Is it better to be lucky than talented?

Author: Simon Dexter

You may have read recently about club owner who insisted that because poker was a game of skill, his establishment would not require a licence under the 1968 Gaming Act, legislation which applies solely to games of chance.

However, the judge ruled that poker is a game of luck and while the legal arguments for and against this decision are not for debate here, most poker players would have sympathy with the view that poker is a game of skill. If it was all down to luck, they argue, then why do people spend so much time practising, and how come the off- and online poker tutorial sector is thriving as poker players endeavour to improve their skills and discover new strategies that may give them the edge?

Some people point to beginners luck as a “clear” indication of poker’s chance element, but in truth, this can be usually attributed to a new player’s naivety and eagerness which occasionally allows them to play with a freedom that more measured players suppress over time.

There is another view, which kind of changes frequently and tends to boil down to one thing, namely whether you won. If you walk away with pot, then of course it’s all down to your skill and astute judgement, but if someone else trousers the loot, then it can only be attributable to Lady Luck turning her back on you!

Tags: poker law, poker luck, Poker School, poker skill, poker tactics

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 14th, 2008 at 11:17 am and is filed under News & Promotions Blog.