What is the percentage of luck versus skill in poker?

RALF_AK

RALF_AK

Visionary
Platinum Level
Joined
Nov 11, 2024
Total posts
524
Awards
4
BR
Chips
415
What do experts say about how much luck and how much skill are involved in poker, and what percentages do they usually give to each when it comes to winning for both new and experienced players?
This issue is very complex, as I believe that skill is at least 95% and the variance is 5%... luck in poker does not exist, as in each hand the opponent will always have a winning percentage, whether in a flip - 50% or 20% in a pocket pair dominated by a premium hand or in other situations in Ax versus Kx...
 
havingfun

havingfun

Rock Star
Platinum Level
Joined
Apr 1, 2023
Total posts
365
Awards
1
ZA
Chips
360
I think it's around 70 % skill and 30 % luck, but a lucky player can still make a skilled play and then you might as well just give them your stack😋
 
J

JohnMackofNSW

Rising Star
Bronze Level
Joined
Jun 22, 2025
Total posts
1
AU
Chips
28
I used to think that skills were more important than luck. But with every year of playing, I am more and more convinced that both skills and luck are important. In my opinion, this ratio is roughly 50%/50%.

Assigning percentages that shows a lack of understanding of the game called poker.
In the short term, luck is paramount but long term results measure a poker player’s skill
 
M

ManOfSky

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 18, 2025
Total posts
208
UA
Chips
107
In the short term, luck is very important. But in the long run, skill beats luck. I’d say it’s 80% skill and 20% luck over time.
 
A

AnotherIndian

Rock Star
Silver Level
Joined
Jun 17, 2025
Total posts
121
IN
Chips
111
If you Play by GTO, you depend on luck and mistakes of opponent, That way people depend on luck a lot, like going all in vs 88 with AK, But if you start noticing some loose player like that You are better of trying to exploit that overvalued pair. Please understand game selection and you are owed nothing, Like when players go all in with AK and say I am owed a flip, that goes in more of a gambler mode, Win a lot of small pots rather, Winning players win a lot of small pots, big pots plays themself.

PS I am not a very good player and have a bankroll of 0 Dollars.
 
bodil19982

bodil19982

Rock Star
Platinum Level
Joined
May 9, 2021
Total posts
204
UA
Chips
204
I think 90% skill 10% luck something like that
 
Mario7

Mario7

Rock Star
Platinum Level
Joined
Apr 12, 2025
Total posts
212
Awards
1
PL
Chips
246
Assigning percentages that shows a lack of understanding of the game called poker.
In the short term, luck is paramount but long term results measure a poker player’s skill
I believe we only discuss short-term here. Long term there is no such thing as "luck", at least as we understand it in poker terms, like winning more flips than others or winning where odds are against you.
 
H

hajaehyun

Rock Star
Platinum Level
Joined
Apr 18, 2025
Total posts
141
KR
Chips
180
I think it's 7:3. I think it's technology 7 luck 3
 
23maxim88

23maxim88

Rock Star
Platinum Level
Joined
Sep 25, 2022
Total posts
362
Awards
3
UA
Chips
362
45% luck, 15% patience, 15% psychology and reading your opponent, 25% playing skills.
 
ramdon p358

ramdon p358

Legend
Platinum Level
Joined
Jul 23, 2013
Total posts
1,186
Awards
2
VE
Chips
683
Winning a tournament requires luck and skill, but over time you have to rely more on your skill. I'd say 90% skill and 10% luck.
 
Skot_Gy

Skot_Gy

Visionary
Platinum Level
Joined
Feb 16, 2022
Total posts
702
Awards
1
RO
Chips
293
I think on the longrun it is about 10 versus 90.
But on short terms or at beginners level, luck is much more important
 
anasslaaleg

anasslaaleg

Rock Star
Platinum Level
Joined
Sep 6, 2016
Total posts
364
Awards
1
MA
Chips
276
The chance is particularly present in short term . It is this variance that leads to situations like bad beats (for example, losing a hand when you are 90% favorite) or more difficult situations (for example, you and your opponent both have strong hands, but theirs is better).
Skill is what sets consistent winners apart from long-term losers.
Short-term (sessions, individual tournaments) : 50-70% chance, 30-50% skill.
Long-term (over thousands of hands/tournaments) : 10-20% luck, 80-90% skill.
 
Top