Comment Re:Gambling... (Score 1) 168
You could not be more wrong. You speak of reading tells and bluffing as if they do not represent skill. In a game of chess or similar skill based wargame, or all forms of football with which I am familiar, a key to defense is reading the play is it unfolds. For the attacking side, the ability to mask the intentions of the play furthers the likelihood of a try, goal, or touchdown. The same is true of poker.
To this end, you did not mention the ability to understand bets. This goes beyond reading tells. When one places a bet, one creates a control zone. The bet indicates to the table a strength. A player must decipher the legitimacy of the bet, against the size of the pot, the players remaining in the hand, the strength - or potential - of your hand, and the amount of chips each player has. Similarly, the defensive structure of a football side - or defensive positioning of pieces in a wargame - exists not just to protect, but to discourage play from entering an area. As such a control zone is created. Dissuaded from attacking a certain area, the play must shift to another avenue. An avenue the defending side prefers. This is reflected in poker by a bet dissuading - or encouraging through false weakness - a call or raise. There are a great number of people who have made a terrific living by playing poker. In addition, some students play poker to finance their life while studying. You might argue that they are the statistically fortunate. I disagree, they are has skillz. I has skillz. These tremendous abilities allow those who own to win. Luck, fortune, chance, all play their part - as they do in sport, with the changing of a strong wind playing a HUGE part in football. However, the ability to factor in the various winds of fate is a part of any sport. The good tactician, halfback, quaterback, no. 10, or poker player similarly must accommodate and understand this concept if they are to succeed.