Hardly call Luck in Poker a strategy or even attempt to calculate, but what is it?
A short term skill experienced by players who use implied odds more then pot or expected values. I am going to try to demonstrate how you can put yourself in to a situation to give you “luck”.
UK psychology Prof. Richard Wiseman, says
people who think of themselves as lucky are more likely to win the lottery than those who don’t
not because they’re better at picking winning lottery numbers
but because they’re more likely to buy tickets.
The above quote really has nothing to do with poker luck, but it has the proper implications of getting in to a pot that you normally wouldn’t be in, but we play are cards because we have implied values. That means we are playing the cards with the expectation that if we do hit and do win the hand out right, we will get paid off.
Table image and position are how you can set up your luck factor.
One of the ways I like to increase value of a pot is by limping into a semi loose table with suited connectors or pocket pairs from early position. If my image is tight, they may be thinking I am waiting on a raise so I can re raise, acting if I had AA or KK. If everyone follows along and limps in, my cards now have great odds of taking down a big pot, not necessarily the best odds to win the hand. There is a difference.
If I get the perfect, ‘lucky’ flop and hit a straight flush with my suited connectors or hit quads with my pocket pair I know I win the hand out right. Now that’s poker folks, but where I personally think the luck is, that someone else bets, even better would be someone raising. How often have you held the best hand and watched two other players bet and raise? Wow I got lucky to get this table, I got lucky these two are donking chips cause it sure is not lucky that I flopped the nuts, that is odds and probabilities.
So there is the other “lucky” times some people would suggest.
Perfect example is Ax vs KK and the ace rag chaser calls down to the river and hits a 3 outer to win. I hate that too but really it is good poker to chase, if you know the sucker can’t fold even tho they know your an ace rag chaser your getting implied value. Over bets and value bets are encouraging to call if your gonna get paid if you hit.
So lets not call it luck anymore, lets call it suck out value.
Hmmm you make a good point.
To me odds and probabilities are not how my brain works, so I automatically chock it up to “luck”
What you say does make sense though, its just a matter of realizing that there were other reasons that we did or did not win a pot than getting lucky.
So the next time I play you, and I take your chippies, I won’t say wow I got lucky, I’ll say haha I suc…. wait a minute, that doesn’t sound good lol
“Quote”
people who think of themselves as lucky are more likely to win the lottery than those who don’t
not because they’re better at picking winning lottery numbers
but because they’re more likely to buy tickets.
I do not do this. Altho excuse me while I check my tix for 180 mil.Mass. mega millions dated 4/28/09.. It is NOT THE WINNER as we have a 200mil. tonight.. but I may have won something..BRB.. Not one #.. uggg.Buying 2 tix for tonight..
I like your blog. I think it speaks the truth and the only flaw in it is when you have have the nice cards you hit 2 really really nice pairs… you bet up, they call you all in and hmmm I wonder??? they hit trips?? post flop.. ekk what to do?? player image, seat position, chippie count. 2 more cards??? decisions decisions.
I am lucky..I am playing better poker.. this week SKILLS over luck!!
O btw LIL SIDE NOTE :decision made on the job I want.. Hope my skills are lucky for me.. Hope I am the lucky one.. Im not holding my breath and betting on anything re: this. Life is like poker ( all in with a grin) plans made and let the chips fall where they may. Hope I have a nice cashout @ the end of the day.. Implied value vs chasing a dream..