In poker, the question "How long is the long run?" often comes up when beginners are thinking about whether or not they are winners.
They know that all players run hot and cold, getting lucky and unlucky. They are told not to rely on short term results when judging whether or not they are winning players. Rather they must keep good records and see how they do in the long run.
But what exactly is the long run? And how will they know it when they get there? Simply put, how long does it take before one can ascribe profit at poker to skill rather than luck?