Games of skill allure players because they are beatable and the people that play them try to learn how to beat them more often than they lose. If they can't beat them, they will try their hearts out until they do. It is something they have the fire and passion for because of the sense of competition.

This is especially true of poker. Doyle Brunson is a most competitive poker player and although he looks good for his 70+ years, he is a man who wears the look of somewhat an uneasy life. It is because of his profession. There is not a harder way to make a living than in the world of gambling. Mr. Brunson has done it successfully, but he has most likely found high levels of stress involved.

Even though skill games bring more stress to those players who play them than to the thrill seekers looking for games of chance, the players who possess skills and discipline often win consistently year in and year out. The games of skill can lead someone into an exciting career as a professional gambler using developed expertise in pursuit of a consistent income.

If a full-time career as a professional gambler is not an option, these skill games can also act as supplementary income, especially with the explosion of online Texas Hold'em which gains in popularity with each passing month.

However, on the flipside, why do so many people lose it all in games of skill? Is it the lack of self-discipline? Is it a deep-seeded desire to give their money away as they self-destruct?

These are all good questions and there is a logical answer to all of them. The answers will vary but they still share the same roots, and it's in the simple little word - greed.

About the author:

David Walker runs free bets and UK poker websites. A free email course: "Seven Days to Better Betting" is available at both of these websites.