Limit Poker
Limit Poker has a relatively short long run. Poker players with a winning record will record a profit after 250 hours of play; similarly, players with a tendency to lose will show a losing record over the same time period. However, over the short run, even pro poker players can lose substantially due to the potential for cheap drawouts (opponents calling and winning with cards that have low odds). One’s skill has a direct relation to the length of the long run. Therefore, skilled poker players will have a long run with an early start, whereas if you are moderately skilled it will take some time to notice the results.
Anything can happen over the course of 100 hands. Luck is often a more involving factor than skill in a small group of hands. However, because of the nature of Limit Poker, it is unlikely that you will lose your entire stack in one hand, so there is a limit on the number of huge hands. In fact, in multi-way pots, only a small portion of the pot came from your stack. Short-run variations in play will have very little effect on the long run of Limit Poker. For this reason, it is advisable to play at a comfortable limit in fixed-limit games. One hand can be won and lost on luck, but skill is more of a factor over 1000 hands.
No-Limit Poker
No-Limit Poker has a shorter short run and a longer long run than Limit Poker. Everything is based on the big hands. It is possible to double up, or lose your entire stack, in one hand. As a result, better poker players have the advantage. In a short poker session, good pro poker players will win out because he will be able to win a few big hands. Although he will lose some smaller hands, he is able to show a profit in the short run because of his ability to win a couple of large hands.
On the other side, the long run takes longer because several large losses can have a huge effect on your bankroll. If you go on a losing streak where you lose several large hands, then it will take longer in the long run to make that money back. A bad run in No-Limit can take several weeks to recover.
Skill is more of a factor in the short run. Some players tend to go for it all when playing No-Limit. However, your game will suffer if you play in a game where the stakes are too high for your comfort level. Playing scared (where you are afraid to lose your stack) is not a good idea in No-Limit, so you should find a level where you are comfortable.
Of course, skill is relative. There are many pro poker players who excel over weaker opponents, yet consistently lose to other (more skilled) poker players. However, as a rule, the greater the difference in skill between you and your opponents, the quicker you will reach the long run. Individual wins and losses are not indicators of a player’s skill level. However, if you notice that you have a losing record over several months, then you should realize that your poker skills are not as good as you may have thought they were. |
