Poker has always been a firm favourite with casino game lovers. Whether you like playing in a land-based casino or on a UK poker site, nothing beats the feeling of getting that winning hand. When it comes to playing any casino games, there is a certain element of luck involved. This is especially true when it comes to slot games or roulette as the player has no say in the outcome.
However, when it comes to the card games, the abilities of the player do come into play a bit more. So where does poker land when it comes to luck or skill? We’ll be taking you through the arguments for both sides in search of an answer.
Luck vs skill in poker
There have always been many discussions regarding whether poker is more about luck or skill. There have even been studies to try and solve the argument once and for all. But there are still arguments to be had for both sides.
A lot of people will argue that it is a game of skill because you can still win even if your hand is bad. The skill of it lies within your ability to lie effectively and to read other people.
However, there is still the other side of the argument. The other side will say that it doesn’t matter how good your bluffing skills are, if you have a terrible hand then you can still lose.
Both of these are true. Having a bad hand will always lose if you’re up against someone with a royal flush. However, it’s not unheard of for someone to win a game of poker by making everyone else fold even though their hand isn’t very good.
So, it seems like the answer is that it’s a little bit of both. Your ability to read people is going to make a fair bit of difference in terms of how many risks you take. However, it takes a really good player to be able to win on a terrible hand.
It’s all a matter of practice. If you play a lot of poker with a lot of different people, you’re going to be able to have your people reading skills down to a fine art. Just keep your fingers crossed that lady luck is on your side.
Luck or skill in online poker
When you’re playing online poker, things are done a little differently. As you can’t actually see the people you’re playing against, it can be tricky to read them. You can guess as much as possible but it’s tricky when you can’t see what their hand or face movements are.
The odds are not as high in online poker either. When you play online, the bets are far lower. They can sometimes be as low as a few pennies, so people are more likely to take a risk. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you don’t need the skills to win, but it does mean that people don’t play it as safe.
Not being able to see the people you’re playing could also be seen as an advantage. Not being able to see people means that you’re not as distracted by what is going on around you. You also don’t have the distractions of other people milling around you like you do at a land based casino.
This means that you could be more likely to win at online poker, not because of your skills, but because you’re able to concentrate more on what’s in front of you.
How technology is changing poker
As is the case with a lot of technology, AI is becoming a tool that we are using more and more. Online gaming is always on the lookout for improvements so it makes sense that it would venture into looking at AI.
Humans take a long time to learn how to play poker and even longer to play it well. It can take years to gain the experience needed to become a skilled poker player. However, it only took an AI programme a couple of months to complete.
Students at the University of Alberta created a robot called Cepheus that apparently can win any game of Texas Holdem. However, the abilities of this robot are left up to scrutiny.
Even though this AI does seem to be able to win most games, it doesn’t have the ability to adapt – unlike humans. And don’t worry, you won’t be coming up against this robot any time soon. All online gaming sites have the most advanced hardware to detect these kinds of AI bots to ensure you’re only playing against other humans.
Playing online poker is a delicate balance of luck and skill and you need both to win. What do you think is most important?