To develop and understand the Skill Poker Index, it is essential to analyze the concept of skill in Texas Hold’em poker. The main difficulty in classifying poker as a sporting activity, according to the criteria of the European Sports Charter, lies in the inability to use one’s skills to influence the outcomes of a match. However, the study of skills in Texas Hold’em poker is not new and has seen significant contributions in our country, such as that of the Italian-Swedish team from the universities of Milano-Bicocca and Dalarna.
Cognitive Skills and Problematic Gaming in Online Poker
Led by dott. Mauro Schiavella and with the participation of renowned poker pro Gabriele Lepore, the 2018 study “Profiling Online Poker Players: Are Executive Functions Correlated with Poker Ability and Problem Gambling?” identified two groups of cognitive skills: one predicts gaming ability, while the other predicts problematic gaming. This research is part of a strand dedicated to combating gambling addiction and represents an important milestone in the international scientific community. It’s, in fact, the first study to demonstrate that a specific group of high-level cognitive skills is essential for success in Texas Hold’em poker. In online poker, for example, it is necessary to possess solid skills in managing large numbers, speed of calculation, and data processing, oriented towards Expected Value (EV). This approach is typical of players with a professional orientation, who adopt it for their competitive and professional online activities.
Follow our publications on the future developments of SPI and their impact on live poker, and share your opinions with us as well. Together we can shape the future of Texas Hold’em as an Olympic sport, even more competitive and skill-based.
