07- 4-06, LearnTexasHoldem:

Percentage Of Winning Players

Question: Thanks again for the wealth of information!

I'm wondering if you have any information as to what % of people play profitable poker.

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I would imagine that if you were to ask everyone on Party Poker (as I've asked my friends), they will say break even...or win a little....but in reality that can't be true.....and if it's anything like sports betting, it's definitely not true....I don't know anyone that bets on sports that doesn't claim to win....impossible!! Someone is losing....exactly 50% of them!! (I think these are the same people that claim to shoot low 90's on the golf course.)

If I were to guess about poker I would say it's probably 20% win, 20% lose and 60% break even....but I have no evidence to back this up. Have you seen any information, or have any idea what the reality is?

Just curious.

JC

Answer:

I've read some stats before, but I'm guessing they are no more scientific than an estimate. Those numbers were something like this: 85% losers and 15% break even/winners. The 15% can be broken down in a number of smaller categories: break even players, small winners and big winners. That seems about right to me. Breaking even in poker is kind of an odd thing because either you know how to win or you don't. It's hard to have middle ground. The players who break even are those that are playing at a level where they have no edge -- which might be the case at a low limit or larger limit. You can look at these stats one of two ways. One is to think that poker is really hard since not many people do well at it.

The second way is to think that with so much losing money going around, it can be very profitable if you learn. Winning at poker involves a lot more than just learning how to play the game well. These things become apparent the more you play. Things like money management, stress, life style, ego, etc all play into it and can mean the difference between winning or losing, even if you are a solid player.

And like your golf analogy, most poker players don't like keep accurate records and don't have a realistic perspective of their game -- which is fine if you play recreationally, but if you are a serious player, you want to have an objective view of your skills or you can easily get in over your head. Lastly, poker money goes up the food chain. It starts with the small limits and what is left after the rake keeps getting lost up to better players who lose it up the ranks to other players, until some high limit guy gets it all. Not to be discouraged though! Just like anything else, the people who do their home work end up fine.

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