[meg88]

Sure, luck is a part of the game, but it is undoubtedly the skill of a player that is the difference maker. Have these UK judges never heard of a stone-cold bluff?

[frogjerk]

Poker Ping!

Freepmail me if you want on the Poker Ping List.

[stm]

That must be why I always lose at poker. Either that or I try to win every time with a pair of twos.

[albie]

Jailed for Poker...unbelievable.

[ElectricStrawberry]

I know a judge I'd like to play poker with......

[Tallguy]

Sure... that's why you can recognize at least half the final table at any WSOP event. It's mostly skill in that it's a manipulation of risk & percentages. It's hard to sustain luck.

[verum ago]

clearly this judge has never seen me play...

[RightWhale]

Pair of jacks to open, but don't raise.

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

What do they mean "Not a game of skill?"
Just ask Kenny Rogers, he'll tell ya:

You got to know when to hold 'em,
Know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away,
& know when to run!

[cuz_it_aint_their_money]

What do they mean "Not a game of skill?"
Just ask Kenny Rogers, he'll tell ya:

You got to know when to hold 'em,
Know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away,
& know when to run!

[KarlInOhio]

Which does the government get more money from, games of chance or games of skill?

The Act states that a licence is needed to host games of chance such as blackjack and roulette, but not games of skill, such as chess and quiz machines.

I think I've found the answer. You can't host a poker game without giving the State a cut, no matter how much luck or skill is needed to win.

[pogo101]

A HAND of poker? More luck than skill.

HOURS of hands of poker? More skill than luck.

Which is why I don't play poker anymore: Everyone can tell when I get a good hand.

[Hugin]

I would like to see this judge sit down with 100k of her own money vs. Johnny Chan, Daniel Negreanu, Doyle Brunson and Phil Ivey. Give her twice as many chips to start with. If it's just luck she should have the best chance of winning, right?

[AnAmericanMother]

Heh, if you think poker's a game of luck, please come play with my dad and his buddies . . .

. . . they will clean you out.

[fireforeffect]

Did not a California jury decide it was a game of skill, back in the 1850's?

[6ppc]

A jury decided yesterday that luck, not skill, played the greater part in poker

They obviously don't play with the sharks I play with!

[CougarGA7]

When I first started playing I would occationally take down a big pot all due to luck, but more times then not I would get trapped.

Now that I have become a better player (not pro, but better) I find that I win more pots and take down the small ones that finance my stabs at the bigger ones.

On a hand there is luck, but the game requires skill.

[LetsRok]

You can't bluff a video poker machine.

[Lokibob]

OK then, bowling is gambling, too.

In a league, you pay into a prize pool, use the greatest skill you have, but in the end, you HAVE to be lucky too, in order for the pins to fall.

I gave up bowling for sex years ago. The balls were lighter, and you didn't have to change shoes.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

If it were just luck, then everyone would be expected to break even after playing for several hours. In fact, those with the skills walk away with all the chips.

Poker requires several complex skills: reading body and facial language; masking your own body language; assessing probabilities; weighing risk and reward; game theory (i.e. knowing when a bluff could work, and when it wouldn't). In addition, it requires an ability to control emotions. Anyone, who does well playing for matchsticks, but always loses when money is on the table, knows the importance of controlling emotions.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Ping for later reference.