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Articles on Luck

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A mathematical approach known as ‘true score theory’ can assess the contribution of luck to a team’s overall success. Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The luck of the puck in the Stanley Cup – why chance plays such a big role in hockey

With low-scoring games and a preponderance of deflected shots, randomness is much more likely to color NHL teams’ records than those of squads in the other four major US pro sports leagues.
Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to Russia’s commissioner for entrepreneurs’ rights during a meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow on May 26, 2022. (Mikhail Metzel, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian roulette in Ukraine: Is Vladimir Putin powerful, or just lucky?

Russia’s war in Ukraine calls for drawing a line between power and luck. Putin, who was widely considered among the most powerful people in the world, may have been simply lucky.
Knocking on wood may be a holdover from the pagan days of Europe, when tree spirits were believed to bring luck. saiful bahri 46/Shutterstock.com

Why we knock on wood for luck

The curious history of a ritual meant to ward off bad luck.
When it comes to being “fortunate”, context is king. kaibara87

Explainer: does luck exist?

Some people seem born lucky. Everything they touch turns to gold. Others are dogged by misfortune. It’s not just people who might be lucky or unlucky – it can be single acts. When the ball hits a post…

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