Poker is Gambling

[Jay R]

Poker is gambling. Chess is not. Therefore in Poker Luck plays a big amount on one’s success. If you are dealt AA, KK over & over there is little strategy. We see wsop poker champions like Jamey Gold win one year & nothing after. When analyzing his hands he made hand after hand by luck.. there was little skill. So Poker is gambling-Luck plays a big part. Chess is skill, little to no luck involved

 

[BlindThieve420]

I think poker has become gambling, because most of the players now know the ins and outs of the game.

 

[speper]

Yes, poker is gambling, especially if the number of players is large, because you find all kinds of players and do not find professionals, so poker becomes gambling. There are those who play all kinds of hands and do not follow any style of play

 

[PeLLeTTi]

I totally disagree with your "think". Poker is linked to the luck factor by a small sampling. In the average sample, we already see what actually happens, in which great players emerge at the top. If you learn concepts like nash you'll know what it's all about. Take the big names and see why they have a successful career. Do you really think they are super lucky or would you be competent to do so. Do you think Phil Hellmuth has 16 bracelets because he's so lucky ?

 

[Herkstwin]

I totally disagree with your "think". Poker is linked to the luck factor by a small sampling. In the average sample, we already see what actually happens, in which great players emerge at the top. If you learn concepts like nash you'll know what it's all about. Take the big names and see why they have a successful career. Do you really think they are super lucky or would you be competent to do so. Do you think Phil Hellmuth has 16 bracelets because he's so lucky ?

You've nailed it!! I believe 'luck' is overused. When we see a player hit a 2 outer on the river, we call it 'luck'. It's actually just the odds, the math, doing its thing.

 

[FlushKings311]

Poker

Yes it is. But utilizing a little strategy, patience, and a rabbit foots won't hurt.

 

[nutself]

For two players with equal skills, yes, poker is gambling in the sense that neither of them has an edge over the other, luck will decide who will win, but if is there is a big gap in their poker skill sets, then it is no longer a gamble, it is an unfair competition.

 

[ICU1234]

You've nailed it!! I believe 'luck' is overused. When we see a player hit a 2 outer on the river, we call it 'luck'. It's actually just the odds, the math, doing its thing.

Ok. A two outer on the river would mean your 94.5 percent to loses you call the turn. Even on the flop you probably only had around an 8 percent chance to win. If those are odds you like let's get a cash came..... If your 6-8 percent chance to win isn't a luck prevails over skill then yes luck is overused..

 

[ICU1234]

For two players with equal skills, yes, poker is gambling in the sense that neither of them has an edge over the other, luck will decide who will win, but if is there is a big gap in their poker skill sets, then it is no longer a gamble, it is an unfair competition.

The edge normally is recognizing weakness. The seasoned player can hide his emotions as a less experienced player doesn't even know it's used against them. Luck is very important in winning. They say you can't win a tournament without winning a few flips. That's gambling in a nut shell. Skill gets you in the money. Luck wins the tourney. You have to have both. Yes Phil h is a very lucky guy. But he reads people even better. Reason he's not phenomenon online. Just like most live players.

Online is a beast. Luck is more involved.

 

[Herkstwin]

Ok. A two outer on the river would mean your 94.5 percent to loses you call the turn. Even on the flop you probably only had around an 8 percent chance to win. If those are odds you like let's get a cash came..... If your 6-8 percent chance to win isn't a luck prevails over skill then yes luck is overused..

Never said I liked those odds, simply doing the math. If a player does catch his 2 outer on the river, it is mathematically possible, but not probable. So if we want to call that luck, then I am fine with that.

 

[TulasMoreno]

Yes but how do you explain pros most of the times win? They study this sport.

 

[NightStalker]

Poker is not gambling.

You must have lots of skill to be a professional.

 

[Cute Octopussy]

Poker is gambling of course, however we mustn’t underestimate the poker player’s skill. As I read once: “one day of poker player is 90% of luck and 10% of skill, but one year is 90% of skill and 10% of luck”, I remember that quote and I don’t feel very depressed after losing.
I agree that it depends on luck, but in many times skill can beat it.
For example, let’s analyse blackjack, there is a game of luck, no matter that in casino all cards mixed so you will lose anyway. In blackjack we just wait for a card it doesn’t depend on our face, game etc. you can’t influence on the result. If you have bad combination you will lose.
There is more luck in poker and it’s gambling, but skill is also very important in it. That’s my point of view

 

[Redman1902]

In the short term, the luck component dominates results. In the medium to long term, however, your success is largely due to the skill component.

That's why I think it's so important to detach yourself from the result and pay more attention to whether you've made the best decision in every situation. This is the best way to emotionally survive the phases where you have no luck and, conversely, don't let yourself be blinded when your results are only good because of luck.

 

[Clutchdenier]

Thats correct. Skill is a bigger factor in chess than poker. Its easily observable - Downswinging? me too.

 

[No Bologna]

No Bologna

Of course it is, because luck is involved. Skill too of course but you can have good luck and bad. Just yesterday for example I was getting short on chips in a tournament, AK,3x raise preflop, 1 caller. Flopped AK9, went all in, call with Q10. Top 2 with opponent having a gut shot. Runner runner 1010. Out of tournament. Suck out, bad luck.

 

[darkvick]

really, the luck is involved, but so much more at the short term where the variance cut in a lot.

 

[ICU1234]

Poker is gambling of course, however we mustn’t underestimate the poker player’s skill. As I read once: “one day of poker player is 90% of luck and 10% of skill, but one year is 90% of skill and 10% of luck”, I remember that quote and I don’t feel very depressed after losing.
I agree that it depends on luck, but in many times skill can beat it.
For example, let’s analyse blackjack, there is a game of luck, no matter that in casino all cards mixed so you will lose anyway. In blackjack we just wait for a card it doesn’t depend on our face, game etc. you can’t influence on the result. If you have bad combination you will lose.
There is more luck in poker and it’s gambling, but skill is also very important in it. That’s my point of view

That same player hasn't won since saying that comment. Even trying to make since of 90 percent luck today doesn't change if every other day you you don't even get in the money. That comment was to legitimize poker as a sport. Yes you have better odds if you wait patiently. Better odds mean a better chance. Still a chance. Real skill is noticing weakness. Much harder online.

 

[Risto234]

Poker is not gambling.

By that logic betting and casinos arent either ...

 

[milka1605]

Chess cannot be compared to poker. Very much in poker the game depends on luck. There is no luck at all in chess.

 

[franken222]

While luck is a very big part of Poker, the Canadian Government classes it as a game of skill, and, even though most don't, the Government wants you to claim it as income on your tax return.

The opposite is not true....they won't let you claim you poker expenses as deductions.

I only know of one person, that has ever been taxed on his winnings. It was a player in Quebec who constantly won at the Montreal casino. Those winnings get reported to the government, and one year, they nailed him, for it.

 

[azgeda]

Yes the luck in the game makes a huge difference. Poker is obviously gambling. Some people are just lucky, others a persistent, while other are just good at math. But there is more to the game than just luck. It’s all based on choices, strategy, odds, ev, intuition, bluffing etc.

 

[ICU1234]

While luck is a very big part of Poker, the Canadian Government classes it as a game of skill, and, even though most don't, the Government wants you to claim it as income on your tax return.

The opposite is not true....they won't let you claim you poker expenses as deductions.

I only know of one person, that has ever been taxed on his winnings. It was a player in Quebec who constantly won at the Montreal casino. Those winnings get reported to the government, and one year, they nailed him, for it.

Most places if the pay out is over 2500 it's reported. The casino does a check from the bank carrying the casinos note. Bank doesn't have a choice. Most the time it's missed unless you get audited.

 

[takinitSLEAZEE]

Poker is a skill game which includes variance and luck is one of the variants. To call poker gambling is to call Bingo a skill game. Multi-bracelet winners prove this/my claim. :thefinger

 

[ebazynski]

Of course poker is gambling, just like betting the horses or putting a few bucks on your favorite team. I would however suggest that a higher degree of skill leads to more opportunities to get lucky.