Which famous person (real or fictional) do you think would make a great poker player? And Why?
Stephen Hawking (best answer last time)
Ben Affleck
Al Pacino
Clint Eastward
Lady gaga (no idea who she is)
Robert De Niro
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M$14 Answers
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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M$
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M$He would be a gracious host.
I'm sure he would have some wonderful finger food during the game.
He would, no doubt, have the best poker face of anyone I can imagine, so I don't think I would leave the game with any winnings.
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M$
I don't think you'd leave the game ar all. :)
I would try my darndest to not annoy him.
I think he only eats people that are rude, annoying or stupid.
(sometimes I wish I could do the same...) lol
Nice choice but who would play at the same table?
I think he would be in the same league as Professor Moriarty and Mr. Holmes. The three would make a great game of poker.
(seven percent solution not allowed)
I like it, good choice!
Doc Holliday - a natural card player from the Old West.
Stephen Hawking - his amazing brain would surely be able to mop the floor with other players.
Superman - com'on, x-ray vision!
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M$
I agree with Philipy. Maths isn't everything in Poker, but still an interesting answer.
But that's the brilliance of Rainman. His math skills alone would carry him so he wouldn't need to be invested in the traits of others!
Rainman... great pick for the math. But he'd miss out on having any clue about the other player's psychology.
I'll give props to Hawking, rainman, and Dr Who though.
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M$
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M$
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M$
You'd never know what they had in their hand. They could hide it well. Even fake it! In no particular order:
Aladdin the cartoon character
Robin Williams
President Obama
First Lady Michelle Obama
Jack Nicholson
Susan Lucci
Dr. Phil McGraw
Meryl Streep
Former President Bill Clinton
one of Gary Larson's Cows from the cartoon
The Tooth Fairy
Barbra Streisand
Joan Rivers
Strongbad (The web cartoon)
Dustin Hoffman
Jody Foster
Cher (she could laugh, and smile and wink and confuse you!)
Adam Sandler (because HE could MAKE you laugh and confuse you!)
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M$
http://www.fox.com/lietome/characters/tim.htm
"Dr. Cal Lightman can detect the truth by analyzing a person's face, body, voice and speech. When someone shrugs one shoulder, rotates their hand or raises their lower lip, Lightman knows they're lying. By analyzing facial expressions, he can read feelings - from hidden resentment to sexual attraction to jealousy. (...) Lightman is the world's leading deception expert, a scientist who studies facial expressions and involuntary body language to discover not only if you are lying but why. "
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tChlFbQxcx4
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M$
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M$how about the joker
why
well what can i say look at that face.
and really if he loses, he will still get his money and earnings the hard way.(well maybe easy for him)
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M$
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M$
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
