At what point did you realize that poker is more than luck?

[successlaw]

Long time ago when I saw all the same faces on final tables...

 

[Alex Houngan]

I realized that poker is more than just luck back in 2009, when I went through training at an online poker school — it was a popular trend back then, with lots of new affiliates popping up.
That’s when I first learned about ranges, position, and the real value of discipline.
It completely changed how I approached the game.
Since then, I’ve seen that consistent results only come from skill, not chasing lucky rivers.

 

[S3mper]

When I first watched Rounders. I had no interest in poker thought it was luck and those type of games never really interested me. The skill aspect as displayed in Rounders changed my mind and made me want to play so that's when I learned the game. The rules of the game anyways... I'm still ass so I never truly 'learned' the game.

 

[DiazPoker3101]

I don’t know if it’s really about luck — well, maybe a little — but it’s mostly probability. If there’s a 1% chance that the card that beats you will come, it can still come, and you just have to accept it. There’s no other way

 

[Navin Sarabjeet]

It is definitely not all about luck, but luck plays a major factor though. We can calculate how much we want and be disciplined, but if your on the ft bubble with AA preflop and big stack bully pushes you allin with 52o and you call off to face a defeat with him getting two pairs only then will you feel the hurt inside.
Butttt.... That is poker.
We just have to deal with it and when you are calm again off to the next.
Goodluck on the tables

 

[rufininha14]

As soon as I started playing I realized that poker is not about luck but about a lot of study and practice, knowing how to read your opponent also helps a lot, but this comes with time, you have to be patient.

 

[s0ftdumps]

At first I discovered that it was all about knowing how to bluff and being lucky in the river. But over time I saw that it's math, reading, and discipline . And you? When did you realize that the game is much deeper?

Absolutely relate to that journey. At first I thought it was just about who could act the most confident or hit lucky on the river too. But the turning point for me was when I started tracking hands and noticed patterns. That was when I realized how much strategy, math, and long term thinking go into the game. Reading people and managing tilt became just as important as pot odds. That was when it stopped feeling like gambling and started feeling like a craft.

 

[Cooking]

When I saw that the same players are always reaching late stages or FT of important tournaments.

 

[istbno]

Most players realize poker is more than luck when they see consistent winners over large samples despite the randomness of cards. It becomes clear after studying concepts like odds, position, and expected value, noticing that skilled players make better long-term decisions. The turning point often comes when you improve strategy, track results, and outperform casual players over hundreds or thousands of hands. That’s when you understand luck matters short term, but skill and discipline control long-term success.

 

[Mazembe]

The game is run deeper than luck, I saw someone read and calculate all the possible hands that his opponents might have, from the suites/combination etc
Its mind blowing to be honest

 

[Kaji Hokori]

I started to realize that poker isn't just luck based when I learned about all the things, like Table Position and calculating odds and the different player types. Everything came together to the point where I realized that poker is playing the man and it's calculated.

 

[888NOX888]

When I started playing for real money, I realized that poker is not just about luck.

 

[wushibala]

For me, things started to go more or less well in poker when I realized that you can’t just sit around waiting for premium hands — you’ve got to learn how to play all kinds of hands.
Another big shift was understanding that every tournament needs a different approach.
Playing a freeroll and, say, a $10 tournament are already two completely different worlds — not to mention the higher buy-ins.

 

[Ruslan L]

At first I discovered that it was all about knowing how to bluff and being lucky in the river. But over time I saw that it's math, reading, and discipline . And you? When did you realize that the game is much deeper?

When I started earning money, my attitude toward the game changed. From that moment on, I began to play more, analyze my game, and study the most important aspects of the game.

 

[fernandovr]

When I saw experienced players winning consistently, I realized skill is the key factor.

 

[Roller]

After watching professional players consistently win tournaments, I came to an important realization: their success wasn’t just a coincidence—it was a clear reflection of their skill, strategy, and dedication to the game. While luck does play a role in individual hands, its influence is minor when compared to the advanced skills of dedicated professional players. Over the long run, it’s their deep understanding of the game and dedication that sets them apart.

 

[bodil19982]

When you get deep run in tournaments and understand what to do next

 

[Debi]

I always knew it wasn't all luck - but realized after a few months of playing that the level of skill varied drastically based on how much time and effort you were able to put into studying the game.

 

[Hospedar]

I noticed it at the point I heard about a friend of my brother that was studying poker and winning money by playing in a team.

Then, my mind started to think: "How is possible to someone study this game? There's strategy behind this?". After this, I started to study the basics and to improve more and more my own knowledge about poker.

Now, I can clearly see that it's not just luck, but strategy, mainly!