im guessing they only studied winning players haha

This is strange since you often deal with losses and annoying stretches. Aren't those stressful situations?

Selective polling

Yeah, it definitely seems OP took some stuff way out of context or just fabricated it alltogher.

same here , agree with OP

Look at athletes such as Greg Raymer (His picture is at the top of your screen)

Low stress yet, but being massively obese will take more years off your life than detracting attention for an hour where the money for the gas bill is coming from?

You could just as easily title the research "Poker lowers your stress, but you will still die young if it turns you into a larda ss"

THANK YOU LOL. What a load of sht. Tell someone who is brand new to poker to put money online and see if they end up nearly throwing the laptop across the room. I've almost done in more than a few times. Making a ton of money and than losing it all in 3 days due to bad beat after bad beat IS NOT a stress free 3 days. Its the opposite. Why do you think most pros are aholes? Oh and of course you can tell everyone is relaxed by reading the chats going on in the game NOT.

LMAO Also love the other guys post "I broke my keyboard playing a freeroll. Go me." Need more funny posts like this. Hilarious because boy we all can relate. Don't have to play long online to be able to relate.

Disagree, but interesting. Definitely causes me to eat more and worse foods.

I agree..poker is good for you although I truly believe that to play this game in the first place, NLH, that you have to have a healthy dose of self loathing. Why else would we put ourselves thru this. I've quit 1000 times but I always come back...if its in your blood than its in your blood....a divine addiction.

well i agree it definitely exercises the brain which may lower stress in some ppl but not everyone reacts the same towards losing bad beats etc and they may flip out.

but poker is also a social game so a low stake game with a few friends and beer might set a relaxing atmosphere.

go read the post in August magazine, very good article. da pokerz

Which? Have you got a link?

I'm sorry but this goes against everything I know and have personally experienced. I studied Psychology as well in college.

Poker is addictive, ruins lives, and causes great deals of stress. The only thing I could agree with is the cognitive exercise, that is definite.

I know this is bs since it only studies one-side of poker.

If you're winning sure but what about all those times you lose and go on tilt.

I find it unusual that it simply says "A Canadian study." Most universities love getting credit for these types of things, and I'd be surprised if this instance is any different.

In terms of improving cognitive thinking, I'd say that wouldn't really apply to the fish. A fish will get AA all in into a flush board and a straight draw possible, and they aren't going to think twice about shipping it again. Hence, no learning.

Poker doesn't ruin lives. People with addictive/degenerate/self loathing personalities ruin their lives. Poker just happens to be a medium for them to express it. If it's not poker, they'll do drugs, alcohol, pills, lotto tickets, or whatever else they can get their dopamine rush through.

I agree completely. I was a men's shelter supervisor in a rescue mission for 12 years, and I saw just about any kind of addiction you can imagine, including someone who grew his own "schrooms" in the upper penninsula of Michigan.

There are people who will do anything for a rush, including skydiving, stealing, fighting, or running a con.

We had one guy who explained to me how we went to the library, found a form for a retal agreement and printed it. Then he found someone to "rent" an empty house that he did not own.

Clearly this guy had enough brains and initiative that he could have held a "regular" job, but that's boring compared to the rush of the quick cash of getting the "rental deposit" and running a successful con.

I'd say this happens in a very small percentage and likely those types of people would have ruined their lives addicted to something else anyways..

edit: oops; didn't read the post above mine - I guess I second that!

Poker does ruin lives lol but those who don't put in the effort to become better players lose much more than more commited players.
I would suggest taking a class or two on statistics then let me know what u find?
Also stress (going on tilt) is for the weak minded, an I agree they should not play poker but kinda what them too so I can take there money.

http://www.twoplustwo.com/magazine/i...od-for-you.php

sorry, it's been awhile

Seems very based no the individual, I love poker but I hate the fact that I have to sit in a chair all day to play it for a living. It makes me anxious and when I spend my day at the table and then lose I would like to think it doesn't stress me out but sometimes it does. Also knowing you have to get up for a tournament the next day can be stressful but its a stressful excitement so maybe thats not so bad. I can see how it is good for your brain but not so sure about your body.

I agree. Poker can be a very frustrating and additive game if you don't work on bankroll management, balance away from the game, and tilt control. It brings out the same character flaws in me as golf. I learn a lot about myself when I play. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Awesome points of view in this tread!

This is good news. Didn't Leatherass say in that documentary that he stopped playing as much as he didn't want to shorten his life due to the stresses of playing...? Well he can play more now!

Ty