Turning Pro: My Dilemma

[Teddie]

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Also, if I start out having a losing session, a lot of times I end up playing a marathon session to end up in the green.

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I'd sort this out before going pro. It's easier to go on marathon sessions trying to win back money knowing if you go even deeper it doesnt really matter i.e you have your job too fall back on if you lose a big amount playing poker.

But if you have nothing too fall back on and dont know when too quit a session you will sriously struggle to play as a full time pro.

I'd stick the job for another year and save alot of money so when you go "pro" you have money too fall back on.

Being a "pro" in your early 20's is a piece of piss. It when you hit your 30's and you have a family too feed and a mortage to pay that it really starts to become a job.

[billzfan86]

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With that being said, I am considering not renewing my contract this year and starting to play poker as my main source of income. If I do this I will also be going back to college full-time in the spring to study Business Admin or Entrepreneurship, which will take me ~ 2 years to complete.

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to me this ends all discussion because your not looking to do it for thew rest of your life and in fact I wouldnt even consider this being a pro in all honesty however I also play with poker as my main source of income while in college (im a junior not living at home so i have all the bills ect). IT sounds like uve had this business degree idea for a while so ide do it and play poker for 2 years while you get your degree, just make sure you put in the hrs necessary becuase to me thats harder then withstanding the variance

[jack frost]

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With that being said, I am considering not renewing my contract this year and starting to play poker as my main source of income. If I do this I will also be going back to college full-time in the spring to study Business Admin or Entrepreneurship, which will take me ~ 2 years to complete.

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to me this ends all discussion because your not looking to do it for thew rest of your life and in fact I wouldnt even consider this being a pro in all honesty however I also play with poker as my main source of income while in college (im a junior not living at home so i have all the bills ect). IT sounds like uve had this business degree idea for a while so ide do it and play poker for 2 years while you get your degree, just make sure you put in the hrs necessary becuase to me thats harder then withstanding the variance

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With all do repsect you don't have "ALL THE BILLS"

[Cry Me A River]

I turned pro a year and a half ago. I was working at a job that paid $10/hr. It did have some future potential to it, however it just seemed silly staying there when my heart wasn't really in it and I was making more per hour playing poker.

However, I really should have stuck with it another year and built bankroll and cash savings. I wasn't under-rolled, but running break even (or even worse, losing) for an extended period can really put you behind financially. Which can lead to an awful lot of stress. Particularly if a bunch of unexpected expenses come up (ie: trips, your wife decides to go back to school, etc)

If you're going pro, I'd strongly suggest you have 6 months expenses, cash, in the bank. Including rent, food, gas, clothing, entertainment, everything. And then your bankroll on top of that.

You may never run bad for an extended period, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. But if you do that kind of cushion is a tremendous asset.

If you don't have this, then I would strongly suggest you keep working until you do and only then turn pro.

[vizer02]

Thanks for the advice CMAR, I was thinking about having money set aside as well, but wasn't sure how much. I think 6 months of income is probably a very good buffer. I was off to a good start on this until my freaking air conditioner caught fire last month and I had to replace it...and then my new roomie moves in who just happens to be a home interior decorating major who sparks the notion in me that I should paint and recarpet 75% of my house, then remodel the kitchen...oh the joys of being a homeowner!

[threads13]

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I turned pro a year and a half ago. I was working at a job that paid $10/hr. It did have some future potential to it, however it just seemed silly staying there when my heart wasn't really in it and I was making more per hour playing poker.

However, I really should have stuck with it another year and built bankroll and cash savings. I wasn't under-rolled, but running break even (or even worse, losing) for an extended period can really put you behind financially. Which can lead to an awful lot of stress. Particularly if a bunch of unexpected expenses come up (ie: trips, your wife decides to go back to school, etc)

If you're going pro, I'd strongly suggest you have 6 months expenses, cash, in the bank. Including rent, food, gas, clothing, entertainment, everything. And then your bankroll on top of that.

You may never run bad for an extended period, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. But if you do that kind of cushion is a tremendous asset.

If you don't have this, then I would strongly suggest you keep working until you do and only then turn pro.

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Would you suggest having a larger "playing bankroll" on top of your money set aside for expenses. Specifically, would you suggest a 40 buy-in bankroll on top of your 6 months of expenses?

[CazicT]

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If you're going pro, I'd strongly suggest you have 6 months expenses, cash, in the bank. Including rent, food, gas, clothing, entertainment, everything. And then your bankroll on top of that.


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You should have 6 months expenses in the bank even if you have a "steady" job anyway. I'm guessing a gambler, or really anyone that is starting out in a self employed scenario should have much more than that though since it is much more likely that they may go without + income for a short period, but I have no real experience with that so i'm just guessing.

[Cry Me A River]

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Would you suggest having a larger "playing bankroll" on top of your money set aside for expenses. Specifically, would you suggest a 40 buy-in bankroll on top of your 6 months of expenses?


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I think 6-months plus roll is the bare minimum. If you can do more (like Prodigy above) then I think it's absolutely worthwhile.

As far as your roll as a pro, I think it really depends how comfortable you are at your current level and what your long term plans are. ie: if you're playing $100NL or $200NL and making a decent enough earn that you're okay staying at that level for a while then you don't need much more than a normal roll. But if you have ambitions of moving up then a deeper roll is a very good thing.

When you're playing for a living, it can be very difficult to grow your roll because you're withdrawing regularly. Unless you run really good, hit a big payday (MTT) or are really disciplined financially (you don't start spending all that poker money on going out, clothes, women, etc) your roll is not going to grow like it does when you're working a "real" job and playing poker part-time.

There's good money to be made at stakes like $100NL and $200NL but it's not enough to live REALLY well (unless you're still living in your parents basement) and grow your roll/savings like crazy too.

[billzfan86]

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With that being said, I am considering not renewing my contract this year and starting to play poker as my main source of income. If I do this I will also be going back to college full-time in the spring to study Business Admin or Entrepreneurship, which will take me ~ 2 years to complete.

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to me this ends all discussion because your not looking to do it for thew rest of your life and in fact I wouldnt even consider this being a pro in all honesty however I also play with poker as my main source of income while in college (im a junior not living at home so i have all the bills ect). IT sounds like uve had this business degree idea for a while so ide do it and play poker for 2 years while you get your degree, just make sure you put in the hrs necessary becuase to me thats harder then withstanding the variance

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With all do repsect you don't have "ALL THE BILLS"

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just curious as to what bill i dont have, here is my list:

-rent (includes heat and hot water)
-phone
-cable/internet
-electcity
-car insurence (car is paid off already, thanks donks lol)
-food

i dont get what bill i dont pay? maybe ones that have to do with kids i guess

[kidpokeher]

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I will also be going back to college full-time in the spring to study Business Admin or Entrepreneurship

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This caught my eye as well. I have a Business Admin degree. Now I play poker. This may seem like blasphemy to some but it has been my personal experience that generic degrees like business are just slightly above worthless.