Is Poker a Sport ??

[Jimbo.GRFC]

Reading the Argus and on their TV section where they list the days sports programmes and they have listed Live Poker on Sky Sports. Is Poker a sport, personally I dont think so, however I maybe missing something on this one...What defines sport ??

 

[Tricky Dicky]

I would say no, but I don't know where the "line" is. I think Darts is bordering on not being a sport, but others think that golf is not a sport.

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

I used to go to the Gutshot card club in London. They had a court case where they argued that they didn;t need a gambling licence because it's a 'skill game' whereby it's not just down to luck, you need to know your odds on what the chances are of certain cards coming up. The judge ruled against and deemed it gambling. I would say in that instance it would be hard to call it a sport, it's a very fun game though.

 

[Pavilionaire]

sport (spôrt, sprt)
n.
1.
a. Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.
b. A particular form of this activity.
2. An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.
3. An active pastime; recreation.

The key words are ACTIVE and PHYSICAL, so no it's not a sport.

 

[Notters]

I'd say the following are not sports:

Fishing
Darts
Poker
Shooting


Golf is borderline.

 

[Easy 10]

How on earth can golf be considered "borderline" ?

As far as I'm concerned, for something to be a sport, it must require a physical skill and coordination. That obviously rules out poker.

 

[The Antikythera Mechanism]

sport (spôrt, sprt)
n.
1.
a. Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.
b. A particular form of this activity.
2. An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.
3. An active pastime; recreation.

The key words are ACTIVE and PHYSICAL, so no it's not a sport.

Chess is a recognised sport of the International Olympic Committee.

 

[Jonno]

I'd say shooting and darts are definitely sports as they both require physical skills performed within the framework of a set of rules. The same goes for snooker.
Poker does not have any physical dimension. You could instruct someone else to play on your behalf if you wanted. Same for chess.

 

[Easy 10]

Chess is a recognised sport of the International Olympic Committee.

Chess is a game, not a sport. I don't care what the IOC decide to deem it.

You don't need skill or coordination to play chess. Kerplunk is more of a sport than chess is, if you're going down that route.

 

[The Antikythera Mechanism]

Chess is a game, not a sport. I don't care what the IOC decide to deem it.

You don't need skill or coordination to play chess. Kerplunk is more of a sport than chess is, if you're going down that route.

Twister is definitely a sport - it fulfills the criteria of ACTIVE and PHYSICAL - particularly the mixed doubles event.

 

[Lord Bamber]

How on earth can golf be considered "borderline" ?

As far as I'm concerned, for something to be a sport, it must require a physical skill and coordination. That obviously rules out poker.

You might just be wrong here Easy. I play poker but I suffer from twitchy arm syndrome and as such I excert great physical skill in ensuring I get my coordination right when holding and laying down my cards. If I f*** up, the cards just go crazy and end up all over the place.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

I can't view it as a sport. Not when fat housewives can play it.

 

[Dr. Notthenineo'clocknews]

Twister is definitely a sport - it fulfills the criteria of ACTIVE and PHYSICAL - particularly the mixed doubles event.

...and particularly in Patcham (and to a lesser extent, Peacehaven) on a winter's Saturday night

 

[Dr. Notthenineo'clocknews]

I can't view it as a sport. Not when fat housewives can play it.

ah, but could a fat housewife (in theory) drive an F1 car at [how ever many they do] MPH?

 

[Easy 10]

You might just be wrong here Easy. I play poker but I suffer from twitchy arm syndrome and as such I excert great physical skill in ensuring I get my coordination right when holding and laying down my cards. If I f*** up, the cards just go crazy and end up all over the place.

You cannot class yourself a sportsman simply through controlling your physical ailments any more than Audley Harrison can call himself a boxer just by putting on some gloves, climbing into a ring and getting clubbed to the floor.

 

[GregX]

A friend of mine plays in the World Series of Poker and he called it a sport. When I burst out laughing he said, "It's a sport because it requires skill, patience and practice."
I said, "So does wanking but they're never going to make it an Olympic event."

Though if they did, I'd pay big money for the women's doubles medal round...

 

[Lord Bamber]

You cannot class yourself a sportsman simply through controlling your physical ailments any more than Audley Harrison can call himself a boxer just by putting on some gloves, climbing into a ring and getting clubbed to the floor.

Class Easy, Class!

 

[Dr. Notthenineo'clocknews]

Reading the Argus and on their TV section where they list the days sports programmes and they have listed Live Poker on Sky Sports.

looks a bit like you are questioning The Argus's definition of 'sport' as opposed to Sky's definition. just sayin like

 

[BHseagull]

I think a sport should be defined by whether you need to wear 'special shoes' to play it. This certainly rules out Poker & Darts.

 

[Jonno]

Darts players wear very special shirts though, aerodynamically designed to encase their beer guts.