Maybe Poker Isn’t a Game of Skill

What?  What are you looking at me for?  Ok sure a new player is probably going to lose to someone that knows what they’re doing, but other than that the more poker I’ve been playing lately, the more I feel like going all-in with whatever cards I have.

Obviously I just lost at something or I wouldn’t be complaining.  The game was turbo headsup No Limit for $10.  I was 1 card from winning and that last river card turned into the one that gave my opponent victory and myself a bitter defeat.  I had A10, he had J10.  A 10 was the high card on the flop.  I don’t fault him at all, but still stings.

The match before that one, I bad beat someone twice on the river to win.  (Better save this screen shot, no poker player ever admits to bad beating someone later.)  Again, I was pushed into a corner and when left with no choice, I went all-in way behind and got lucky twice.

My friend Bob got his AA crushed by A10 at Bonerack’s last night.  Richard busted Frank’s KK with 89 suited prior to that.  My second game ended when Richard bested AK with QQ.  This last one wasn’t a bad beat, but the point here is this hand was completely chance for whoever won it.

Maybe I’m playing too much?  At Bonerack’s I was eliminated first in Game 1.  Craig steamrolled that table by catching two pair repeatedly (probably around 5-6 times for real) and getting called by just about everyone.  His chipstack was of epic Bonerack proportions during that first game.  He did indeed end up winning.

The second game was Craig and Richard chopping.  Not that they weren’t competitive but their chipstacks were close and it was late.  I finished 3rd when Richard’s queens held up.

I love No Limit Hold ‘em, but maybe it’s time to try something else.  Maybe a more skilled game like Omaha (or so I’ve heard).  I don’t feel like learning anything new, but as you can tell, I’m growing tired of the overwhelming amount of luck and chance.  Then again, if I was winning with all the luck and chance, maybe I’d be developing a new found appreciation for Hold’em.

I’ll go back to the drawing board and see what I come back with tomorrow.

Want to see what I’m talking about?  This video pretty much captures it: