Is Poker Like the Lottery?

#1 February 20th, 2018, 5:46 PM

how often did you happen to have a 100% confidence on the flop that you should win, and on the river you lose

#2 February 20th, 2018, 5:58 PM

A royal flush is 100%,,,all other hands can and will lose. Is Poker Like the Lottery?

#3 February 20th, 2018, 7:13 PM

Poker is a lottery, where the better players have more tickets.

#4 February 20th, 2018, 7:18 PM

this is the whole point. you can count on luck when played badly

#5 February 20th, 2018, 7:27 PM

It took me a while, but now I think terryk's answer is almost perfect.
First I thought it was largely rubbish, but realized that was due to my limited brain.

Now I think: it's a straight flush where one of your hole cards is either the highest card of the straight, or T+.
p.s. I think a royal flush is not really another level of hand rankings, it's just the best possible straight flush

#6 February 20th, 2018, 7:35 PM

I was so flopped kare and on the river to another straight flush

#7 February 20th, 2018, 7:41 PM

Poker is unfair, you have the best starting hand, but you loose.
I had QQ and the man to my left vent all ind, and i followed, he had 2 x 10, first card ind the flop 10. Is Poker Like the Lottery?

I even lost a with a straight flush, i had the lower card, he had the upper card.

#8 February 20th, 2018, 8:04 PM

It's not a lottery, it's simple variance

#9 February 20th, 2018, 8:06 PM

In terms of the game it is now a lottery is 50% because a lot of players who do not care.

#10 February 20th, 2018, 9:14 PM

Originally Posted by Anders1616

Poker is unfair, you have the best starting hand, but you loose.
I had QQ and the man to my left vent all ind, and i followed, he had 2 x 10, first card ind the flop 10. Is Poker Like the Lottery?

I even lost a with a straight flush, i had the lower card, he had the upper card.

If you understand mathematics, it is difficult to believe you would make such an assertion.

Also, depending on your poker experience, you would of realize that if you made a low end Flush, that there was a possibility that someone could have a higher Flush, this type of beat is very common in poker.

#11 February 20th, 2018, 9:24 PM

It is not a lottery, you must simply adapt to that there is always a minimum percentage that you lose and while that percentage is there nothing is written

#12 February 20th, 2018, 9:25 PM

Guys if poker were so easy to play noone would work anymore.

If you use your time to improve youre game, instead of whining about variation you will most likely become one of the 10% that actually win at this game Is Poker Like the Lottery?

lets leave rake aside for a moment, but if i were to play headsup SnGs and win 51% of my games I will make money in the longrun. It will still "feel" like I am losing half and winning half of my games, but mathematicaly i will be a winner Is Poker Like the Lottery?

#13 February 20th, 2018, 9:27 PM

Originally Posted by Nick301274

how often did you happen to have a 100% confidence on the flop that you should win, and on the river you lose

Ok, answer me this. If poker is a lottery, how many times have you won at poker and how many times have you won the lottery?

#14 February 20th, 2018, 9:52 PM

Poker is definitely like playing the lottery...Unless you flop a royal flush theres always a chance the turn or river can work for or against you...odds=gamble

#15 February 20th, 2018, 11:04 PM

I dont know how many hands i have played when was ahead preflop behind on the flop ahead on the turn again and then lose behind on the river thats just the way it goes you got to bet big when your ahead make opponent fold or really evaluate your hand on river and do not be afraid to fold a set ect if you just know your opponent hit dat flush good luck.

#16 February 20th, 2018, 11:13 PM

I have to say tough beats are pretty normal in poker, not just online either. It's just the nature of the beast. Murphy's law constantly in effect. Real fun trying to crack the code though ain't it?

#17 February 20th, 2018, 11:17 PM

Everyone gets hit by a bad beat every so often.Or more.But patience is the magic to cards.As I always say,there's always another hand so wait for the one that's right for you.

I would say like three percent.You dont flop the nuts very often.And huge hands don't come bye often either.

#18 February 20th, 2018, 11:27 PM

I only count on luck when i'm behind in the hand.

#19 February 21st, 2018, 12:48 AM

I think luck is poker is very important, and just as there are times when you have 90% of winning a hand and you lose, there are times when you have up to 2% turn your hand and win, as long as the possibilities exist nothing is said in poker

#20 February 21st, 2018, 12:49 AM

Sorry, but I do not agree. Poker is not a lottery. Poker is a game of skill. Here, not the one who has a strong hand wins, but the one who is competently distributed by his chips.

#21 February 21st, 2018, 1:25 AM

Originally Posted by grumblbrumbl

Sorry, but I do not agree. Poker is not a lottery. Poker is a game of skill. Here, not the one who has a strong hand wins, but the one who is competently distributed by his chips.

I wouldn't go as far as saying it's purely a game of skill or even further, but it's certainly not a lottery. Is Poker Like the Lottery?

I asked the OP to tell me how many times he has won at poker and how many times he won the lottery. No answer yet.

#22 February 21st, 2018, 1:25 AM

Poker is not a lottery, you have more chance to win, and you decide to take the risk or not!

#23 February 21st, 2018, 1:37 AM

Originally Posted by vapandrei

I wouldn't go as far as saying it's purely a game of skill or even further, but it's certainly not a lottery. Is Poker Like the Lottery?

But do you agree that poker consists of making difficult decisions? In any case, I think everyone chooses his own poker philosophy. My philosophy is that poker is not a game of luck, but skill. Is Poker Like the Lottery?

#24 February 21st, 2018, 1:43 AM

Originally Posted by grumblbrumbl

But do you agree that poker consists of making difficult decisions? In any case, I think everyone chooses his own poker philosophy. My philosophy is that poker is not a game of luck, but skill. Is Poker Like the Lottery?

Yes, I do agree that to play poker successfully you need a healthy percent of skill. The confusion for some, comes from the fact that if you strip either skill or luck from poker, you'll never be successful. Both play a huge role in poker, sometimes simultaneously (good plays on nuts for example) or alternately (skill wins you pots with bluffs, you play position well, you steal blinds etc and luck gives you nuts, outs when they are unlikely, keeps you in a tourney when you have no chance of playing the next blind, etc.)

Regardless of the percentage of SKILL versus LUCK, a good player must have BOTH.

To take my idea further, I think the following, with conviction:

1. Those who say poker is a lottery or a luck game, came into poker to win money thinking that it's SLOTS and when they inevitably lose, they blame it on luck like this: "Poker is a game of luck and I am an unlucky person"

2. Those who say poker is only a skill game are a bunch of smug a-holes, who like to attribute everything to themselves to look smarter, better for others or are constantly losing in poker, they know they need skills which they don't possess, and they usually don't admit they're always on the losing side.

#25 February 21st, 2018, 2:08 AM

Originally Posted by vapandrei

2. Those who say poker is only a skill game are a bunch of smug a-holes, who like to attribute everything to themselves to look smarter, better for others or are constantly losing in poker, they know they need skills which they don't possess, and they usually don't admit they're always on the losing side.

I dont really get what you are saying here...

Like lets asume somone would think poker is only based on skill. And he is constantly loosing. This person would have 2 options. A. Improving B. Quit the game. Or am I wrong? Like do these people play a game they are bad at without the will of improving? Sounds quite masochistic to me.

#26 February 21st, 2018, 2:17 AM

Originally Posted by Luepso

I dont really get what you are saying here...

Like lets asume somone would think poker is only based on skill. And he is constantly loosing. This person would have 2 options. A. Improving B. Quit the game. Or am I wrong? Like do these people play a game they are bad at without the will of improving? Sounds quite masochistic to me.

Trust me on this one, while it is masochistic, the mental gymnastics will keep you playing (hypothetical you who's in this situation). I've a few buddies in this situation and there was a recent thread on CC with someone who looked at how much he lost in the last year and didn't even realize it. Yet he still was playing.

#27 February 21st, 2018, 2:58 AM

Originally Posted by vapandrei

Trust me on this one, while it is masochistic, the mental gymnastics will keep you playing (hypothetical you who's in this situation). I've a few buddies in this situation and there was a recent thread on CC with someone who looked at how much he lost in the last year and didn't even realize it. Yet he still was playing.

right, but then he was trying to improve. Or what do you mean by "mental gymnastics"? I am aware that there is people that were good regulars at some point and then because the game developed they became loosing players. But those people either improve or quit poker. (or loose everything and thus quit) But if they keep playing it can only be for sake of fun. Noone sane would keep playing a game were he constantly looses without having fun or/and the will of improving. I quess we could translate "luck" to a fun- and "skill" to semi/profesional approach to the game.

#28 February 21st, 2018, 4:34 AM

I dont agree, but I love this quote from the Poker Brat:

"If poker didn't involve luck, I would win everytime."

#29 February 21st, 2018, 6:17 AM

Originally Posted by Nick301274

how often did you happen to have a 100% confidence on the flop that you should win, and on the river you lose

75% I win 25% there. Poker itself is a lottery with its own rules. More precisely, the lottery is the basic concept laid down in the creation of the game and does not end as the distribution of poker is colossal - and only gaining momentum. Even if in some countries it is officially banned. "Backhand fruit is sweet" people still find ways to play poker.

#30 February 21st, 2018, 7:11 AM

Originally Posted by Nick301274

how often did you happen to have a 100% confidence on the flop that you should win, and on the river you lose

I have 120% confidence for this situation on an average of 3000+ result together.

#31 February 21st, 2018, 7:16 AM

Unfortunately, there are many players, I think beginners who regard poker as a lottery. Honestly, when I'm constrained by the situation, I'm still playing like a lottery: either I double up or lose everything. Here comes the luck. Is Poker Like the Lottery?

#32 February 21st, 2018, 7:49 AM

I think poker vs lottery are differrent, because lottery only need your lucky, but poker need lucky and ur skill

#33 February 21st, 2018, 8:11 AM

Originally Posted by vapandrei

Ok, answer me this. If poker is a lottery, how many times have you won at poker and how many times have you won the lottery?

and in the lottery there are small winnings equal to most of the winnings in poker, and how many times you have hit a big win in poker equal to the lottery jackpot

#34 February 21st, 2018, 8:39 AM

How can poker be compared to a lottery? It's a game of your ability. If you play with a weak or middle hand and then lose on the river then you should blame yourself. In poker AA lose too. Just you should not with AK, AQ, AJ, AT, etc. to go all-in.

#35 February 21st, 2018, 9:40 AM

I do not compare them but answer a precise question

#36 February 21st, 2018, 3:04 PM

If poker was was like the lottery I would play the lottery every single day with the jackpots they have....

#37 February 21st, 2018, 3:29 PM

https://www.boomplayer.com/pt-BR/26964225_6A3AADF090

yes.

#38 February 21st, 2018, 4:29 PM

Poker can be a game of luck but that dosen't explain why there are the same great players at the final tabels. Is Poker Like the Lottery?

Hope u understand.Cheers

#39 February 21st, 2018, 10:02 PM

For me its not really like lottery because you need skill,at the end of the day better players are winning players..

#40 February 21st, 2018, 10:32 PM

I feel like if we are honest with ourselves, we would remember those times we sucked out on someone and not just the horrible bad beats we take.

#41 February 22nd, 2018, 3:07 AM

Of course the game have some luck that can influence... But the skill of the player is as important as the luck, because you need to evaluate every spot

#42 March 1st, 2018, 11:58 PM

I would say like three percent.You dont flop the nuts very often.And huge hands don't come bye often either.

#43 March 2nd, 2018, 8:38 AM

Not like the lottery as you always have decisions you can constantly make.

#44 March 2nd, 2018, 9:14 AM

I think that 70% is skill and skill, but 30% depends only on luck. And no matter how good it is, there is still someone who is more lucky today.

#45 March 2nd, 2018, 10:06 AM

I often have 100% confidence on the flop of 2 pairs or SET or STRIT, but then on the turn or river they interrupt my cards with the older combinations and I lose the hand!

#46 March 2nd, 2018, 10:17 AM

So, in poker a lot depends on fortune, but also a significant part depends on the player's skills, focusing, reading the opponent and other skills.

#47 March 2nd, 2018, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by Nick301274

how often did you happen to have a 100% confidence on the flop that you should win, and on the river you lose

It happens, but not too often. If the flop is 100%, then it's better to try not to slowplay the game, it's a common mistake. On the flop bet raise, 3-bet, etc.