Professor Tapan K. Gandhi, a well-respected expert in the field of Artificial Intelligence and Automation at IIT-Delhi, recently conducted an extensive study examining the nature of Poker and Rummy. The research, titled “Online Poker and Rummy: Games of Skill or Chance?”, explores the crucial role that cognitive abilities and learnable skills play in achieving success in these games. Additionally, the study investigates how experience influences long-term performance.
Online Poker and Rummy: Games of Skill or Chance?
Tapan K. Gandhi, an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Cadence Chair Professor of AI and Automation at IIT Delhi, commented on the report saying, “Our comprehensive study aimed to challenge the common assumption that online gaming is merely a game of chance. We carefully examined the gameplay of various participants to determine if these games truly rely on skill or are dominated by luck. Our research uncovered compelling evidence that unequivocally demonstrated the importance of deep understanding in these games, which in turn enhanced players’ cognitive abilities. Furthermore, we observed that beyond the game itself, players developed valuable soft skills such as social awareness, decision-making under pressure, and memory retention through consistent engagement.”
“We are excited to share our study, ‘Online Poker and Rummy: Games of Skill or Chance?,’ which challenges the long-standing belief that these games are purely based on luck. Our research highlights the crucial role of skill in achieving success,” commented Tapan Gandhi.
Deepak Dhayanithy, an Associate Professor specializing in Strategic Management at IIM Kozhikode and a key contributor to a previous report affirming Poker as a game of skill, shared his insights on this research. He emphasized that in the world of online card games like Poker and Rummy, there is no doubt that skill, not chance, is what drives sustained success. The analysis reveals non-linear trends between skill variables and winning percentages, disproving randomness and highlighting the expertise and patience of players. Whether played online or offline, skill is paramount in reducing variability, much like other sports such as Cricket and Golf. This research firmly establishes that cognitive prowess plays a crucial role in the gaming arena
To determine if long-term success in online Poker and Rummy can be attributed to skill, the IIT study conducted a quantitative analysis using mathematical tools. They analyzed a large dataset of users who had played between 30 to 100 games in formats ranging from 2-player to 6-player. The findings revealed that as users engaged in more games, their skill variables improved. Importantly, there was a positive relationship between users’ win rates with a measured correlation of 0.904, highlighting the enduring significance of skill in these games. The consistency in win rates emphasizes that understanding the intricacies and strategies of the games can greatly enhance performance. This strong correlation suggests that players who invest time and effort into grasping the nuances of the games have a better chance at maintaining higher win rates.
To summarize the study’s findings, there are two main conclusions: First, there is no difference in the required skills for playing online and offline versions of Rummy and Poker. Second, skill plays a much larger role than chance in determining success in both Rummy and Poker.
To delve deeper into the study’s findings, you can refer to the following link: https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/230
