Rousso: Poker Is Not A Man's World

Online poker helping to attract female players, says Vanessa Rousso.

Poker pro Vanessa Rousso has rubbished claims that men are naturally better at the card game.

The 25-year-old American, who is engaged to poker player Chad Brown, told the Sun that thinking of poker as exclusively a game for men is an "antiquated view".

In an interview with the newspaper, Rousso explained that the growth of online poker has helped to open the game up for female players who may have previously felt intimidated by the male-dominated live scene.

"With the internet, any girl can log on and play online anonymously without people knowing," she said.

"There's no reason why a man would be any more successful than a woman at playing it."

Rousso also claimed that due to their "feminine instinct", women hold one crucial advantage over their male counterparts at the poker table.

"Sometimes you have a feeling about someone and that can help you read people in a game," she explained.

Rousso is just one of many women who have enjoyed success at major tournaments in recent years, with players such as Annie Duke, Jennifer Tilly, Victoria Coren and Jennifer Harman also making headlines for their exploits at the card table.