Meaningless numbers that come out of thin air...

[CardSharpCook]

So we all accept that most poker players losers - say between 5%-30% are winners (wide range to prevent arguement). And it is self evident that if 10 players sit down to a 4 hour session with a $3 rake, only 3 or 4 will be winning at the end of the session. Here's my question: At any given table (in mid-high stakes) how many of the ten players sitting down are long term winners?

[flawless_victory]

who cares.

[random]

For one, he does.

[Your Mom]

hopefully just me.

[CardSharpCook]

I find it surprising that no one believes that the majority of players sitting at any given table are winners. What happened to the theory that 8 players are pros and 2 fish sit down and proceed to give their money to the pros. You know, the rounders theory.

[random]

Rounders is probably half the reason those numbers have been switched, though I doubt it was ever 8 winning and 2 losing.

[Alex/Mugaaz]

I'll say that the further this questions has been examined the more it falls apart. It also doesn't account for the fact that people winrates are not equal vs each other / where the worst player is determines who is gaining how much. I really don't think this question can be answers unless you narrow it down to a specific limit / specific game. Exampled - Depending on the rake structure it may be possible that all the players are losers in the lower games.

I think Mason's opinion that 75% of LONG term players are winners is a little high, but close to accurate. Also your question doesn't account for long term winners who are simply not a favorite when they attempt to move up and simply give off their winnings in that game.

I know none of this helps answer your questions, but I don't think there is a meaningful answer either.

[mike l.]

where's the less than one option?

[protocol]

I voted 3, but the more I think about it, that has to be wrong. If 20% of all players who have ever played are winners, then far more than 20% of people currently logged in to Party must be winners. Almost all winners will continue to play poker, and winners play more often than losers. Factor in that most winning players will be multi-tabling, whereas the very worst players will almost certainly be single-tabling, and I think the number is more like 6 or 7.

[JAA]

I voted 4, because I averaged the Party $30 game (where I think probably 6 or 7 are winners) and the generic live game (where I think 2 maybe 3 are). If you are talking about purely online I think there are a lot more winners than the average poster here would think.

- Jags