For some poker players, this question is of no importance. Why would you care how you're winning just as long as you're winning, right? Wrong. While it is true that the most important part of poker is winning, the "why" behind the win is equally as important. If you want to repeatedly win at poker, you'll need to know how you achieved your wins in the first place. Whether poker is a game of skill or chance is a question often asked. Of course, gambling relies on luck but good judgement will always boost your success.
On a broader social scale this issue is also significant. Some people think that poker - like most other casino games - is a mere game of chance. If this is correct, then it would be true and fair to include poker in the law made by the United States government against payments of online games of chance.
So which is it: is poker first and foremost a game of chance or a complete game of skill?
The Importance of Skill in Poker
One thing all poker players can agree on is that poker is a game where skill is most essential. You have many decisions to make, whether or not to keep your hole cards and wait to see the flop. Will you play it slowly or fast and aggressive? Should you check, call or raise? How much should you betting any one round? Indeed, decisions and strategy typify all hands of online poker.
You'll have to be aware of probabilities and how to calculate them in an instant. What's the probability that you will draw good hole cards? What are your odds of winning against the odds of you losing? What's more you will need a good head for maths. How much do can you expect to win and how much do you expect to lose if you stay in the hand until the final round of betting?
The capability to understand and form deductions from hand and player histories in poker is also priceless. Then of course, you will need to develop the ability to read players tells - even online. What are the chances that your opponent is holding the nuts? Was that long silence from your opponent a good or bad sign?
Poker: More than just Skill
There is always the argument that poker is mainly a game of chance. Perhaps, this can be said of those who have just started playing and have nothing more than a lucky draw to rely on. However, it's important to remember that while you may win in the short-term through complete luck with the cards you are dealt, you can not maintain your winning streak on luck alone. Remember, poker is a game of bluff: someone can bluff you right off the best hand if he is skilful enough.
Luck plays a big part in poker - so poker is not simply all about skill. However, to be a winning player, it is still first and foremost a game of skill.
On a broader social scale this issue is also significant. Some people think that poker - like most other casino games - is a mere game of chance. If this is correct, then it would be true and fair to include poker in the law made by the United States government against payments of online games of chance.
So which is it: is poker first and foremost a game of chance or a complete game of skill?
The Importance of Skill in Poker
One thing all poker players can agree on is that poker is a game where skill is most essential. You have many decisions to make, whether or not to keep your hole cards and wait to see the flop. Will you play it slowly or fast and aggressive? Should you check, call or raise? How much should you betting any one round? Indeed, decisions and strategy typify all hands of online poker.
You'll have to be aware of probabilities and how to calculate them in an instant. What's the probability that you will draw good hole cards? What are your odds of winning against the odds of you losing? What's more you will need a good head for maths. How much do can you expect to win and how much do you expect to lose if you stay in the hand until the final round of betting?
The capability to understand and form deductions from hand and player histories in poker is also priceless. Then of course, you will need to develop the ability to read players tells - even online. What are the chances that your opponent is holding the nuts? Was that long silence from your opponent a good or bad sign?
Poker: More than just Skill
There is always the argument that poker is mainly a game of chance. Perhaps, this can be said of those who have just started playing and have nothing more than a lucky draw to rely on. However, it's important to remember that while you may win in the short-term through complete luck with the cards you are dealt, you can not maintain your winning streak on luck alone. Remember, poker is a game of bluff: someone can bluff you right off the best hand if he is skilful enough.
Luck plays a big part in poker - so poker is not simply all about skill. However, to be a winning player, it is still first and foremost a game of skill.
