You sit at the table. The cards are dealt. You’ve got a pair of sevens. The guy across from you just raised the pot. Is this a test of fate — or of your mind?

It’s a debate that’s been around as long as poker itself: Is poker simply a game of luck, or does skill make the real difference over time?

Let’s break it down.

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Luck: The Unavoidable Factor

There’s no denying it — luck plays a role in poker.

You don’t choose your cards. You can’t control what hits the flop, the turn, or the river. You could play a hand perfectly and still lose to someone who hits a miracle card.

That’s what makes poker exciting. It’s unpredictable. Even a first-timer can win a few hands — or even a tournament — on a hot streak.

But that’s not the full story.

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Skill: What Separates the Pros from the Rest

While luck determines the cards, skill determines what you do with them.

Bluffing: Turning nothing into something — reading your opponents, masking your emotions, playing the player, not the hand.

Bankroll management: Knowing when to walk away, when to bet big, when to fold.

Probability and math: Calculating odds, outs, and expected value.

Emotional control: Not letting tilt destroy your game.

These aren’t things you “luck” into. They’re learned, practiced, and refined. And the proof?

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Proof in the Winnings

If poker were pure luck, we wouldn’t see the same names making final tables year after year.

Players like Daniel Negreanu, Phil Ivey, and Vanessa Selbst didn’t stumble into millions by accident. They’ve studied, adapted, and mastered the craft.

In fact, in most countries, poker is legally classified as a game of skill — unlike roulette or slots.

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So… What Is It Really?

Poker is both luck and skill — but over the long run, skill crushes luck. In a single hand, the cards might win. In the long game, the player does.

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Think You’ve Got What It Takes?

Ready to test your skills — or your luck? Try your hand at one of our top-rated online poker platforms [→ here].