Best poker players of the DCU

[Bored at 3:00AM]

I would imagine that, much like Marvel has its characters regularly participating in Ben Grimm's late night poker game, something similar has been going on throughout the years between the various members of the League, the JSA, Titans, and Outsiders. Who do think generally comes out on top?

Whereas Clark Kent doesn't strike me as someone with much interest in gambling, I think he'd be excellent at playing up his wholesome farmboy reputation to take advantage of his friends every once in a while for his own amusement. Lois, on the other hand, I am certain is a goddamned card shark who is cleaning up on a regular basis thanks to her formative years on various military bases and her ability to see through even the greatest of bluffs.

Bruce Wayne has no doubt been to many a high-end casino and is an extremely proficient gambler, able to analyze his opponents and the odds of any given hand, but he doesn't seem like the kind of guy who would gamble for recreation while Dick Grayson would have no such problem kicking back and playing poker for hours with his friends. I would say Dick probably comes out on top a lot.

Wonder Woman is a trickier proposition. Now that the stick that Perez put up her butt seems to have been removed, Diana seems like a much more fun-loving, party girl than the virginally pure buzz-kill she always felt like before. However, with her ability to tell truth from lies now in doubt, I'm not sure how good of a player she'd be these days, although I would wager she's a highly competitive and aggressive player. Donna Troy seems like she'd rather be mingling with the crowd and chatting than playing cards.

Barry Allen is probably pretty terrible at poker since his ability to pick up on forensic evidence is more his speed than reading people. He also doesn't feel like someone who has the killer instinct to bluff his own friends, although I imagine he has a blast playing with them until they take all his money. Wally West is probably a big talker, a horrible bluffer and a great loser, but doesn't last very long because he doesn't have the patience for the game. Jesse Quick is little better because she plays the odds more, but not the strongest player.

I couldn't say about Jay Garrick or Alan Scott. They both seem like classy old school gentlemen, which can go either way at a poker table. However, they are no doubt proficient players from decades of playing in Ted Grant's weekly JSA poker night

Hal Jordan plays like a goddamned maniac, bluffing, raising and calling seemingly at random because he plays entirely on gut instinct. He either wins big or loses big because of his complete inability to back down. John Stewart is more methodical, but just as fearless and I would guess is probably of the most consistent winners. Guy is similar to Hal in style, but a far worse player because he's so easily manipulated into going all in with nothing. Kyle doesn't play poker, but he loves sketching everyone's faces during the game. Simon busted out early his first time, but is ready for more. Jess was too intimidated to play.

J'Onn won't play because he doesn't think it'd be fair

Like Lois and Bruce, Ollie is an old hand at gambling in backrooms and casinos alike. He's better than most, but loses to Dinah every damn time because she's able to play him like a chump without fail. Dinah grew up watching the JSA's weekly poker games run by Ted Grant and knows every trick in the book when it comes to superheroes playing cards with each other. I think Roy might avoid gambling altogether and Conner would have no interest in it whatsoever.

Power Girl strikes me as someone who cleans up regularly. She's got a keen mind, a sharp wit and knows how to use her looks to her advantage. She's probably up there with Lois, Dick, John, Hal and Dinah as the most feared players.

Rex Mason seems like a guy who knows his way around a poker game, but I dunno if he'd be any good. I would think Jefferson Pierce doesn't view gambling very highly and doesn't play. Katana is probably great because nobody can read her.

Beast Boy is probably just a terrible player. Just pitiful. Cyborg won't play because he got hooked on playing online poker a few years ago and swore off all forms of the game. Starfire likes playing a lot, but isn't very good at it despite Dick's many attempts at trying to help her. Raven is a really bad loser and nobody wants to play with her.

Anybody else? What do you think?

[Adekis]

I don't have anything to add to this beautiful, beautiful post, except to say

Remember the episode of Lois & Clark where the Daily Planet crew is playing poker and discussing whether Superman would cheat at poker, while Clark wrestles with whether or not to cheat? That was the funniest freaking thing. Of course, it wouldn't really work at a JL poker game. Batman would lead-line all the cards!

That's all. I mean it, seriously, there's nothing else of substance I feel like I can add. I just love the original post here so much. There's so many little pieces of gold in that post, from Cyborg swearing off poker due to getting hooked on online poker a few years ago, to Hal playing "like a goddamned maniac".

[Godlike13]

I think Nightwing would be great at it, and with living in Bludhaven i think it would make for an interesting development.

[byrd156]

I don't have anything to add to this beautiful, beautiful post, except to say



That's all. I mean it, seriously, there's nothing else of substance I feel like I can add. I just love the original post here so much. There's so many little pieces of gold in that post, from Cyborg swearing off poker due to getting hooked on online poker a few years ago, to Hal playing "like a goddamned maniac".

Yeah the post is already well thought out and solid. I love this.

[phantom1592]

I think J'onn would play without his powers... and still be fantastic. Just the way he's spent decades observing humans facial tics to better impersonate them... and the detective day job. I think he'd do very well and constantly get ACCUSED of cheating, but always play fair.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

I think J'onn would play without his powers... and still be fantastic. Just the way he's spent decades observing humans facial tics to better impersonate them... and the detective day job. I think he'd do very well and constantly get ACCUSED of cheating, but always play fair.

Ha! I like this waaaaay better than my idea.

[byrd156]

I would like to think J'onn would change into people as he was playing to psych the others out.

[Tec15]

Anybody mention the Gambler and Amos Fortune? Canonically, they would be among the best in the DCU.

[Bored at 3:00AM]

Anybody mention the Gambler and Amos Fortune? Canonically, they would be among the best in the DCU.

I would imagine Roulette is pretty good, too. I would love to see a short story set in her casino one day to see the villains play. I bet Sivana is the worst cheater of all.

[Jabare]

Mr. Terrific

Lex Luthor

Brainiac

Cyborg

[Robotman]

John Constantine no doubt. The greatest bullshit artist in the DCU. Plus he would probably cheat.

[caj]

There is a scene - I believe in Justice League of America #152 - where the members are playing poker in the JLA satellite. Hawkgirl is beating the male leaguers, including Superman, Elongated Man, Hawkman and Batman. I wish I could pull that picture up to post but I can't find it.

[CaptCleghorn]

I imagine Bruce and Dick would be excellent at calculating odds and reading others, but they still need to be aware of how they're being read as well. Going by Bruce's fanatical nature, I'd imagine he gambles with high stake player to see how they read him.

I could really see an issue or two where it's all Bruce doing support work and honing his skills.

[Hilden B. Lade]

Maybe one of the guys who have been The Flash could move fast enough that they could be out of their seat reading everyone else's cards while never looking like they left it in the first place.

[kjn]

You forgot Catwoman. Given her safe-cracking skills, I wouldn't be surprised if she could play the odds very well, and her ability to read people is extremely high. She's also an adrenaline junkie, so I guess her main weakness is that she plays more for the challenge than she plays to win.