GaF Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 Skill or Luck? 10:39 26/01/2007, TheWaster, Over the last few weeks the papers in the UK have published the news that poker has been declared a game of chance in the UK courts. Virgin Poker would like to offer a challenge to prove that poker is a game of skill and settle this debate, once and for all. Whilst we do not dispute the details of the recent court Gutshot case, the idea that poker is primarily a game of chance is preposterous. Poker is primarily a game of skill, with an element of chance - this is what makes poker so exciting to play; a total novice can beat a world champion in a single hand. However, in the long term it is skill that is the decisive factor in playing poker... and we're willing to put our money where our mouth is and prove this. Virgin Poker would like to challenge anyone who believes that poker is a game of luck to play our professional players over five heads-up matches. If they manage to beat our pro we will donate $1,000 to a charity of their choice. The Challenge Virgin Poker invites anyone who has never played poker before and believes it to be a game of chance to submit their details via email to [email protected] by 28th February 2007 with an explanation of why they think winning at poker is down to luck. Virgin will then select an applicant to play a series of five heads-up (one versus one) matches against a Virgin Poker professional player. The first player to win three or more games will be declared the winner and Virgin Poker will donate $1,000 to a charity of his / her choice. Terms and Conditions: 1) Entrants will need to be novice players. Novice player means they will need to be completely new to any form of poker. 2) Entrants must be 18 years or older. 3) Entries must be received at [email protected] by 28th February 2007. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ell Ess Dee Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 Re: Play 5x HU Matches v Virgin Pro Wrong forum :lol :lol :lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slapdash Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 Re: Play 5x HU Matches v Virgin Pro Hmm. If they get an intelligent novice who does his homework and just goes all in blind every hand, he'll have at least a 5% chance or so of winning three out of five, and a lot more than that if the blind structure isn't deep enough. Could be a bit of a PR disaster for poker! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slapdash Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 Re: Play 5x HU Matches v Virgin Pro Actually, I was assuming it was no-limit holdem, but it doesn't say that. Let's hope they make it limit; then I don't think the novice would stand a chance, given a reasonable blind structure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaF Posted January 27, 2007 Author Share Posted January 27, 2007 Re: Play 5x HU Matches v Virgin Pro Wrong forum :lol :lol :lol It is? :unsure A tournament against a Virgin Poker Pro - where should it go? :unsure Agree with Slapdash - 5 games is quite a short series, and with the assumed blind structure, an amateur must have a reasonable chance .... spose only thing is, it's HU which should maximise a Pro's advantage!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slapdash Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 Re: Play 5x HU Matches v Virgin Pro Hmm. If they get an intelligent novice who does his homework and just goes all in blind every hand, he'll have at least a 5% chance or so of winning three out of five, That was a rough estimate. I've just done the maths, and if the stacks are huge in comparison to the blinds, and you go all-in every hand, then your opponent's best strategy is to wait for pocket aces. You have just over a 2.5% chance of winning at least 3 out of 5 matches. With a more realistic blind structure, or if you slightly tweak the strategy and fold a few of the worst hands, it must be quite a bit more. Also, there's an additional 13-14% chance that you would lose 3-2, which would not exactly help to convince the sceptical that poker was predominantly a game of skill! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ell Ess Dee Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 Re: Play 5x HU Matches v Virgin Pro It is? :unsure A tournament against a Virgin Poker Pro - where should it go? :unsure Rule 1 ;).. Dont think there is any of us here or is there??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GaF Posted January 27, 2007 Author Share Posted January 27, 2007 Re: Play 5x HU Matches v Virgin Pro Rule 1 ;).. Dont think there is any of us here or is there??? Yeah - missed rule 1 - so you're right :sad (Damn :tongue2) Will move it to poker chat :ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stereoman Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Re: Play 5x HU Matches v Virgin Pro Hmmm. Play against David Pomroy or Julian Gardner eh? Don't think there's much incentive to have a go unless you have a big enough ego and are a bit of a penny-pinching philanthropist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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