Published: April 27, 2008 09:43 pm            

Playing poker

A game of luck or skill?

FSU Daily Grind Writer — "Shuffle up and deal!”

We’ve heard this slogan cross the nation, while watching the World Series of Poker tour. Texas hold ’em has taken over the entertainment business with a bang. How does one person begin to challenge himself and become a professional poker player?

Steven Merrifield a 23 year old from Fairmont, has begun his own journey for poker fame.

“The first time I played poker was during my freshman year of college when some friends invited me to play in a $10 Texas hold ’em tournament,” he said.

“I finished third out of 10 people without ever playing the game before. After playing in a small tournament, I realized the logical and mathematical reasoning involved in poker, namely Texas hold ’em. I became determined to learn the game, feeling I could excel in it.”

Merrifield wanted to explain why he started playing poker professionally.

“Within a few months, I was beating the game consistently. In a four-week span, I had made $400. I was impressed by my results and eager to jump up in stakes. I found some bigger private games in the area, and decided to take a shot. Nervously playing with strangers I had never met before, most twice my age, I made an amazing $2,700 in my first live session at bigger stakes ($2/$5 no limit).

“This was in the spring of ’05. After that session, I started getting very serious about poker. I started playing poker seriously for the competition and — more than anything — the money.

“I have been to casinos in Atlantic City (Borgata, Taj Mahal, Tropicana, Caesar’s, and Harrah’s); Tunica, Miss. (Gold Strike, The Grand); right here in West Virginia (Mountaineer and Wheeling Island); and I am currently at Caesar’s Indiana near Louisville, Ky. I have yet to go to Las Vegas, but will be there for a month this summer during the World Series of Poker.”

Merrifield also explained which events he has attended.

“I have went to three major events this year: the WPT World Poker Open at the Gold Strike in Tunica, Miss., in January; a WSOP circuit event at Caesar’s Atlantic City in March; and a WSOP circuit event at Caesar’s Indiana, which I currently am playing in. (April 7-14). I played in about 10 tournaments at each event, including the $5,000 Main Event at both Atlantic City and Indiana.”

Everyone wants to know: Is poker a game of luck or skill?

“The question of whether poker is a game of luck or skill is one of great debate among gamblers, lawmakers and citizens everywhere. Most informed minds agree that poker is most definitely a game of skill. Luck and skills both have an influence in poker, though. Luck has a strong influence on short term results, but over the long run, cards even out and skill determine the long-term winners.

“If it weren’t for the aspect of luck in poker games, bad players would always lose and have no incentive to play. Bad players sometimes get lucky and win. This is the thrill that keeps bringing bad players back for entertainment. Without the aspect of luck, no bad or sub par players would play poker, and it would not be a profitable venture.”

Merrifield also wanted the readers to know that not all gamblers have a problem.

“Unfortunately, some poker players I play with may have some gambling ‘sickness.’ But, for the majority of players out there, poker is merely a form of entertainment, and the money they lose is just a small part of their disposable income.

“Poker is fast becoming America’s favorite pastime and is the way many men and women have an evening of entertainment. I feel poker is a game of skill which people play for entertainment.”

        

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