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Ok, I am sure this is a much covered topic but I am looking for some updated advice from players who play for a living as to some of the pitfalls to watch out for and some tips that might be helpful along the way to making the jump from novice to pro. I have the utmost faith in my skills and I very rarely have a losing session (not trying to be cocky or anything like that just stating what I have tracked over last year). I have traveled to many casinos and smaller games and have come out on top about 80-90% of the time. I can easily bring down about $3000 to $5000 per week playing nothing but 2/5 NL and I am making the next jump to 5/10 with great success as well. I truly feel that I am ready to make the jump to full time player (I know I have a lot to learn that is why I don’t like using the word "pro" ) but any added advice would be appreciated.Thanks in advance!

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Ok, I am sure this is a much covered topic but I am looking for some updated advice from players who play for a living as to some of the pitfalls to watch out for and some tips that might be helpful along the way to making the jump from novice to pro. I have the utmost faith in my skills and I very rarely have a losing session (not trying to be cocky or anything like that just stating what I have tracked over last year). I have traveled to many casinos and smaller games and have come out on top about 80-90% of the time. I can easily bring down about $3000 to $5000 per week playing nothing but 2/5 NL and I am making the next jump to 5/10 with great success as well. I truly feel that I am ready to make the jump to full time player (I know I have a lot to learn that is why I don’t like using the word "pro" ) but any added advice would be appreciated.Thanks in advance!
$150K-$250K a year should be enough. Although after taxes you will net closer to $80K a year.First thing I would do if I were you is put on a flame suit.
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$150K-$250K a year should be enough. Although after taxes you will net closer to $80K a year.First thing I would do if I were you is put on a flame suit.
That's only when he's playing 'easy' though. If he really tries, we're talking 10k a week.
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See there is where my problem lies. I make great money doing this but, I currently dont claim taxes (which I will this year though for sure) and not to mention I "normally" dont loose. I am not saying it wont happen because I am a realist and I KNOW it eventually will, hope not, but I am sure I will hit that really bad month or two. Also, I have to take into consideration that I have a family (for which I am sole supporter). This worries me alot, but this is also one of my biggest reasons for making the jump. More money and more time with the family (at least daytime hours). I also will have to pay for insurance myself as well because my current employer does this now. All in all I would stand to make around 60 - 80K a year. My problem, I currently make about 70K with my job.......... That is why I am looking to move forward\high limits as well. If the 70K was enough for me I would stay with the stable job. Plus I pretty much eat, sleep and breath poker anyway.

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have 6 - 12 months living expenses in reserve.realize that when you are playing for 'fun' or 'extra money' the pressure is off, but when you realize you have to win in order to pay the bills and support your family then your mindset could be totally different and your game could be off.Even though you are running well now every pro goes through a downside of variance and you could have several bad months in a row of losing sessions and how will that make you feel and play?

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have 6 - 12 months living expenses in reserve.realize that when you are playing for 'fun' or 'extra money' the pressure is off, but when you realize you have to win in order to pay the bills and support your family then your mindset could be totally different and your game could be off.Even though you are running well now every pro goes through a downside of variance and you could have several bad months in a row of losing sessions and how will that make you feel and play?
I agree 100% on the "downside" of things. I know there will be bad along with the good. What I have tried to do is use my bankroll and pad my family savings as well to help give me an idea of what it is like to live on poker. What I do is allow for X amount of dollors for my bankroll and than from my winnings pay specific bills and "force" me to feel like if I dont make it this month the bill will not get paid. In the mean time, the money that should have paid that bill (from my 9-5 job) goes to my savings and makes the wife happy :club: always a good thing! I did forget to mention too, she is 100% on board with this idea as well. Actually she is the one who is "kinda" pushing it, not that she is getting any resistance from me :ts
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Ok, I am sure this is a much covered topic but I am looking for some updated advice from players who play for a living as to some of the pitfalls to watch out for and some tips that might be helpful along the way to making the jump from novice to pro. I have the utmost faith in my skills and I very rarely have a losing session (not trying to be cocky or anything like that just stating what I have tracked over last year). I have traveled to many casinos and smaller games and have come out on top about 80-90% of the time. I can easily bring down about $3000 to $5000 per week playing nothing but 2/5 NL and I am making the next jump to 5/10 with great success as well. I truly feel that I am ready to make the jump to full time player (I know I have a lot to learn that is why I don’t like using the word "pro" ) but any added advice would be appreciated.Thanks in advance!
best joke account ever imo
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Why not keep your job and play poker on the side like now, and make $70K + whatever you make from poker playing like 10-15 hours a week. That should be like $500-$1000 extra per week, giving you close to $100K for the year total?

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Ok, you lost me on that one? Because of my username? It is the username I have for my online accounts as well, thats all.
has nothing to do with your username.
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Why not keep your job and play poker on the side like now, and make $70K + whatever you make from poker playing like 10-15 hours a week. That should be like $500-$1000 extra per week, giving you close to $100K for the year total?
Many reasons: I want to play poker full time, it will allow me more time with my family, more freadom, more money to be made the list goes on and on. The biggest reason I dont continue as I am is TIME. If I work min. 8 hours a day, than go to the casino\games 2-3 times a week, I am never home. At that rate it doesnt make sense. I can continue to do this but I will only be beating myself up and possible playing when I shouldnt (tired, mad at my job ect.....) and we all know how that ends up.
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From your numbers, it looks like you are expecting to win ~ 15BB/hour or better. I don't really think that is sustainable, but if you think you can do it, are willing to take the risk (and with a family to support the risk is great), then go for it. Good luck bro.

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Why not keep your job and play poker on the side like now, and make $70K + whatever you make from poker playing like 10-15 hours a week. That should be like $500-$1000 extra per week, giving you close to $100K for the year total?
Agreed with this.
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Agreed with this.
I do understand what you are saying but it all comes back to time for me. Keep in mind I am 1 hour min. from my closest casino ( hour there, hour back, plus 5 hours play = 7 hours ontop of an already 8 hour work day) I can handle that now but it wont last forever that is for sure.
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going pro is for kids in college
You can call it what ever you want but the end goal is to play poker to support yourself or family at an above average income. That is what I am getting at. Not just to say "I am a pro player" I could care less what the job title is as long as it involves playing poker and making money.
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Play online and save the travel time.
No thanks. With some of the donkeys out there I will take my chances else where. Besides, I depend heavily on my reads. Any poker player can learn the math, odds\percentages and alot of the online players do that, but they dont have the people skills needed to make it in the big games. Poker for me is about a number of things and sitting in front of a computer all day (which is exacly what my current job is now) is not the idea of a great career.
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No thanks. With some of the donkeys out there I will take my chances else where. Besides, I depend heavily on my reads. Any poker player can learn the math, odds\percentages and alot of the online players do that, but they dont have the people skills needed to make it in the big games. Poker for me is about a number of things and sitting in front of a computer all day (which is exacly what my current job is now) is not the idea of a great career.
There's a lot more donkeys at the casino than online.It's kinda what you look for.But traveling an hour to play as a career isn't really ideal. Might need to move.
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There's a lot more donkeys at the casino than online.It's kinda what you look for.But traveling an hour to play as a career isn't really ideal. Might need to move.
Very true! Something that is also going through my mind as well. I see where you are coming from with the online stuff though. Didnt mean it in a smart ass way. I just feel more comfortable and also play better in a B&M environment.
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Very true! Something that is also going through my mind as well. I see where you are coming from with the online stuff though. Didnt mean it in a smart ass way. I just feel more comfortable and also play better in a B&M environment.
So do I. Just throwing it out there.
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you should probably quit poker now while you are ahead.
Thats not going to happen. If I lose my bankroll, maybe, but not till than. I am free rolling on there money so why not use it to make more :club:
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if you want to truly understand the ups and downs that come with playing poker full time i suggest you goto youtube and watch the "Joe the Pro" episodes.

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