Do you think females are worse at poker?

[HPG ADMIN]

Do you think females are worse at poker? Annie Duke and Jennifer Harman are celebrated as great female poker players, but after that the list gets real short real quick. The fact that there are much fewer women playing poker definitely has something to do with it but with increasing women entering the game there still aren't that many females finishing high in the money in the big tournaments.

[Curmudgeon]

The question seems to apply only to the top rank of poker players. If so, men who hold and have held the major titles have a clear edge. But, if one considers the general run of players, that edge disappears , or at least fades.

Once upon a time I would have said women undoubtedly played worse than men. But today, with all of the information available, my experience tells me small difference, if any, exists.

Most poker players don't play well. Those that put the effort in do better and continue to improve. Upper body strength counts for naught in the game, so the skills of women have no inherent limit.

Cheers: Curmudgeon

[nutem]

I think the reason me dominate now is the same reason a big high school or a popular college would have a better team. They have a bigger draw of people. Many men have been putting a vast amount of energy into being great at Poker, most of them fail and the cream rises to the top. Over the long term as more women put alot of time and energy into poker there will be enough of the women that "have it" rising to the top. I still think some of the stigma of being a professional poker player will keep some of the women that would be the best in the world out, because they are propbably really good at something else and I think women would have a tougher time saying "I don't care if all my friends and relatives think I'm crazy I'm quitting my 150K a year job and playing poker. I think a man might be a little more likely to say F them I'm doing what I want.

[johnnyande2002]

Its like anything else its all relative. Some are worse some are better. there are alot of guys who are real duds as players that is for sure.

i believe that the theory on women playing bad poker is close to the same theory that they can't drive.in my opinion there is a lot of women that cannot play just because nobody has taught them well, or lack of experience, which can be said for a man too. people just notice a women sitting at the table more and so they watch their play more, catching the mistakes. but at the same table they did not catch the 9 other people's mistakes nearly as much.some women can drive, some can't, some women can play poker, some can't, but they are all competing in a man's game.

It depends. Women who aren't rookies bluff generally much more often than men. It makes them feel like they can throw down with the big boys. They don't want to be intimidated, so they do the intimidating. So are females better at poker? It depends on how conservative their opponents are.

[BSayles]

I think it comes down to 2 things: aggression and ability to read other players.

On the aggression side, men generally have the advantage, but as with everything, there are definitely exceptions.

Ability to read others? Are you kidding? Women are much better at that. They see right through our acts when we're trying to get dates (and more), when we're lying to them (aka: bluffing), etc...

So bottom line: It all depends.

I think if you saw AS MANY women playing as men, the field would look a lot more equal. Also, in my opinion, women are more fiscally conservative than men. I love playing poker, and I'm decent at it (at least relative to the players in my home games and local tournaments, of course nowhere near pro level) but when push comes to shove, I'm not moving to Vegas to hone my skills. I have a mortgage to pay and my first baby is due in July, and shelling out more than $100 for a buy-in makes me cringe a little.

[pg3]

women have the advantage... we are better liars

[Ace Mahoney]

I don't think so. Jennifer Tilly is a great player too. What I think the problem is even though more and more women are playing. There are still way more men. Gotta be 10 to 1 men to women in my estimation. I think its harder for women to finish first because there are so few but I do not think they are worse poker players. Never mind the luck factor. Some are very very good.