Seasoned online poker players know that there is more skill than luck involved in winning at the jeux de casino. But every player must still acknowledge that luck can drastically change a hand’s outcome, while knowing that applied skill is more likely to produce predicable results.

Roman historian Seneca said it well two thousand years ago, with these words of wisdom: “Luck never made a man wise.” Anyone who plays enough a online poker gets lucky once in a while. The poker gods smile and a great winning streak happens that has no relation to skill. But this does not make a great poker player. Winning players continue to study the game, know how to calculate outs and odds, shrewdly observe the other players, and practice patience and discipline at the poker table.

American writer Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: “Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect.” The same holds true for poker players. Those who want to win deliberately plan their strategies for trapping, deceiving and outplaying their opponents. They have a reason for every action they take, and do not rely on luck to win.

Yet, luck can bring down the very best hands and players. Phil Helmuth, who holds 12 WSOP championship bracelets and is considered one of the best players ever, has this say about luck: “If there was no such thing as luck, I guess I’d win every time.” Learn the skills, but always be on the look out for luck, both the good and bad that can influence poker hand results.