Conclusion: Is Poker Based on Luck or Skill? The answer to whether poker is gambling or based on expertise is that it's a little of both. In order to win a hand, a player will need some element of chance, but they'll also need to know exactly what to do with the cards and the situation in front of them.

Poker is a game of skill on many more levels than games that involve no chance at all. One level of skill is mathematics and the ability to calculate the odds of your hand improving.