Luck is a big factor. Tho we like to fool ourselves, poker is still
gambling.
With high skill I was up a lot over the course of a week. Then with just 3 bad beats where I was a 90%+ favorite I was down lower than my original deposit. The one I distinctly remember. After a couple dozen hands I set up a bluffer table presence to this new guy. He went all in with a
bluff reraise on me with Jd, Qc, thinking I'd fold but I had kings this time. I was smiling so much when I saw that 3rd king on the flop. He was toast and I was about to logout for a good night's work.... He then hit flush with 4 diamonds on board and 1 in his hand.
I was tilted. 3 bad beat shoves undid thousands of well calculated hands. Few have any idea on what that does to one's spirit.
It's why I'm taking a big break from the game. Tho I enjoy the forums and watching Hellmuth and Nengreanu videos while I'm working on my business (that I hope will be more profitable than poker). 5% of poker players are winning players, but only 5% of those 5% can do it as a living.
I believe it was Hellmuth who said if there were no luck in poker then he would win every time.