Ding Ding Ding!

"I don't think poker takes that much inteligence - that's something poker players tell themselves - but it does take a specialized skills that some people will never acquire or always have problems implementing."

-V, posted on http://raiseorfold.cardgrrl.com/

I'd say this is mostly accurate and seldom said.

The fact that he/she misspells intelligence and mixes up the singular/plural of 'skills' may add additional credence to this. I say this tongue-planted-firmly-in-cheek, of course.

The actual poker math required at the table is 8th grade algebra and even then there are little shortcuts you can take.

Of all the poker math geniuses out there (Paul Magriel, David Sklansky and Chris Ferguson come to mind immediately) there are an equal number of players who play "by feel" or admit they don't know the math behind the game (Chad Batista, Puggy Pearson, Phil Ivey).

I could have done extensive research to make a balanced list of names but much like the Men At Work song, it's just Overkill.

Poker is more about picking up the tells and betting patterns of your opponents coupled with preventing them from picking up on yours than it is about knowing the exact odds on every street. Knowing the math won't do you much good if you can't make a bet that entices your opponents to call - see David Sklansky as an example of this.

However, you should at least know how much of a chance you stand if called even if it's just broken down into the terms "not bad", "good", or "none."