How to handle someone saying that poker is "just luck"

mapt02h · Dec 1, 2013

Recently, I was on my lunch break at work, and decided to play some Pokerstars hyper 1on1s on my phone. My workmate asked me about it and I was like "I just play poker for money"

He then said - "yeah, but it's just gambling isn't it?"
I thought for a split second and came up with this response - "Comparing gambling to poker is like comparing rape to sex" hahaha

What do you guys answer if you get quizzed about this?

Fieldsy · Dec 1, 2013

I tell them to beat it

HooDooKoo · Dec 1, 2013

mapt02h said:
Recently, I was on my lunch break at work, and decided to play some Pokerstars hyper 1on1s on my phone. My workmate asked me about it and I was like "I just play poker for money"

He then said - "yeah, but it's just gambling isn't it?"
I thought for a split second and came up with this response - "Comparing gambling to poker is like comparing rape to sex" hahaha

What do you guys answer if you get quizzed about this?

I honestly don't care what people think, so I don't bother trying to convince them.

I must also add that any analogy including "rape" probably isn't going to impress anyone, make any friends, or win any sensitivity awards.

Good luck.

-HooDooKoo

Frankie6636 · Dec 1, 2013

I would agree with them and tell them it is indeed "luck". Then I would play them in poker. AND TAKE ALL THEIR MONEY THROUGH MY POKER SKILL

jgenest3798 · Dec 1, 2013

You can tell them that in US v DiCristina - federal courts ruled that poker is a game of skill and is not illegal under the Illegal Gambling Businesses Act. Look it up lol

Propane Goat · Dec 1, 2013

This is one of those things where if somebody is convinced that poker is gambling, you aren't going to change their minds, especially if there's a religious reasoning behind it. Poker is played in a casino, that's all the proof they need that it's gambling.

I tend to agree with whatever other people say, it's not something I feel like debating unless they are genuinely interested in the game.

rugby0 · Dec 1, 2013

I agree with them and then try to find out when and where they play.

IvanShovski · Dec 1, 2013

jgenest3798 said:
You can tell them that in US v DiCristina - federal courts ruled that poker is a game of skill and is not illegal under the Illegal Gambling Businesses Act. Look it up lol

The decision in U.S. v. DiCristina was overturned on appeal last August.

There is certainly a large element of luck in poker. If you don't accept this, then you are in denial. Many of today's top professional poker players refer to themselves as professional gamblers. I don't really think that it is something to be ashamed of. What counts is whether you are winning more than you are losing.

eberetta1 · Dec 1, 2013

Well, if a poker pro wins 1 of 100 poker games he plays, is it skill or luck he won 1 of 100 poker games?
If a newbie wins 1 of his first 100 poker games he plays, is it skill or luck he won 1 of 100 poker games?
I would choose luck in poker over my skill in poker anytime.

XXPXXP · Dec 1, 2013

yes, why not just say

I could beat luck...LOL by ....large numbers of hands....LOL

smidjet · Dec 2, 2013

invite them to play

S3mper · Dec 2, 2013

I'd tell them to go watch Rounders.

TimboJonez · Dec 2, 2013

Ask them to play with you

spiderman637 · Dec 2, 2013

Show them the winning streaks of good players...and ask them whether these guys are always lucky ???
In short. poker has a slice of luck involved but that can be dominated with skill to a major extent...

newbie in training · Dec 2, 2013

Ask them if theyd like to play a home game after you take their money ask them if theyd like to be coached LOL and then let them know if its about luck

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using Tapatalk 2

S3mper · Dec 2, 2013

The thing about playing against some one who thinks its all about luck is we understand variance but...

Variance could be pretty embarrassing if you play and lose that first game lol

"Lets play poker I'll show you its not about luck" "FAAWWKK you got so luckyyyy!!"

Samango · Dec 2, 2013

HooDooKoo said:
I honestly don't care what people think, so I don't bother trying to convince them.

I must also add that any analogy including "rape" probably isn't going to impress anyone, make any friends, or win any sensitivity awards.

Good luck.

-HooDooKoo

This ^^^

Who cares if they don't understand the difference, and why make any analogy with rape!

Henry Minute · Dec 2, 2013

jgenest3798 said:
You can tell them that in US v DiCristina - federal courts ruled that poker is a game of skill and is not illegal under the Illegal Gambling Businesses Act. Look it up lol

And in the UK courts ruled that it was more luck than skill. Look it up lol.

LongJohn45 · Dec 2, 2013

Poker isn't all skill. In order to win sometimes, you need a break, and sometimes the other guy hits the turn and the river! and gets super lucky.

But the reason why poker is partly a skill game is because you aren't playing against machines, your playing against other people. And predicting the actions of others based on limited information is a skill. I don't have a good analogy, but I like to point out myself, that you aren't playing a casino or a slot machine, your playing other people.

mariocep · Dec 2, 2013

if you play good poker, should not bother you, if you play to get "lucky", you should worry

AtiFCOD · Dec 2, 2013

mapt02h said:
Recently, I was on my lunch break at work, and decided to play some Pokerstars hyper 1on1s on my phone. My workmate asked me about it and I was like "I just play poker for money"

He then said - "yeah, but it's just gambling isn't it?"
I thought for a split second and came up with this response - "Comparing gambling to poker is like comparing rape to sex" hahaha

What do you guys answer if you get quizzed about this?

You cant convince them. For most of the ppl poker is just a game of luck. Just let them think what they think about poker.

cotta777 · Dec 2, 2013

I have had many arguements and tried breaking down exploitive play and statistics.

I showed some mates all of my mtt results and some have started to realise that to have so many deep scores in large fields must be more than luck

Arjonius · Dec 2, 2013

Poker is a form of gambling where you can improve the odds in your favor by being more skilled than your opponents.

hawtshawt420 · Dec 3, 2013

Either they don't play games of luck and you can't take any chips from them, Or let them continue to believe it's luck until you take all their chips consistently enough that they change their mind. People will think what they want to think. If it's a close friend, they'll listen to you're (correct) pov. If it's not, who cares? Take their money or they weren't playing anyway.

JamaicanKid · Dec 3, 2013

I'm beginning to think that online poker is majority luck, as for live games where u can physical read an opponent's body language etc, not so much

How to handle someone saying that poker is "just luck"

mapt02h

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