[RobNottsUk]

My opinion is the "average" player, is a loser. They lose for a number of common reasons :

1) Calling raises too often
2) Bluff raising pf, or calling re-raise and making a move on the flop too often
3) Going too far with their hands, rather than laying down (not understanding reverse implied odds)
4) Being over-aggressive and too impatient against raving Fish, who are unbluffable. As NLHT&P explains raising to make a large pre-flop pot, is poor strategy against loose calling stations, who'll call too much and go too far with their hands.

The common view, of these 'damn' chasers calling against the odds, is I think somewhat skewed, the methods of play I see, do give them good implied odds, and in schools even in NL implicit caller collusion kicks in, once a few players are in the pot.

Also, some players probably good enough to win, by playing skills lose :

1) Buy in too short (but not tightening up or adopting Miller's GSiH strategy), and play until they've done the money. Game variance almost guarantees a loss.

2) Get on a winning run, promote themselves too quicly to high stakes, and when the inevitable downturn comes, do their bankroll.