In American superstition, unusually good fortune experienced by a beginner is called beginner’s luck.
The phrase describes a newcomer succeeding despite having little experience. It is commonly used in games, sports, gambling, and other activities where skill normally develops through practice. The idea is often playful: an experienced person may expect the beginner’s success to disappear later.
The belief has also become a narrative pattern in popular culture, where a first attempt succeeds against expectations. It can be used sincerely as a superstition or casually as an explanation for an unexpected early win.
Beginner’s luck is not evidence that inexperience causes better results. Random chance, low expectations, favorable circumstances, or selective memory can make early success seem more meaningful than it is.