Do you believe that being a great poker player is an inherited trait? Or is it an acquired one? While scientists debate the answer to this question, we can take a look at the facts: Some countries and US states produce higher rates of successful poker pros than others. Does that mean that society and your surroundings affect your ability to play online poker games?
Recent surveys show that in Iowa, players have better poker faces than players from other US states. But the ability to bluff your way out of a tough spot is not enough to determine whether outside factors can influence your ability to master the game.
But can we learn more from looking at the list of the top poker pros in the industry and try to detect a pattern there? Let's wait and see.
Where Do the Best Poker Players Come From: New Surveys and Data Collection
Earlier this year, a published study surveyed more than 2,000 people from 44 US states to determine who has the best poker face. The participants provided the surveyors with information regarding the following factors: frequency of lying, proficiency in lying, comfort level with deception, and success rates in getting away with it.
The results show that most people tend to lie to their friends (26%) and strangers (16%), while believing that avoiding eye contact (46%) and closed body language (15%) are the biggest tells a person is lying.
After analyzing the data, it was discovered that Iowans are the best at maintaining a poker face. Next in line is Massachusetts, which ranked second in terms of proficiency and levels of comfort while lying to someone, followed closely by Connecticut.
But does the ability to lie and bluff necessarily mean that players have better chances of mastering the art of poker?
In a quick online search, you can clearly see which country produces the largest amount of professional poker players who participate in well-known live tournaments. Out of the top ten most profitable players of all time, eight are American.
That includes Bryn Kenney (No.1 on the list) from New York, Justin Bonomo from the US (currently resides in Canada), and Jason Koon, who followed a similar path and now resides in Canada as well. The list also includes Stephen Chidwick from England, Daniel Negreanu from Canada, and Mikita Bodyakovsky from Belarus.
And if you look at the list of most popular poker players, there are seven American payers at the top of the chart. At the top of the list, you can find Daniel Negreanu, who we've already mentioned, followed by Phil Ivey (US), Fedor Holz (Germany), and Justin Bonomo yet again.
When it comes to online poker, some websites publish stats about their top players. One such site, for example, published a report that players from the UK are their top earners, followed by players from Austria, Russia, and the US.
What Does it All Mean?
The accumulated data might be inconclusive, but there is no denying the fact that players from the US and Canada are starring in the poker arena. Is it because of the abundant number of opportunities available to those who want to turn poker into a career? Or maybe it is just something in the blood?
While we wait for the experts to come to a conclusion on the matter, we will keep following the top players out there and enjoy learning from their outstanding poker abilities!