IcyBlueAce
Visionary
Platinum Level
I've seen posts here and there where people asked how much luck and skill poker is, well I was reading bluff mag and apparently they did a study on it about a year ago. Thought I would share to those who never read this.
Full 16 page report here.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/13710664/Cigital-100M-Hand-Analysis-Report
In a study, it was revealed that Texas Hold'em, statistically at least, is a game of skill. The research in question investigated 103 million hands and found that three-quarters of them did not go to showdown. In essence, they were won due to betting by players.
A total of 75.7% of the hands examined as part of the study did not go to showdown. In these hands, the victor's skill of betting managed to win the pot for them, regardless of whether they held the best hand. In the remaining 24.3% of hands, the player who held the best five cards only won 50.3% of the time. In the other 49.7% of pots, the player with the best hand folded prior to showdown. Overall, the best hand actually scooped the pot just 12% of the time. Therefore, according to the study, Texas Hold'em can be seen as 88% skill and not predominated by chance.
Full 16 page report here.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/13710664/Cigital-100M-Hand-Analysis-Report