09-03-2002, 07:07 AM
How much skill is involved in a typical daily low buyin tourney that the cardroom just uses to fill up the live games afterwards? For example I have played lately in the $12 buyin limit HE tourney at Viejas in San Diego and have done very well, but I'd like to know if this can continue, i.e. how much this has really been due to luck as opposed to skill. These tournaments usually have about 100 entrants, yet last just two hours. Moreover, once there are only 4 people left, the tournament is over, and places 1-4 are assigned based on chip count (places 1-10 are paid, however.)
To quantify the question, consider the following two players: PLAYER A, a typical low-limit regular who is a slight lifetime loser, but is used to how all the other similar regulars play, and has had a lot of experience in these tourneys (plays a few every week.) PLAYER B is a "better" player, well-versed in poker theory, has some knowledge of proper tournament strategy, and has a positive EV in any reasonably soft live game. Suppose both A and B play thousands of these tournaments. Assuming most of the other players are like player A, he should finish in place 4 or better about 4% of the time, assuming there are 100 entrants. Now, (not taking into effect the fact that player B will gain crucial experience in such tournaments by having played so many in this hypothetical example) what percent of these tournaments should player B place 4 or higher?
To quantify the question, consider the following two players: PLAYER A, a typical low-limit regular who is a slight lifetime loser, but is used to how all the other similar regulars play, and has had a lot of experience in these tourneys (plays a few every week.) PLAYER B is a "better" player, well-versed in poker theory, has some knowledge of proper tournament strategy, and has a positive EV in any reasonably soft live game. Suppose both A and B play thousands of these tournaments. Assuming most of the other players are like player A, he should finish in place 4 or better about 4% of the time, assuming there are 100 entrants. Now, (not taking into effect the fact that player B will gain crucial experience in such tournaments by having played so many in this hypothetical example) what percent of these tournaments should player B place 4 or higher?