going pro
 

I just had a thought/question.
Have any of you all when playing poker just sort of "became" a pro? I'm thinking in the way that you just fell into it and never really decided to do it.
I'm no pro by any means, but I'm finding that more bills are paid by poker than by my actual job.

Re: going pro
 

u gradually win more and can fall into it i guess, its not usually just one day unless u win a huge tourney, its a gradual process over time.

Re: going pro
 

yeah, something like that. you just keep playing and playing. You study and make reads and win pots. pretty soon, you "wake up" and you're like, whoa! I'm a pro!?!?

Re: going pro
 

how long have you been playing? sometimes you can wake up and think that you're playing great when in reality your on the good side of variance.

that's a mistake I have seen .any make...

best of luck at the tables!

Re: going pro
 

I did. I started playing poker in April 2004 after finishing a horrendous software contract. I was planning to take a few months off to figure out what I wanted to do next. Then after a few months I was making a small amount playing poker and it was time to go back to work again, but I became severely ill, I could barely breathe. I was misdiagnosed with asthma, and then in December 2004 finally diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma which had already metastisized. The docs gave me a 50/50 chance and I didn't want to get a job while doing chemo, and especially if I was going to potentially be dead soon, so I played poker for my sole source of income during those months.

The treatment lasted six months, I thankfully seem to have won the coin flip, and by the time I was done I could make enough money to live on, and didn't get a job again. Though, I'm getting kind of bored at this point and I'm trying to figure out what my next step is.

Re: going pro
 

wow, congrats elena! I'm happy for you! I have asthma (not life-threatening at the moment) and I've known several people who have had cancer of some sort so I know a little about where you're coming from.
Kudos for you!

Re: going pro
 

[ QUOTE ]
how long have you been playing?

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: going pro
 

I learned about 6 years ago, but I've been working on becoming a "good" player for about 3 years. Its only been recently that I've found myself paying bills/rent/etc with poker winnings. And yes, your good point about variance is noted, but I feel as though when I'm on the downswing - I'm still able to afford lunches and coffee.
I dunno, this whole thing about living off of what most people call gambling is just new to me. And I'm rather excited about it.

Re: going pro
 

track your results over a years time and have living expenses accounted for for (at least) six months. unless you work disposable jobs, then and only then, try it.

Re: going pro
 

I dropped out of college to play online with a $1300 roll. Im doing great now, best decision I ever made.

Re: going pro
 

[ QUOTE ]
I dropped out of college to play online with a $1300 roll. Im doing great now, best decision I ever made.

[/ QUOTE ]

i entered college with a $1300 roll and lost it all in the couple weeks

Re: going pro
 

Dude, approach this rationally. How many K hands have you played, are you in the USA, what limits, etc. Going pro is very serious and you'll need 6 months savings for expenses at your desired lifestyle. You'll really need to know if you are both good (emotionally and game wise). Don't just fall into it. If you haven't played well over 100k hands, you may not even be a winning player. GL

Re: going pro
 

SALAZARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!

Re: going pro
 

oh, by NO means am I quitting my job! LOL I think you guys have the wrong impression. First off, it was only a question.
to answer yours, I'm NOT even thinking of trying to be a pro. I am winning, but not high enough stakes to sustain the lifestyle I choose when and IF I do make that decision.
I'm currently making around $100/hr in the smaller games bc I know I can and do crush them. I make less than that from my day job and this is more or less a hobby.
I've got 3 months living expenses in savings (investment fund). So that isn't immediately available, but I could get a hold of it if needed.
I've played roughly 1.5M hands and I'm up overall. The last 500k have been where I'm really trying to be the best student of this game I can be.
I think that you all think that I want to take a shot. I don't! I really just want to retire and live off of some other investments. I don't see myself as a "pro," but still a pro. Think Jerry Buss or Larry Flynt (except I don't make porn) only not to that extent.

I see poker as a huge challenge. One of my first challenges was a Rubix cube when I was little. They've only grown bigger since.

And what's this Salazar thing? I don't get it.

Re: going pro
 

you'll have to browse for the salazar thing.
1.5m hands! Congrats. Try moving up and taking shots. You may be better than you think. Post PT shot. How many BB/100?

Re: going pro
 

[ QUOTE ]
oh, by NO means am I quitting my job! LOL I think you guys have the wrong impression. First off, it was only a question.
to answer yours, I'm NOT even thinking of trying to be a pro. I am winning, but not high enough stakes to sustain the lifestyle I choose when and IF I do make that decision.
I'm currently making around $100/hr in the smaller games bc I know I can and do crush them. I make less than that from my day job and this is more or less a hobby.
I've got 3 months living expenses in savings (investment fund). So that isn't immediately available, but I could get a hold of it if needed.
I've played roughly 1.5M hands and I'm up overall. The last 500k have been where I'm really trying to be the best student of this game I can be.
I think that you all think that I want to take a shot. I don't! I really just want to retire and live off of some other investments. I don't see myself as a "pro," but still a pro. Think Jerry Buss or Larry Flynt (except I don't make porn) only not to that extent.

I see poker as a huge challenge. One of my first challenges was a Rubix cube when I was little. They've only grown bigger since.

And what's this Salazar thing? I don't get it.

[/ QUOTE ]
Only a matter of time my friend, if you asking this kind of question your definitely pining after it at least subconsciously... This is how it starts [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img].

Re: going pro
 

thanks. what's a PT shot? If the 5/10 NL game came together I'd sit, but I haven't heard of that game running in months.

I think you think I'm an online player. I'm not. I play only live.

I'm going to Vegas in June for the side games at the WSOP as the tourists will be fresh and have lots of Omega-3s. :-P

I'm not sure exactly what the BB/100 is, but I'll take a look at my notes tonight and get back to you.

Re: going pro
 

cwar, I'd love to be a "pro," don't get me wrong. I'd love to sit and rape the likes of Chan and Brunson, Harmon and Kid Poker. But I'm gonna be real, just to sit there and watch would be more than I could dream of in retirement.

Re: going pro
 

There's NO WAYYYYYYYY you've played 1.5 million hands live. Impossible! So there is some confusion here.

Re: going pro
 

nvm the PT shot.

Re: going pro
 

I started out online and got screwed. I accum'ed about 600k in the first year of that. What a mistake.
the rest have been since then.

Re: going pro
 

lol, that does look funny.
the reason I don't play much online is bc I seem to always build a small roll and then get killed in a weekend. I dep $100, play 10k or 20k hands and that's it.

Re: going pro
 

600k hands in one year.. HOly COW Batman!
I guess that I could do that, but That would make me a pro!

I have trouble making 30k in one month.
do you 8 table??

Re: going pro
 

nah, just 6-table 6 days a week. It was a lot of fun until I got burned out. I think that's when I began my huge distaste for online poker. I could still play, but eh. I'd rather meet up with you all in a side game at the WSOP.

Re: going pro
 

I've only kept track of the bb/100 for the past few months and the variance is more than I would like for each game. But since I started, it's around the 1.8 - 2.1 range.
last night was tough (-10bb/100). :-(

Re: going pro
 

thanks for the input Salazar