How would Bobby Fischer play NL Hold 'em? - Chess and Board Game Strategy

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How would Bobby Fischer play NL Hold 'em?

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08-11-2015 , 04:34 PM

HWGWF

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What do you think his style would look like? Would he have been any good or would his skills not have translated?

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08-11-2015 , 04:52 PM

JSLigon

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Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 388

He always moved the king's pawn up two squares first move. So if he got kings, he'd always want to bet two chips. That's way too predictable.

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08-11-2015 , 05:11 PM

HWGWF

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Interesting

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08-11-2015 , 06:12 PM

wlrs

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Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 989

Dunno how Fischer would handle swings. Karpov would be my #1 skills-would-translate candidate

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08-11-2015 , 06:40 PM

HWGWF

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What is it specifically about Karpov's skill set that you think would have translated well? I don't know much about him.

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08-11-2015 , 09:29 PM

A-Rod's Cousin

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I would think top chess players would translate better toward Stud or other games which are less artistic and more abut memorization than NL Holdem.

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08-12-2015 , 02:46 AM

wlrs

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Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 989

Quote:

Originally Posted by HWGWF

What is it specifically about Karpov's skill set that you think would have translated well? I don't know much about him.

Patient, methodical, ice cold. Having the Soviet delegation peeking at villains' cards wouldn't hurt either

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08-12-2015 , 03:58 PM

The Moocher

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Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 22,850

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Originally Posted by A-Rod's Cousin

I would think top chess players would translate better toward Stud or other games which are less artistic and more abut memorization than NL Holdem.

Agreed, in face Gin Rummy may be the best game for Fischer.

I don't think Fischer would have the patience for NLHE as there would be way too much that was beyond his control.

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08-14-2015 , 01:55 PM

dickwiggle

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Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 261

Wasn't NL Hold'em poker around while Fischer was alive? There must have been a reason he didn't like it. I saw a bunch of his later in life interviews and his major beef with chess seemed to be the memorization of openings required for high-level play thus he created FRC. I think he would actually appreciate the randomness of holdem poker and would have very much enjoyed deep stack play.

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08-16-2015 , 09:48 PM

#10

DrChesspain

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Originally Posted by dickwiggle

I don't think his fragile ego could have handled the swings.

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08-17-2015 , 10:01 AM

#11

dickwiggle

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How was he with money/what were his perceptions of money? I know he had famous disputes over prize money etc but from my memories of reading about them, they were about the principle of the matter and not money at their roots. I think his attitude towards money would determine how well he would deal with the swings.

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08-17-2015 , 10:58 PM

#12

Rei Ayanami

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Quote:

Originally Posted by A-Rod's Cousin

I would think top chess players would translate better toward Stud or other games which are less artistic and more abut memorization than NL Holdem.

Midstakes+ NLHE in 2015 on the tough sites (Stars, basically) is a very technical game, especially HUNL. It's not like it was in 2008 anymore. There's a big component of memorizing (or at least thoroughly familiarizing oneself with) strategies in typical spots. As games get tougher, strategies trend towards rote play. E.g., PLO, which is far behind NLHE (largely because of the greater complexity), is still an "artistic" game in most spots.

Last edited by Rei Ayanami; 08-17-2015 at 11:03 PM.

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08-25-2015 , 09:41 PM

#13

R Gibert

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Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936

Quote:

Originally Posted by HWGWF

What do you think his style would look like? Would he have been any good or would his skills not have translated?

He was a paranoid personality type given to believing in conspiracies, etc. I don't think he would have tolerated the possibility of collusion/cheating well. For this reason, I think he would have regarded poker as essentially unplayable for significant stakes.

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08-27-2015 , 03:08 AM

#14

All-inMcLovin

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Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 49,539

Tal would be the best NL poker player by far.

Probably world class.

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08-27-2015 , 06:18 PM

#15

lastcardcharlie

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