WSOP: Skill Vs. Luck

The primary event of the World Series of Poker is coming under attack for being a "crap shoot", an allusion to the inconceivable amount of luck needed to win big in a game of craps. There is some irony to the possibility that the main event of the WSOP is a crapshoot, taking into account it was fashioned to showcase the world's best poker players.

July 9th, Day 1C, third of four day ones, in addition the news as regards to the attendance is not good. It truly isn't bad, in particular, but it isn't as good as it could be. With expectation early on of attendance being much higher than last year, two days of around 1,400 players each will not make it. There is a slight possibility, if the floor maxes at 3000 for the next two days. Should it do so, the attendance will just pass last year, the odds are not in favor of it.

Speaking of odds, what about the crap shoot theory? With this years event on target for about 5,500 some argue that chance has become an overpowering aspect in winning, by far outpacing skill. Proof positive: at one point yesterday, talk show host Montel Williams was the chip leader.

The truth remains that with no skill; all the luck in the world will barely carry you. For a player to become successful at the final table based exclusively on luck is a extremely unrealistic. Even as every year from 2001 an amateur won the event, that does not indicate the players were not skilled - they had not yet accumulated the funds to turn pro. All of the amateur winners have since turned pro.