Playing Poker for a Living
Most people have no idea what it takes to play poker for a living.
Before deciding to choose this path, let me warn you of the disadvantages first. Poker has many benefits, but it also has many negative consequences that come with playing long hours.
This guide will allow you to make the right decision by learning from someone who actually plays for a living.
Poker for a Living
The first thing you need to play any game for a living is patience. Playing every day, all day, can get extremely tiring.
Staring at a computer screen for hours on end can literally drive you insane. In addition, your fortunes online are prone to wild swings. You will occasionally sit down at a table and not get any cards for hours.
Be prepared to take the worst beats of your life along with huge runs that will make your bankroll soar.
Playing for a living requires extreme mental discipline and a steady game plan. It's a good idea to record how many hours you play each day and what your total profit for the day is.
Do this for a month or two before you make the switch to becoming a full-time player. This will allow you to analyze your play and find out how much you make on average.
Drawbacks of Playing Poker for a Living
1. No set income: Some months you'll actually experience a loss in total earnings. You must be able to cope with this and still have the confidence you need to win. You'll encounter some horrible runs along the way so be prepared.
2. Exhaustion: You'll constantly be tired if you're playing all day. If you're playing really high limits, you may not have to play all day to make a living. The fact is that most of us will need to grind it out all day to pay rent and bills and buy food.
3. Reduced family time: Since you must make your money playing poker, you'll tend to spend less time with your family. When a good poker player encounters a bad run, he or she will grind it out until they prevail.
This may call for some extremely long hours of play. Be prepared to play poker at any time. On losing months you'll need to spend even more time on the computer or at the casino.
Advantages of Playing Poker for a Living
There are many advantages that help balance out playing poker for a living. I love that you get to choose your own hours to work on any day you wish.
You can take off as many days as you want and never be hassled to wake up at 8 a.m. - or, god forbid, earlier. You'll also be playing one of the most intriguing games in the world for money. Who could ask for more? It's a great lifestyle if you're a winning player.
The fact is, most people can't handle the swings that are unavoidable in full-time play. Every time you sit at the table you must change your personality and play with ice water in your veins.
When you take a bad beat, you can't let it affect you. You must deal with the swings on a regular basis. You must also be a dedicated soul who will play even when the cards aren't going your way. You must be a very disciplined and winning poker player to play for a living.
I hope this article hasn't discouraged you if you have dreams of playing professionally. If you believe you can do it, you'll buy every book and read everything you can get your hands on to become a winning player.
See you at the tables.
Comments
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yourMAMA
2012-01-30I am gonna invest some money in poker and become rich. u watch bitches!!!
Bjf
2011-09-08The dude who calls himself TheRealPro and knows only one word....degenerate.....is a freaking moron.
Tomalmighty
2011-07-13If your gunna play for a living make sure u play no limit.. but have self control on ur bankroll an limits willing to chance.. set a limit to ur buyin. when i got laid off during the bad economy i only had $250 in my name.. soo i took a chance an played poker for a living.. i decided to play 1-3 no limit.. an i played for a little over a month an made just under $9,000.. i went to casino everyday.. some days i was there for an hour an others 10+ hours.. i set a guide line to my play.. if i reached a certain amount i would stop for the day.. if i lost my buyin id quit for the day an come back the next.. being in a casino u start to play the same crowd alot... soo if u learn quickly an pay attention u will learn the opponents style an eventually know them like its u playing... but if u come across tht player tht just has ur number stay away till u find a tell... then take them to the house... poker is more skill then luck.. the cards u are dealt if luck but how u play them is skill.. any two can win.. but as long as u have patience, calmness an the ability to reset after tough beats.. u should come out ahead in the end... soo just keep limits is number one.. control control control... good luck..ex
hew
2011-05-31to online pro posted last, you must be horrible LOL, ive made more money in 3 years of online play than in my last 5 years working a 'real'' job.
but hey i guess you're the guy they created play chips for :D
toodles.....
THEREALPRO
2011-05-16YOU ARE ALL A BUNCH OF WANNABEE LOSERS! ONLINE POKER IS NOTHING BUT "BINGO" AND SHOULD ONLY BE "PLAYED" FOR FUN! REAL POKER, ESPECIALLY POKER FOR A LIVING, CAN ONLY BE PLAYED IN A CASINO! LIVE! LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY...IF YOU KNOW HOE TO PLAY THE GAME AND HAVE BEEN PLAYING FOR AT LEAST A YEAR THEN YOU SHOULD BE MAKING A NICE LIVING AT IT...IF NOT THEN YOU ARE A DEGENERATE CALLING STATION OR A "MANIAC" AND WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND THE GAME TRULY. ASK YOURSELF THIS...YOU KNOW HOW TO PLAY, YOU PLAY REGULARY, YOU KNOW ABOUT THE DISIPLINE IT TAKES , ECT...AND YOU ARE NOT CONSISTANTLY WINNING MONEY FROM IT??? THEN YOU ARE A DEGENERATE GAMBLER WHO WILL NEVER TRULY UNDERSTAND THE GAME ! FACE IT, YOU ARE A DEGENERATE MORONIC TOURIST AND DEEP DOWN YOU KNOW I AM RIGHT. ONCE AGAIN...WHY CANT YOU QUIT YOUR JOB AND PLAY WINNING POKER EVERYDAY?? WHY?? BECAUSE YOU JUST DONT HAVE WHAT IT TAKES! YOU ARE SMALL-MINDED AND WILL DO NOTHING EVER IN POKER EXCEPT TO GIVE YOUR MONEY AWAY REGULARLY TO US FEW PROS TO ADD TO OUR BANKROLLS! IF YOU PLAY ANYTHING BUT NO-LIMIT THEN YOU ARE A NOBODY, DEGENERATE LOSER! BECAUSE WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU JUST TRY TO GET LUCKY IN EVERY HAND THAT YOU PLAY BECAUSE "LIMIT" POKER IS FOR BEGGINNERS AND GAMBLING DEGENERATES! YOU CANT MAKE ANY REAL MONEY IN A "LIMIT" GAME!! ARE YOU NUTS?? AND IF YOU HAVE MADE A LITTLE MONEY IN A LIMIT GAME THEN IT WAS A VERY RARE THING OR YOU JUST GOT LUCKY THAT DAY. COME ON GUYS,,,ADMIT IT TO YOURSELVES...IF YOU CANT PLAY "NO-LIMIT" POKER AND MAKE A PROFIT EVERY WEEK THEN YOU SIMPLY DONT HAVE WHAT IT TAKES AND IF YOU CANT MAKE MONEY FROM NO LIMIT AFTER PLAYING FOR ABOUT A YEAR OR MORE THEN YOU WILL NEVER MAKE A LIVING FROM IT! SO JUST DO ALL OF US PROS A FAVOR...KEEP COMING TO THE CASINOS ON YOUR PAYDAYS AND BUY IN WITH YOUR LITTLE 50 OR 100 BUCKS AND JUST CALL EVERYTHING LIKE THE FUCKING CALLING STATIONS YOU ALL ARE, OR SIMPLY BLUFF IT AWAY (LIKE YOU ALWAYS DO) AND THEN GO HOME AND TELL YOURSELVES THAT YOU WILL PLAY BETTER NEXT TIME. HAHA YOU DUMB TOURISTS MAKE ME LAUGH. YOU WANT TO PLAY PROFESSIONALY?? THEN WAKE THE FUCK UP AND STOP BLUFFING YOUR MONEY AWAY! HAVE DISIPLINE AND LEARN THE SKILL IT TAKES TO WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN!! IF YOU CANT THEN JUST GIVE IT UP. SINCERELY--A REAL PRO
Smithy Johnson
2010-12-17Online poker can be extremely profitable for many people, but no matter how good you are at it, the fact remains: live poker in a casino is always more profitable, due to several factors. One, you get the added advantage of being able to actually SEE your opponent, and psychology will play a big part; two, your opponents will be more predictable and disciplined in a live match, whereas many online players don't respect the game and will be relatively harder to read (especially post-flop, in my experience).
One other thing: I've noticed that low limit games are breeding grounds for amateur maniacs, so never play the same as you would play live. Bluffing is overrated in online games, and it's much easier to exploit loose players there.
allan james solis
2010-11-26aw! tae poker!
Henry
2010-09-30Hi. This is for Jose. Got dennis purdy, the book and read it like 4times. Was wondering Do you play limit or no limit? I've been playing limit and had a bankroll of $3000 and now I'm at 1300. Not sure what I'm doing wrong. Doing what the book has been telling to do. Or maybe I've been dealing with dumb ppl calling all the time till the river when you know you have them bet in the first place. So that's why I ask if you also play no limit too?
Karen
2010-08-17I know someone who is a medical doctor who plays poker all the while even though he says he will stop after marriage he still hasn't. Do you think I should marry him knowing that he plays poker? He states will still continue it because he likes the game and will go on tournaments. Need advise pls.
fuckme
2010-06-15THIS is from gambler who gamble online.....You dont have to bet online for years to be noticed professional.
THIS IS PROFESSIONAL
A professional turns 10$-200$
If you start with 100$-200$ semipro
If you start with 200-100$ amateur
I started with 10$ now win 200$ but please be careful....betting is not LUCK But lottery is a LUCK
Lars :D
2010-06-07been playing for a while 2 and the amount of winning is more or less ecuall to the loss :P im reading and learning what it is to learn about poker and my progress is slightly improving each time..
the only problem for me regarding playing live is that poker has become illegal in norway, i can ofcourse play with some of my friends but then its not real poker, and the amount is more or less nothing..
i have always wanted playing live, but since thats not an issu ill just have to adapt in the world of online poker..
and for all u pokerpro wannabees :P keep up the good work, i myself long for a life like that.
jose, the accountant
2010-05-05and last, but not least, last year i wrote about playing in real casinos with real people and james writing just added more fuel to my theory that online poker do not adhere to the odds of gambling, you could have a full house and someone will have four of a kind, so if you want play for many years to come, go play in real casinos and read the book, the illustraded guide to texas hold em by dennis purdy, move to an area that has real casinos if you leave too far from one and follow your dreams, now go fly the dammm kite, ok,,,,,,
jose, the accountant
2010-05-05i will write again at the end of my traveling, last year i wrote just before i left on the yearly tour on 6-5-2009 and maybe this would help others who have a dream, i am an tax accountant and work really hard during the tax season that is the reason i say you need a part-time job to cover your basic needs, food, shelter and utilities, than play and learn, good luck and chase your dream but be conservative in that food, shelter and utilities come first, then have a system where you manage your money well, i never bet more than 5% of my poker fund in one table, never if i lose, i go home even if is 9pm, there will be another day to fight, and always have a network of nice looking ladies whereevery you go to call once you have to leave the table to go have some fun and relieve your stress, plus do not overplay, i limit my weekly hours to no more than 20 to 25 hours of poker playing, period, unless if i enter a tournament, then is 40 hours max per week, and remember to take one full day off poker and poker friends a week, that is why you need to have a normal dating life and plenty of dates to call, sex is a very stress relief, plus ladies who are not poker players so that you can talk about other activities, go surfing, dancing and other.... nice activities, plus i work out 4 times a week, even during tax season to stay in top shape and stay withing my weight limit and do not worry about the christian extremist, i bet they said the Wright brothers were evil in trying to fly like a bird, and that was said about them, ....... good luck and will posting again when my traveling come to an end on thanksgiving week.
jose, the accountant
2010-05-05how are you all doing, dreamers and want to be pokerplayers...
well, just finished another tax year and ready to hit the casinos again to make more money,
hope your dreams of becoming a poker pro has turned to reality,
remember even the Wright brothers had a dream to fly and i bet most people thought they were crazy, right, you bet, so go follow
your dreams and be all you can be.
my advise to you is to follow your dreams and they will become a reality, when i was in college i was wanting to be a journalist and but was pretty good in math and this guy from florida came into our math class to talk about accounting, guess they needed more students enrolling in accounting and he talk about only working 3 to 4 months out of the year and the rest he went surfing all over the world, well i thought his dream could be my dream but instead of going surfing i could go play poker all over the world and because i chased my dream i am happy and have met a lot of women all over the world and nice people whom i have become good friends, so chase your dream and to cheer you up, last year i became friends with a nice lady and hot too, who left the usa, went to work for a pivate club in costa rica and plays poker most of her free time, now she bought a condo in costa rica and is living pretty well, i will staying with her in my traveling to costa rica this summer, plus there is good friend in the islas caymanas who is doing great in poker and now owns a nice big house which he turned into a bed and breakfast business, so go fly the damm kite.... ok
All in all day
2010-04-21I would love to play poker on my laptop, and smoke weed all day, not having to go to a stupid job. Am I a good dreamer?
Johnny
2010-04-02Jacob, if you are still following this forum, please contact me @ wildside1016@yahoo.com I am very interested in being able to do what you are doing & would like to get your advice...Thanks, Johnny
James
2010-03-21Well I have just started playing poker, and have been seriously playing for bout 6 months now. Its a great pastime.
A few of you have stated either playing online is a good career choice, or it isnt. And I say that the game is played much differently online than in real live tournaments. Anyone who can make it work online, you have my respect. Online games are filled with many ppl who bet on dumb stuff preflop, and always seem to beat your trip Aces with a full house of 7s and 2s.
My advice to anyone thinking of playing poker professionaly(and again its a hobby for me, so i have no leg to stand on) is to try both arenas and see which you prevail at, because chances are it will be one or the other.
I have played in many online tournaments over the last couple of weeks, won some, lost some. But i have found the play to be more true in real live tournaments. I mean if you are on the button and everyone folds to your pocket aces, and you raise the standard 3 times the big blind, no one in a real life tourney is gonna call that from a big blind with weak unsuited hands, but online it happens all the time, and most of the time, they hit what they need.
Again, im still very new to the game and the tournament life, so this may be a newbie talking out his ass.
But I believe if you want to consider poker a career, you should play against really serious people in professional settings, no one on the WPT(or any other league) pushes all in first hand with a pair of 5s, this happens all the time online.
Trista: I recently went to a casino to play for the first time in ring game, and actually won a little money. My advice is read each opponent very carefully in a live setting, bluff carefully, and call even more carefully, ppl love check raises and of course its an effective weapon.
Good luck to all players, professional and amateur.
Trista
2010-03-14James/Jacob,
I have been playing online for about 2 years, I play only tournament poker, win 60% of the time and place first (out of 9)50% out of the 60%. I have played with friends and have done very well but I do not do that often. I am going to enter in my first live tournament at the local casino on Tuesday and have NO CLUE as to what I should expect. The buy-in is only $60 and there is a 100 person limit so worst case is I lose $60... I am a fairly aggressive player when need be but can be patient forever. I am worried I won't bluff enough actually...do you think ppl bluff more or less live?
Thanks!!
internet gaming
2010-03-02Please consider the pros and cons of making gambling as living. Weigh in if it fits your lifestyle so that you wont get busted because of the wrong decision made.
Mike
2010-02-05Playing poker is no different than buying a stock or selling insurance. Owning any business is a gamble.
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