Why poker feels like more luck than skills online?

[Flyer35]

For those who like scientific studies, they actually did one to address the question of which is predominate in poker - skill or chance. Guess which won?

(A) Chance​

Is poker a game of skill or chance? A quasi-experimental study - PubMed

Due to intensive marketing and the rapid growth of online gambling, poker currently enjoys great popularity among large sections of the population. Although poker is legally a game of chance in most countries, some (particularly operators of private poker web sites) argue that it should be...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

If the game itself is predominately a game of chance, how is it that some professional poker players make a living playing? Because they're not playing the game, they're playing the other players (i.e., the ones who actually believe it's predominately a game of skill). And psychology is definitely a science.

So if you play a live game, and you come away thinking you've been 'worked' or 'manipulated' or 'cheated', whatever you want to call it - you probably have. You think that because the winning player wasn't playing the game by what you consider to be 'the rules'. He was playing you by his own rules. That's why it 'felt' off.

Can that be extended to online poker, where the task of psychological manipulation is more difficult? I would argue - yes, just with more variance.

How about freerolls or low stakes? Likely not, because psychological manipulation plays on perception of real risk, and there is no real risk in these games.

 

[NKGB13]

What actually helped me is start to think if that hand the player got lucky against me was well played or not. If he/she played it correctly then I just let go, if they didn't play it right, I note them down and gor for the next.

1 thing my coach thaught me is: If there's 1% of equity, there's 1% of you loosing this hand, shake it of and move to the next one

I always have so much bad beats that it makes me feel like poker is just luck or gambling while playing online. Hate to admit it but after 4 5 good runs a setup hand is dealt and flop is also so good that it's hard to fold if you're getting a playable hand after waiting for too long how to get away with situations like this? Either I lose cuz I don't get playable hands and lose chips or get dealt a premium hand where everyone limps to a 10 15BB raise and someone lucky dominates people are just playing any hands and winning more often than a regular player who's studying poker I guess it all depends on table but in tournaments you don't choose tables

 

[romerim]

Since you play a lot of hands in a digital environment, it is normal for some bad hands to beat strong hands by chance, which can give the impression that the game depends more on luck. Luck can influence one hand or another, but those who play consistently and intelligently tend to have better results in the long run. So, it’s a combination of both, but skill is what guarantees lasting success!

 

[Claudiunm]

It's harder online because most online players are more risk-averse. And many others feel that a premium hand should never be beaten. Premium hands are what they are. They're just good hands that you shouldn't fold preflop. But if the flop isn't favorable, fold. I've lost a lot of hands with AA. More than I would think was normal. Some of those losses hurt a lot. But I've also beaten AA with marginal hands. Remember that in poker, if you have a premium hand you're fighting against the luck of 8 other players. So have the skill to clear the table before the flop and know how to manage the risk postflop.

 

[bowserdon]

Its Freerolls AA is an underdog if everyone calls

 

[Rost]

I've been playing poker for over 7 years now and I've come to the conclusion that online poker is 50% skill and 50% luck. Both of these factors are important, luck alone or skills alone are simply not enough. That's why I just accepted it, I try to be disciplined, follow the bankroll manager and in general my bankroll is growing, albeit slowly.

 

[alucaa]

In the long term it's not luck, even so I also feel that there are times when I just have a good hand and I'm destined to lose, I just understand that it's part of the game and I go on with my life, I usually stop and the next day I keep playing so I don't play without thinking

 

[Pabloro10321]

Because when playing more hands there is more variability

 

[SPANKYSN]

Why poker feels more luck than skill online? Because it is. The lower the stakes, the higher luck enters the picture.

 

[comeburras]

It’s tough, but variance is a big part of poker—especially online. To handle these spots, focus on discipline: fold when you're beat even if it's painful, and avoid letting frustration push you into marginal spots. Stick to solid strategy long-term, not short-term results.

 

[dreamer13]

Poker is easy only on paper.Losing with the best hands will happen regularly in this game. And if you play a lot of hands, it may happen several times in a row.And when you're unlucky in poker for a long enough period of time, it can seriously undermine your confidence and make you question whether you're really a winning player.In fact, it is one of the most difficult games in the world, which is not within the power of many people. That is why only about 5% of poker players win.

 

[Robbie1583]

I too have this experience with having lot of bad luck at times in online poker .
For long time now i focus on freebies and such i get on several sites , i never put my own money in anymore , only deposit when good bonus that guarantuees me some extra win without any actual risk of losing my deposited amount .
From time to time im able to withdraw small amount from pokersites .
I still have to suffer crazy situations in bad beats , but it helps to have postive balance on the site that gives you the bad beats .

 

[dzsire]

Online you have less chance to read the game than in live. There are no telltale moves, no long thoughts from which you could read the opponent's game. Of course, there are still tricks here that you have to learn to use.

 

[Shooter74]

i think 60% skill and 40% luck...

 

[Poker Orifice]

Couple of hands in this period, many could have been avoided but when you are in a downswing nothing seems to go right. I have tons of information about my opponents and many plays seems bad and some are but poker is like this. It will always go in waves of heaters and coolers.

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The first two hands here were butchered TERRIBLY! (I can't bring myself to read any further).
The good thing about this >> lots of room to grow & improve!

1 tip for you, when we bet we ask ourselves 'Why?' (what are we hoping to accomplish?)

 

[phantoma69]

I apsolutely agree, i feel the same!

 

[Diman111]

Because the cards are dealt randomly

 

[hardongear]

Well kinda depends on your game selection and blind levels you're playing for MTT's. The shorter the blind levels in an MTT the more luck, the more marginal hands/position you'll be put in. 5 min and below blind levels require a lot more luck and requires one to win a lot more flips. Winning more flips takes more luck.

This is why I play both full-ring cash and MTT's.......BUT.....I only play MTT's that have 10+ min blind levels this reduces luck and the number of marginal hand and situations one need to put himself in greatly. Reducing the number of flips and luck needed to too do well greatly compared to 5 min blind level MTT's. The down side is one needs to have 6-8+ hours to play depending on the number of total players entered.

I also aim for weekend MTT's when I have more time and the MTT's are worth more $$$. During the week if I wanna play I just play full-ring cash. Between playing both that way my varaince is very little and I still actually gain a bit of $$$ over time. Then bam one day I get good run in an MTT and the old bankroll really grows.

Personally this is what has worked for me for 15-20+ years.

Cheers!!!

 

[Stringy]

i guess it can feel more like luck when there's less skill

 

[oriole]

Poker feels luck-heavy online because bad beats stand out more, but over time skill wins—study ranges, adjust to loose players, and trust the math to avoid tilt.

 

[mssmotilda]

I always have so much bad beats that it makes me feel like poker is just luck or gambling while playing online. Hate to admit it but after 4 5 good runs a setup hand is dealt and flop is also so good that it's hard to fold if you're getting a playable hand after waiting for too long how to get away with situations like this? Either I lose cuz I don't get playable hands and lose chips or get dealt a premium hand where everyone limps to a 10 15BB raise and someone lucky dominates people are just playing any hands and winning more often than a regular player who's studying poker I guess it all depends on table but in tournaments you don't choose tables

Well, I don’t know, but those who play in the plus over the long term don’t complain about it.

 

[UnderDawg5501]

It comes down to personalities.. Because of our natures, it's easy to say "I did well because I'm a good player". But, when variance hits, it's Luck, or the other player, or conspiracies, or the stars just aren't right. It can't be our fault, right?

There are so many variables and so many things adjusting how a hand plays out. Considering the "AA" that people keep getting confused with an instant winner. Sure, one on one, AA have an 85% chance to win.. AA against 3 other players, (not uncommon at least in the lower stakes), AA has a 63% chance to win, and of the 3 other players that bet with you, one is going to have a much better chance of beating you once they see the flop... Easily verified wit Equilab. Do your homework, know what sort of a minefield you are walking into, and good luck at the table!

 

[19aleks57]

Lucky is the one who has more skill and in online poker plus what country you play from.

 

[Panda19977]

Surely more skill on the long run

 

[UnderDawg5501]

In those immortal words
"You've got to know when to hold 'em, Know when to fold 'em. Know when to walk away, and know when to run."

Thats the skill....