Real people....

1) Gary Kasparov.

Forner world chess champion and probably the greatest ever at that game. Recently after asking Poker or Chess? I found out that a lot of strong chessplayers have discovered poker, and they often excel at it.

Reasons are obvious... while the details are different, the overall skills and character traits needed are quite similar. Strong players are used to objectively judging the strength of their position, thinking strategically, have strong nerves for a showdown, knowi when not to overpress etc.

Although you might not think it there is even bluffing in chess. You have to sense things like "Did he just make a mistake or is it a trap?"

2) Henry Kissinger

Any number of politicians and wheeler-dealers might be contenders, since being able to read people is part of their job. I'm guessing Kissinger would excel at cool-headed calculation, reading other players, and knowing just how to present himself to give whatever impression he wants to give.

For the same reasons I wouldn't like to find myself playing with the likes of Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton or James Baker. Well I might enjoy the evening, but I'd probably go home broke. :)

Fictional characters....

I think first we better exclude all those that have an unfair advantage. You'd lose against telepaths (Deanna Troi), people that can stop time and reshuffle the deck (Hiro Nakamura) and plenty of others with superhuman or alien abilities.

All of the great fictional detectives (Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Sam Spade, Philip Marlowe) would probably be great players.

But I'm going to highlight ...

1) Fast Eddie Felson

In The Hustler and The Color of Money he was a great pool player and even more outstanding as "a student of human moves". I suspect he'd read you like a book at the poker table.

2) Rick... Humphrey Bogart's character from Casablanca

He runs a cafe where there is gambling, so no doubt he know all the moves. Plus he's very smart, streetwise and tough.

3) George Smiley

Would you be fooled because he's quiet, bookish, ever-so-English and in his later years? I probably would be. :)

Bad mistake. The sometime Chief of the British Secret Service has done everything from working in deep cover in enemy territory to unmasking double agents at home. Not only is he very bright and have a remarkable memory, his whole working life was pretty much about lying and uncovering lies one way and another.

The only thing is, I think Smiley might not be that interested in playing poker. He'd probably rather read a good book.

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