Poker has been around for centuries, and in today's time, it's considered one of the most popular casino games. The game has many variants, but the essence of each version is the same. To win at poker, players have to use various strategies to outwit and outplay others at the table, regardless of the hand they're dealt. Since it requires in-depth knowledge of the game and the ability to read people, poker is often regarded as a game of skill.

Other Players and the Hand You're Dealt

Many consider poker a game of skill because of the human element—playing against other players rather than the casino. With other betting games, winning depends on chance. Whether the roulette ball simply ends up on your chosen number has little to do with how good you are at choosing a number. It's pure luck.

With poker, winning is not necessarily about the hand you're dealt but more what you do with it. Because you're playing against other people, you can often bluff your way to victory and win the pot even if you have the worst hand possible. Reading other players and making strategic decisions requires both experience and skill. 

The way you play each hand does, however, depend on the cards you are dealt, as some hands offer a greater guarantee for winning. For example, if you're playing Texas Hold'em and start each hand with pocket aces, your chances to win will be significantly higher than if you're dealt seven-deuce each hand.

So which is it? Are poker champions skilled masterminds or born under a lucky star? The answer is both. 

A Career in Poker Requires Skill

If you wish to play poker long-term, you will need to rely on your skills to make a profit. This includes learning how to make the most of the hand you are dealt, paying close attention to other players and their betting patterns, and whether they are bluffing or not. 

Of course, being good at poker doesn't mean you'll win every single hand. Losing a hand can be a valuable lesson in the playing patterns of other players or a strategic move on your part. 

The reason you see the same names at the top during every WSOP event is that these players are consistently skillful in their approach to the game. Just look at Antonio Esfandiari, for example, who is considered one of the best poker players of modern-day poker. 

In a single tournament Antonio Esfandiari won $18.3 million https://playtoday.co/blog/biggest-gambling-wins/  at the Big One for One Drop in 2012. The win propelled him to the top of the all-time live tournament earnings list and cemented his legacy as one of the greatest poker players of all time. Luck is always a factor, but when a player consistently wins millions of dollars tournament after tournament, skill and expertise are unquestionable.

Luck Is Prevalent for Recreational Players

As far as recreational poker goes, a little luck can get you a long way. If you play only a few hands at a time every now and then, luck is probably all you need to make a small profit and gain bragging rights among your buddies.

For example, our pocket aces example can give you the best odds to win the hand pre-flop. Poker pros, however, know that pocket aces can quickly lose value. In response, they often try to win the pot pre-flop or at the flop with pocket aces.

Post-flop, the situation can change drastically. Even the worst hand in Texas Hold'em (2-7 offsuit) can easily beat pocket aces depending on turn or river cards. Relying on the luck of the hand only gets you so far—without previous experience and skill, it's not enough to win long-term.  

The Bottom Line

While both factors impact the game, skill is undoubtedly a lot more important to poker players in the long run. While luck can get you out of trouble and help you win the pot now and then, there is only so much you can accomplish by going all-in and hoping for the best. Knowing what to do no matter what cards are dealt separates amateurs from big-time players.