Much of OSR play is in the realm of 1-in-6 or 1-in-3 chances (aka the ideal probabilities, Eero Tuovinen style*), an acceptance of the idea that character skill/ability just isn’t that important in many circumstances. You choose when to take a risk, and the few percentage points of difference that your personal prowess makes... well.
Why 1 in 6? It's a great on-the-spot probability for a danger. It's the Russian roulette gamble. You're pretty sure you can make it across before the guard comes round the corner. You're pretty sure you can reach that next handhold. You're almost certain this is going to work out. What do you want to bet?
* “1/6 is a sweet spot in this regard, as it's too rare for anybody to count on it in a mission-critical context, but still common enough that it generally occurs a few times in each session of play.”
http://www.story-games.com/forums/discussion/comment/465368/#Comment_465368
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