Recently by Golds1983

IS poker a game of skill or luck?

A debate that has raged for generations, and one which I believe I now have an answer to. It is categorically, definitely and indisputably a game of chance.

The five per cent of hands where your talent and intuitive reading of the cards pays off, is easily outweighed by the 95 per cent of encounters where the God of poker spits in your eye and rakes your chips.

Playing online for the past 18 months, I have seen my game steadily fall apart.

While the subtlety and skill of reading your adversary's tells may be eradicated online, I am told that the truly adept gambler should still be able to study betting patterns and get to know these online opponents. So surely there is room online for subtle check raises, cheeky bluffs and elaborate traps?

Maybe on the $200/$400 tables populated by the ultra-rich and the ultra-good, but not in the $12 tournaments which I can afford. For my money I would have to say that online poker is a little bit like James Blunt's music career, a lack of talent is no impediment to success.