---
key: lens/schell-041
type: lens
id: schell-041
lang: en
title: Skill vs. Chance
summary: Choose a balance of control and uncertainty that suits the audience.
updatedAt: '2026-10-10'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/lens/schell-041/'
jsonUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/lens/schell-041.json'
markdownUrl: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/lens/schell-041.md'
aliases:
  - Skill vs. Chance
  - '41'
tags:
  - Choices and balance
sourceIds:
  - source-a5287443699910bb
  - source-f546a7168effffbb
sources:
  - id: source-a5287443699910bb
    title: 'Schell: 113 second-edition lenses'
    url: 'https://schellgames.com/art-of-game-design'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-f546a7168effffbb
    title: Skill vs. Chance
    url: 'https://deck.artofgamedesign.com/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - title: In the original collection
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/lenses/#schell-041'
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  number: '41'
  theme: balance
  author: Jesse Schell
  originalTitle: Skill vs. Chance
  referenceUrl: 'https://deck.artofgamedesign.com/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original editorial explanations and review questions based on the
  user-selected Schell notes and attributed primary references. External
  concepts and source material retain their rights.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
---
# Skill vs. Chance

id: schell-041
type: lens
key: lens/schell-041
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/lens/schell-041/

Choose a balance of control and uncertainty that suits the audience.

## Principle

Choose a balance of control and uncertainty that suits the audience.

## Review questions

- How often does the stronger player lose because of an uncontrollable event?
- Does that result support the intended tension or undermine trust?

## Attribution and limits

Jesse Schell · Schell: 113 second-edition lenses

The concise explanations and review questions are original gamemechanics.pro wording. This is an independent reference, not a translation of the cards or a substitute for the book. Names, concepts and external material remain their authors’ work.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original editorial explanations and review questions based on the user-selected Schell notes and attributed primary references. External concepts and source material retain their rights.

- [Schell: 113 second-edition lenses](https://schellgames.com/art-of-game-design) (id: source-a5287443699910bb)
- [Skill vs. Chance](https://deck.artofgamedesign.com/) (id: source-f546a7168effffbb)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors