Luck is defined as success or failure, apparently brought by chance, with chance considered a force causing success or failure. Skill is defined as the ability to do something well, expertise, or dexterity. Luck and Skill are on opposite ends of the spectrum.

While good fortune, chance, and happenstance appear out of our grasp, skill is entirely within our grasp. Against this backdrop, we examine The Science of Luck versus Skill: What Games Reward True Talent?

Indeed, players are privy to a veritable library of gaming attractions that reward true talent. The world’s most competent card players quickly remind us mere mortals that the more skilled you are, the luckier you get. The two invariably go hand-in-hand.

From a player’s point of view, it’s all about fine-tuning skills, attributes, qualities, insights, and abilities. Only once the requisite skills are acquired are true rewards apparent. It’s like knowing where to look for a four-leaf clover – that’s when you truly get lucky!

The Most Rewarding Games for Skilled Players

Rewards come in many forms: virtual coins, tokens, fiat currency, accolades, gift cards, and a smorgasbord of prizes. The more challenging the game undertaking, the more rewarding the payout. One of the most illustrious skill-based contests in the world is the inimitable WSOP.

The World Series of Poker is played in Las Vegas, Nevada. This annual mega tournament showcases a Main Event with a $10,000 buy-in and millions in prize money. It’s the Oscars of poker and the who’s who of skilled poker players are in attendance.

The winner walks away a multimillionaire with accolades that last a lifetime. It’s a fast-pass to immortality, with the winner’s name indelibly etched into the annals of history and emblazoned in the Poker Hall of Fame. It’s a fitting reward for the perfect execution of skill throughout a grueling contest.

Of course, one must know how to play poker before any of this is possible. Luck can only get you so far – the rest is grit, determination, and skill. The latter is significant, for without it, it’s impossible to advance in poker.

Recall that skill is defined as the ability to do something incredibly well. In poker games, the skill-based elements include the following:

The ability to read the table well.
The ability to read the cards well.
The ability to understand player psychology well.
The ability to execute tactics and strategies well.
The ability to manage a bankroll well.
The ability to perform exceptionally well under pressure.
The ability to bide your time well and play only premium starting hands.
The ability to check your emotions well and play the situation on its merits.
The ability to know well when to pull the trigger – hold, fold, and go all-in.

These are the basic skills every poker player needs to learn to succeed. Without the requisite skills, it is impossible to perform at the highest levels of poker online or in person.

Indeed, skill-based games like Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Razz, Stud, or Badugi necessitate a complete understanding of the game rules, bankroll management, player psychology and situational awareness.

For these monumental efforts, players are thoroughly rewarded with accolades for advancing to the highest levels of competition.

For example, Chris Moneymaker competed in a poker satellite game online to win a seat to the prestigious WSOP. Not only did he win a seat to the Main Event, he crushed it and became the first online poker player to advance through the in-person field to win the event.

Moneymaker’s sublime performance was hailed as a phenomenal victory. To this day, poker players routinely cite the Moneymaker Effect, from online to in-person poker. Essentially, skill-based games offer uncapped winning potential.

With many people vying for championship status, event organizers can afford to ramp up the rewards to fever-pitch levels. Similar skill-based rewards exist for many other games, including blackjack competitions, where a player’s card-counting prowess, bankroll management, and performance under pressure routinely get handsomely rewarded.

Top 10 Games That Reward True Talent

*Rank*	*Game*	*Category*	*Key Skills Required*
	Chess	Strategy & Board Game	Strategic Thinking, Pattern Recognition
	Poker (Texas Hold’em)	Card Game	Bluffing, Probability Calculation, Reading Opponents
	StarCraft II	Real-Time Strategy (RTS)	Multitasking, Quick Decision-Making, Strategy
	Dota 2	Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA)	Teamwork, Game Knowledge, Reaction Time
	Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO)	First-Person Shooter (FPS)	Accuracy, Tactical Play, Reaction Speed
	Rocket League	Sports & Racing	Coordination, Spatial Awareness, Precision
	Street Fighter V	Fighting Game	Reflexes, Tactical Mind Games, Execution Skills
	FIFA (EA Sports FC)	Sports Simulation	Tactical Play, Ball Control, Strategy
	Gran Turismo 7	Racing Simulator	Precision Driving, Track Knowledge, Car Tuning
	Tetris	Puzzle Game	Pattern Recognition, Quick Thinking, Spatial Awareness

Undoubtedly, skills and abilities create a fiercely competitive gaming realm where the crème de la crème of players routinely congregate in pursuit of glory.