Hourly Rate in Tournaments vs. Ring Games

Walter · #1 08-08-2003, 05:15 PM

Has anyone written about whether ring games or tournaments have greater expectation for the average player? If not, does anyone have thoughts on this issue

Thanks,
Walter

Wake up CALL · #2 08-08-2003, 05:24 PM

I believe by definition an average player has neither a positive nor a negative expectation in either format.

Bozeman · #3 08-08-2003, 05:33 PM

With house take, the average player is a loser.

Craig

PuppetMaster · #4 08-08-2003, 08:54 PM

He wants to knwo if he can make more playing tournaments or ring games.
From my experience I can make more money playing tournaments. However, I play several $30, $50 tournaments a week, not just SNG

Dynasty · #5 08-08-2003, 05:45 PM

The ring games have a greater expectation.

I'm sure Wake up Call and Bozeman thought they were being cute with their answers but they obviously didn't bother to read your question carefully. Even if an average player has a -$1/hr expectation in ring games and -$2/hr expectation in tournaments, his expectation is still greater in the ring game. However, at that point, it's all about which is more fun.

Wake up CALL · #6 08-08-2003, 06:15 PM

I'm sure you were trying to be cute Dunasty but you should reread the initial question. Your answer is bogus and speculative like the majority of your advice wheras mine and Bozeman moreso than mine were an accurate answer to the question asked.

You just gotta dislike the high and mighty northerners.

PS: Ask Chris Moneymaker which has a higher expectation.

Dynasty · #7 08-08-2003, 07:01 PM

I reread the question and stand by my answer. Ring games have a higher expectation for average players even if that expectation is negative. This is mostly true because more money is taken in tournament "rake" than is taken in ring game rake.

AceHigh · #8 08-09-2003, 08:45 AM

OTOH, most of the truly bad players I know prefer tournaments. They figure they can get 4-6 hours of playing in for, say $100 in a tournament, vs. losing $100 in 5/10 in a 1/2 hour.

Dynasty · #9 08-09-2003, 03:05 PM

You might be right. Ring games are definitely more profitable for winning players. But, low buy-in tournaments may be the way to go for average and losing players.

How much does a typical ring game losing player lose per hour?

rkiray · #10 08-08-2003, 08:14 PM

Sorry,

Your first answer was clearly incorrect. The rake and tips make poker a negative sum game so 0 is clearly an incorrect answer. Also due to the high variance of the game and the skill involved, there are a small number of players that do very well, a few who make some money, but the vast majority are losers. Which also shows your answer is wrong.