Despite poker primarily being a game of skill, there is still a lot of luck involved, writes Matthew Pitt. In fact, the self-proclaimed ‘Poker Brat', 11-time WSOP bracelet winner, Phil Hellmuth famously said, "If it wasn't for luck, I'd win every game I played!"

One player who rode his luck during the 2007 World Series of Poker Europe was Canadian professional, Daniel Negreanu.

Negreanu, or ‘Kid Poker' as he is sometimes referred to, is no stranger to the big-money tournaments. At the time of the inaugural WSOPE, he had won three World Series of Poker bracelets, two World Poker Tour titles and had live tournament winnings in excess of $8,000,000!

Earlier in Day 3, Negreanu had, not once but twice, beaten an opponent who held the best starting hand in Hold'em, a pair of aces. ‘Kid Poker' first "cracked" the aces of Gus Hansen, when his 8d 7d turned into a flush to beat ‘The Great Dane', who had flopped a set!

Lady Luck once again shone on the likeable Canadian when he announced he was all-in against Patrick Antonius on a flop that read 5d 4d 2c. Antonius instantly called holding a pair of black aces and Negreanu would need an ace or a six or he would be going home empty handed. The ten of spades on the turn changed nothing, but the ace of diamonds on the river completed Negreanu's straight rendering Antonius' set useless.

However, luck has a habit of letting you down when you need it most and this was to ring true for Mr Negreanu. After losing a large portion of his stack to Janne Lamsa's nut-flush two hours previously, the talkative superstar found himself short of chips.

In what would be his final hand of the 2007 WSOPE, Negreanu looked down to see As Qc and after a limp from Swede Johannes Korsar, then a raise from the aggressive Lamsa, he only had one move left, all-in.

Negreanu joked with the table about how much he should raise, as any raise would commit him to call any re-raise. After he counted his remaining 37,300 chips, he declared himself all-in.

Korsar quickly folded and Lamsa went into the tank for thirty seconds, making the call after Negreanu told him, "I don't care what you do!"

The Ace-queen of Negreanu dominated the Kc Qs of Lamsa to the tune of making ‘Kid Poker' a 74/26 favourite, and a flop of 8d 7s 5c increased this to 85/15.

As the four of clubs fell on the turn, Negreanu said, "...sexy sixy," recognising that any six on the river would result in a split pot. The river was not a six but the king of hearts, awarding the pot to Lamsa and eliminating Negreanu from the competition.

As he exited the glare of the TV cameras to rapturous applause, Negreanu joked that they should put the king back into the deck and come to an agreement instead of dealing the river card!

Rest assured Daniel ‘Kid Poker' Negreanu will make a return to London for the 2008 World Series of Poker and this time he plans to bring a little more luck with him.