Introduction

Greg Raymer, known on the poker circuit as Fossil Man, won the 2004 World Series of Poker. He overcame a then-record field of over 2,500 players to win the main event and a $5 million prize. Most people think of luck and skill in any particular endeavor as a zero-sum continuum that puts luck on one end and skill on the other. Here's what Fossil Man says: You have to be realistic about how much luck is involved in whatever you're doing.