Low stake "pros" ???

[Big Sissy]

I played with Perry Shenkman (not sure that's the correct spelling) about 18 months ago at the MGM. I think it was 2/5 NL, but might have been 1/2. When someone asked him what he did for a living, he replied "This. I play poker all day." He seemed to imply he played at the level we were currently playing. He also seemed serious. He also seemed to know exactly how to act in a tourist-filled game.

[smbruin22]

this is an excellent thread....

but curious what the lifestyle is of a vegas 2/5 NL pro? or what's the next level up after that??

i assume you are then getting into a reasonable living if you are single and fairly easy to please

[midwestkc]

[ QUOTE ]
i couldn't see someone support more than just himself without making at least $75k a year

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Really? You do understand that the average household income in the US is MUCH lower than this, right?

[LasVegasMichael]

There are quite a few pros (well known and otherwise) that play 2/5 regularly. Off the top of my head, Ron Rose and Karina Jett both call 2/5 with 1K max their home. Both are fairly well known pros.

[psandman]

[ QUOTE ]
I played with Perry Shenkman (not sure that's the correct spelling) about 18 months ago at the MGM. I think it was 2/5 NL, but might have been 1/2. When someone asked him what he did for a living, he replied "This. I play poker all day." He seemed to imply he played at the level we were currently playing. He also seemed serious. He also seemed to know exactly how to act in a tourist-filled game.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't know this player but one thing I have observed is that about 95% of the people I know who claim they play poker for a living, actually mean that the only thing they do is play poker. In fact they could not sustain their lifestyle on what they make playing poker. I'm saying that they are not winning money. I'm saying that most of their lifestyle is paid for by other resources whether it is a pension, investments, a working spouse, large savings, or some other source. If they were reduced to living on their poker winnings alone they might survive but they couldn't afford the lifestyle they live.

[droopy0021]

[ QUOTE ]
but curious what the lifestyle is of a vegas 2/5 NL pro?

[/ QUOTE ]

1) Play poker until 4am
2) sleep until 12:30pm
3) don't think about exercising
4) find same hoodie & cargo pants that you've worn previous 4 days in a row (they really don't need washing yet)
5) stop by McDonalds/BK/Wendy's on the way to casino, or if you had a good couple days, In n Out Burger to eat your only meal of the day
6) buy pack of cigs
7) go to play poker until wee hours
8) rinse, repeat

Notice how no mention of playing rent or planning for future. Very overrated.

This is not a serious post [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img], but unless you move up in stakes playing at this level other than for fun can go anywhere long term.

[David LoPan]

I was a red chip pro for almost a year and made a decent living considering I was doing nothing else. I made more than I made at my entry level corporate job but my rent & was monthly nut was only 1k a month, including living in a nice house, a brand new car payment+expensive vegas insurance, food, gas, etc...

I was able to make my nut plus a few thousand more and it was very lucrative during the world series.

feel free to ask me any questions but it can be done if you're disciplined with money (no pit games EVER), track every session so you can take out the proper amount quarterly for taxes, scout games, don't take too many shots, etc...

I'll be honest though, it is boring and miserable or else I'd still be doing it. I got burned out pretty quickly and there were a few months after I left vegas where I did not play a single hand of poker and even went to a few GA meetings to evaluate my situation/lifestyle.

[VORP]

This type of thread pops up every few months and I have never, ever, seen a post from someone who has actually made a living solely from red chip games for a long period of time (~4-5 years). It's obviously theoreticaly possible but anyone capable of it is going to be smart enough realize it's not a very good long term idea.

People playing low limits to supplement retirement or other fixed income makes a lot more sense.

[PartySNGer]

[ QUOTE ]
This type of thread pops up every few months and I have never, ever, seen a post from someone who has actually made a living solely from red chip games for a long period of time (~4-5 years). It's obviously theoreticaly possible but anyone capable of it is going to be smart enough realize it's not a very good long term idea.

People playing low limits to supplement retirement or other fixed income makes a lot more sense.

[/ QUOTE ]

It seems likely that someone who plays 2/5 for a year either flames out and moves on to a normal job, or has a proficiency for poker and moves up the ladder. If you're good enough to beat 2/5 for $40/hour, then you are probably good enough to beat 5/10 for $50+ so you move up.

[kassdog]

I'm sure red chip pros realize it isn't a smart idea for the long run, thats why they eventually move up.