a. It requires strategy to win: Successful poker play over the long term requires some sort of strategy. Games of skill do not. When a person, for example, plays slots, any strategy they utilize is ineffective, contrary to the advice given out by individuals hoping to make a few bucks by convincing you otherwise.

b. Unskilled players are more likely to fail: Unskilled players will typically lose to more skilled ones. Games of luck are not influenced by the ability of the participants.

c. Individuals can increase their chances of winning: When a game is solely based on luck, nothing can be done to increase or decrease ones odds. Whether or not a person wins is totally dependent on chance. This is not the case as it concerns poker.

Is poker a game of skill? Sure it is. Poker requires that those who play it have a strategy. Whether or not they do, combined with their personal level will have an effect on the game’s outcome. Games of luck or chance don’t require by any of the aforementioned, nor are they affected by them, i.e., strategy and skill.

As stated above, depending on whom you talk to, whether poker is a game mostly dependent on skill or luck is up for debate. My contention is that it primarily requires skill, though luck definitely has its place in the game. The cards that a person is dealt has nothing to do with their particular skill level. Whether or not their opponent has a melt down does not either. Ones seat at the table may be viewed as luck, as might the skill level of their competition.

What has nothing to do with luck, are the decisions that a person makes during the course of the game. If it were, there wouldn’t be such small number of players that are extremely dominant on the circuit. When Phil Ivey is competing in a tournament, no one thinks to themselves, “The only way that Phil has a shot is if he gets really lucky.” No, people expect him to compete well because he is extremely skilled. That doesn’t mean that some things won’t have to go his way so that he is able to beat equally talented players (which could be referred to as luck). However, most people recognize that his skill would be most responsible for how he finishes.