This may be a little over simplified, but the "indicators" are very simply. You are practicing and perfecting your throw as we teach in the class, you use the come betting technique, and (drum roll) you are making money (even a little) over the long haul, you have the bank roll for your betting level, and because of the items just mentioned you don’t sweat the losses that your will have from time to time because you know you will win in the long run.

Remember that craps is just a game–like tennis, golf, monopoly, gin rummy or any other game, you simply keep score with real money.

Hope that makes sense to everyone.

Doc

I love Doc’s answer and I believe he nailed it. I will add one more small indicator. When you are in the 10% you are an Advantaged Player and as such you only play when you have the advantage. In other words, you lose the gambler that so many have inside us (otherwise we would probably have never played this game to begin with). We play to make money. I also happen to enjoy the casino environment and the social aspects of the game so I find it a great deal of fun as well but the bottom line is I play to make money. If my shot is not on or table conditions are not right I don’t play. If I can’t get my spot I don’t play. If one or more players or casino staff are getting under my skin I don’t play. If I am tired I don’t play.

I think you get the point but the 10% don’t just play "for fun" regardless of conditions. They play when they have an advantage. Combined with the indicators that Doc stated, all of these should be a pretty good measuring stick for whether you are a 10%er or not.

Great question, by the way and I really hope more people chime in. I would love to see how all of us measure this.

If I remember correctly, Dom has said that the 10% are those that will stick with it, practicing and attending class every year. I only started this journey 1 year ago, so I’m still a newcomer. I am still in the process of reading all of the old posts, which I find enlightening, but I have noticed quite a few have not visited the board in years. So there are quite a few dropouts.

It might be easier to identify the 90%. That probably would be all those that dropped out along the way, those that did not stick with it, playing occasionally but not consistently. Most likely dropped out because they never felt successful. I say that because if anyone was successful winning at craps, why would they ever quit, except temporarily for life issues?

For me, I am successful when I return home with more than I left. I am very successful when I return home with a multiple of what I had going into the casino or trip.

Even so, I always have short rolls mixed in with my satisfying long rolls. So I always return home feeling the need to practice and refine my technique.

When I retired from oil & gas computer software, I was in the top of my field, and was very successful. But I always felt the need to learn more and keep up with my field. I never felt, “I know enough” or “There’s nothing more for me to figure out.”

With Craps and the casino, I am confident my journey will be the same, with a constant challenge to excel. I have watched Dom and the instructors, and I see they are ALWAYS fine tuning, always pushing the envelope. It never stops.

So the 90% are those that stopped- stopped practicing every day, stopped growing their skills, and now consider craps just a pastime and entertainment. I know that’s not me.

Preacher to take your comments a bit further—the GTC craps thing is not a destination but a never ending journey. You are alwasy learning, refining, etc.

Rose and Doc

Yale University 10%
Harvard University 18%
Stanford University 12%
University of Chicago 22%

First not sure I would ever send one of my children to any of these schools anyway.

The answers are all good. I didn’t do the math and calculated all the 1000;s of students the GTC taught but I like Preacher’s response – easier to identify the 90%. I see the 90% at the tables all the time – those that are not betting properly and losing.

The 10% – well how many of you actually record every win and lose – if not you are not in the 10% – how many of you are making money at craps and not the losers you were when you came into GTC? If you are you are the 10%

Dom

Thanks for all the responses. I always believe we are learning from crib to coffin. In this case it is not a simple collection of metrics but maintaining the discipline taught in the GTC classes and knowing to ask for help when you feel you are losing your advantage. The 90% stop learning, stop asking for help lost the love of the game. Yes the bankroll is the ultimate metric, what you started with and where you are now and when it takes a hit not to let it affect you because as a 10% you will try to figure out what happen and how can you do better the next session.