The Laws of Probability, often misnomered as “luck”, should be applied GENERALLY (long-term, overall results) - as opposed to SPECIFICALLY (an individual hand, tournament or even an isolated period of time. Logic is a science and one of the primary Informal Fallacies in Logic is “proving” the General by a Specific example (or vice versa).

e.g., “The Native American is disappearing. That man is a Native American. Therefore, that man is disappearing ….”

There are “upsets” at every level of every athletic endeavor, every day … that does not change the fact that Golf, e.g., is a game of skill - nor does it make Trevor Immelman more skillful than Tiger Woods, just because he won the Master’s this year.

Moreover, essentially any event in life can be attributed to “luck.” (good or bad) How you met your spouse, having a fender bender, finding a “perfect” house, being born to millionaire parents (or homeless drug addicts) … are we going to criminalize all life experiences that involve good or bad fortune?

Being dealt pocket aces, in itself, conforms to the Laws of Probability and whether they win or lose does not reallly address the essence of the skill required to win at poker.

Specific cards / hands are, at best, tertiary in importance … analysyes - and action on - situation, position, stack size, opponents’ tendencies, etc. define the element of skill that is poker.

Senator Bill Frist, well-known criminal (insider trader), engineered the unenforceable and totally immoral law that cost English investors over $6 Billion on the London Stock Exchange.

IF poker is a game of “luck” and simply a matter of who get what cards, then we’d all lose 10% rake and be essentially tied in winnings. Many of us win or lose consistently and have for years. This defies the Scientific Laws of Probability.

I have challenged friends who don’t know the game and do believe in “luck” - and I’ll make the same challenge to Frist or any ignorant political crusader that relies on the “luck of the draw” and wants to run my life.

Heads Up - Or as a Group - We each start with 100 chips. Mine cost me $500, there’s cost them $100. Every time someone busts, we start over with the same 100 chip stack. We play until I say quit.

Amazingly, these same friends say that it’s just “luck”, respond: “Hell, no, you’re a good player!”