I play mostly in Central and Southern California. Have yet to play at Thunder Valley but would like to soon.

Wow man thank you!. Just been playing on poker stars
Low stakes. I think I'm ready for my first live game.
Planning to hit one of the cities 3 casino's.

what about phil ivey man...

and the Legendary Ellix Powers! (RIP)



Richard Seymour just made a deep run and has some decent scores

Is he still playing? Don't think those us outside of U.S have any clue what's he's been up to of late.

The iceman plays still. I've been at his table a few times. Low stakes live tho

A lot of it probably has to do with culture. Lot's of white families play poker for fun or loose change, and many white kids grow up around the game, and have friends who did too. From what I understand, black families are more likely to play spades or tonk.

Income disparity might also factor into it, but probably not that much. You need to have some extra money to invest in learning the game, but it's cheap enough that all but the very poorest can afford it.

Depends on where your from, lots of brothas who take the game seriously where I’m from (BWI)

Interesting. The counter to this is the disproportionately high number of southeast Asian people who got into poker in the 1970s and 80s. James McManus got into this in Cowboys Full: The Story of Poker, even citing the term "immigrant-specific genotype" or something like that. If I'm remembering correctly, the hypothesis is that the type of people – from any part of the world – who are willing to get on a boat and flee their home countries are also the people whose risk aversion makes them better at poker.

Of course, this doesn't apply to black Americans, who are many more generations removed from their ancestors. (And, of course, a high percentage of those ancestors did not come to the continent voluntarily.) I'm just saying the notion of income disparity does not fit the many Nguyens and Trans in poker.

I'll throw out another uneducated guess...

Many Americans or U.S. immigrants from poorer or disadvantaged situations look to sports or entertainment as a possible way out. However, those two arenas likely seem unfeasible to the Asian communities, the members of which tend to be smaller in stature. (I gave up on any notion of playing football or basketball as early as nine years old, for example*.)

Thus, it's quite possible that a larger percentage of poorer black people focused on sports as a means to financial success, while the similarly sized cross section of poorer Asian people did not have such visions. The end result is that when it comes to those who sought poker as an avenue to escape impoverished situations, the percentage of white and black people is disproportionately low, while the rate of Asian people is higher. (Not sure where Latino and other such categories fits in here.)

Anyway, half-assed idea at best. Right now, I'm in a coffee shop passing the time for a food order next door.

man even now i still want to punch mcmanus in the face

People are people, just stop

Edit-- Nah.
I won't open that discussion, since its true, but just so taboo.

Lower income generally

I feel ya, that was so annoying, Ellix and people like him are what drew me to poker, I love personalities like this so much more than the hoodie cloaked, modern era players who have no witty banter or willingness to display their personality , assuming they have one**

**I'm not knocking the modern era players when I say this because the way the game evolved online, it only makes sense that they rose to the top since it didnt require the same hustle, quick wit and guile the old school road gamblers had to have in order to succeed

My 1 Mcmanus story. About 4 or 5 years ago during the WSOP played with him in a $200 Bounty Tourney at The Orleans. He seemed kind of smug but fine. I think it paid about 10 or 12 and we got down to final 8 and agreed to an even chop. He was ADAMENT and I mean ADAMENT about being put in as 1st place in the Hendon Mob for the tourney. He didnt have the chip lead or anything I guess it just meant that much to him or something. A couple of us just pretty much laughed at him and said sure no problem.

bell curve

Looks good for future backers.

you shouldnt see colors, only suits

You aren't American are you?

Nothing else to add. Best post in the thread.

Except that all people have been treated equally, and in the U.S. (and in plenty other countries as well), just about anyone who was not a white male property owner was basically not considered a person. Race is definitely a factor, and institutional racism is still prevalent in today's society, resulting in a lot of natural disadvantages for marginalized people. Your post is unproductive, reactionary nonsense.

Thanks Bro. Happy to be a part of the Poker Community.
If you ever play in Detroit let me know dawg.

Isn't George Holmes black? He's not pro, but he was runner up for the WSOP 2021 Main Event

Can you show proof of institutional racism?

Of course not because it doesn’t exist