married head of a family of cons who have assumed the identity of a dead family. In a recent episode, Driver's character tries to come clean with a parole officer, only to be dressed down by him after he could easily tell that he was being lied to.

And immediately, I thought "I bet parole officers make good poker players." We've all heard actors say they are good players because they can fool their opponents with their acting skills. And dealers love to tell us that they make good players because they've watched thousands and thousands of hands.

What other occupations do you think breed talented poker players?

- SCOTT

Comments

[Erwin Blonk]

IT guys :D
*cough*
but only online ;)

[Chi-Guy]

This has been a hotly debated topic in our home game so I have to chime in here.

Lawyers: Trial lawyers especially. That annoying habit of manipulating and reading people comes in handy at the poker table.

Accountants: Its just math sometimes

FBI agents: Do I need to explain?

Hair Dressers: Hmmmmmmm. I had to throw this in to give props to Marco Traniello.

Brian

[Lee]

Poker podcast hosts, clearly.

[Erwin Blonk]

*ok, just one more*
Pro poker players. I mean, poker is an occupation, isn't it?

[OhCaptain]

Probably the worst profession is the copy editors. They can't even spell.

Software people do well in the numbers and understanding the process.

The as mentioned lawyers.

I'm actually surprised more psychologist and counselors aren't prominent.

Probably everybody but newspaper people.

[NickG]

Any profession that involves heavy math can easily become a mindless grinder. Anyone who has a psych background has the ability to really delve into the mental part of the game. But I don't think being strong in one aspect of the game can make you the "best" of a group of players.

I think the best players come from those people who can really spot their own flaws and fix them, or at least get away with them. (CEOs and upper management)

[aces88ss]

Anyone self-employed... Just the right combination of a healthy respect for money (they (OK, we) work harder for their money than "normal people"), yet they know that should things not work their way, they can just work a little harder to make it back. Risk and Gamble is a way of life.

[Chi-Guy]

Aces,

Great comment. As a business owner and a laywer, I guess I am destined to be a great poker player. Consistently analyzing my strengths and weaknesses and working on things that I need to work on is a way of life. Poker is the same way. I play poker well 95% of the time. I tilt often and play poorly for short periods of time. I drink beer when I play poker. Solution. Stay off the no limit tables.

Think about yourself. Fix your vices. Listen to Nick and aces.

Brian

[aces88ss]

The Riches...What a great show! If there is anyone who hasn't seen any of this show, every episode is available to watch free at -

WWW.HULU.com

If any of the Nation has never been to HULU, it is a website that offers full episodes of hundreds of TV shows and movies. I just noticed the NBC National Head's Up Challenge is offered, as well as the classic poker episode of Futurama...and the complete season of Rob and Amber: Against the Odds, for the real poker junkie.

So, play a few $2 sit n Goes, plug in an old episode of Nanny and the Professor, and enjoy.

Computers, what an incredibly complex way to waste time!

[Bryant]

_Police Detectives - They need to keep their heads in high pressure situations. They also interview lots of people.

_Professional athletes - They're good under pressure. They have a lot of drive to compete at a high level. They push themselves to get better and to keep learning. Higher profile players might even be quick to help/teach them on account of their celebrity. They're probably comfortable socially and in larger groups. Fans of theirs would probably be awestruck and fold hands to them. They would have a sizable bankroll.

[Jan]

Judging from the last Main Event, I would have to say 'a cleric'.

[guikalil]

Here in brazil 70% of my opponents are lawyers!

[Rant2112]

sbrugby

That is all I have to say. 8)

[Short-Stacked Shamus]

This is an excellent topic, Scott. As usual, I'm late joining the conversation . . . .

I'll echo Bryant and say athletes -- not necessarily those who've competed on the pro level, but anyone who has played to a point where the level of competition was somewhat serious (e.g., playing baseball beyond the point where the fathers were the pitchers & perhaps to where the kids started throwing curveballs).

I genuinely believe there are some people who just don't see the "point" in competing/defeating one another, regardless of whether the game is one of wits or might. Successful poker players all buy into that instinctively, as do athletes who participate in competitive sports.

I suppose that answer doesn't really answer the question, though. As for what *professions* produce good poker players, I'd suggest educators (teachers) have a better than average shot at becoming decent players. Teachers tend to be good learners, and thus perhaps are decently positioned to figure out how to play (and win at) poker.