Length of Time Playing Poker

[hoof31 0]

I'm curious, who here has been playing poker seriously for more than 2 or 3 years? Please let me know and also what has kept you at it this long?

[JustinHEMI04 0]

I started playing in college about 10 years ago. I was poor and had to work three jobs to pay for college. Well, I quickly found out that this was difficult to do and maintain a decent GPA at the same time. Then some of my friends talked me into going to this undergroud casino that they had heard about. I thought what the hell. I couldn't really afford to play anything but found out about our little game, and that I could start out with relatively little money and MAKE the odds go in my favor. With some coaching and mentoring from some of the... ah... regulars, I was on my way. I quit my three jobs and played poker almost every night after class grinding tuition, etc. That was my college job for 3 years. I started with stud. Then learned the other games including hold em. What kept me going?? I love it. The life intrigued me. I never thought about doing it seriously as a profession though. Who knows what may come. Right now my little card room does nicely for me. But I really just love to play. I am holding a "ruinion" with some of the guys that tought me. Some passed away the last few years but the old dogs are going to grace me and my room with their presence. I can't wait to lose some money to them! :)Justin

[hoof31 0]

Yeah, I kinda wish I knew how to play in college. I believe I would have worked a whole lot less hours.

[Smasharoo 0]

Only seriously for about 3 years.Rounders syndrome, I'm guilty.I'd played before that, but when the games suddenly became so amazingly soft after that movie came out I started playing much more.

[elkang 0]

What do you mean by serious? How much time should be spent around the game to be considered serious? I think anything over 10 hours a week is serious.I've gone through many levels over the years in my poker playing.I played in college, but pretty much stopped until I was 30. Some casino and private home games and slow progress later... and now my occupation allows me to play about 20 hours a week, so I consider myself a serious player now and fully expect to still be so in 3 years.I've entered other interests like this and I usually do it for about 5 years very seriously and never drop out.[/b]

[milladathrilla33 0]

Elkang what is your occupation that allows you to do this? What tournaments will you be entering at HArrahs?How much are the buy-ins for those tourneys?

[elkang 0]

Elkang what is your occupation that allows you to do this? What tournaments will you be entering at HArrahs?How much are the buy-ins for those tourneys?

I have a friend entering the tourneys. I will just be playing side games. You can see info for the WSOP circuit here. Buy-ins are from $500-$9500. There's a series of $200 super satellites for the main event too.I am a partner in a technology company and have a flexible schedule and a good amount of free time. A lot of poker rooms in NY are open after 5 PM and this helps a lot.

[oogachaka 0]

I was taught card games, mostly gin and cribbage but some poker and bridge, to count, add, subtract etc... from as long as I can remember. I started playing poker a lot more seriously when I moved to LA in the late 80's, but got side tracked for about 10 or 12 years doing other things. I came back to it in 2000 or so and have been at it seriously again ever since. As a kid I'd literally draw up bracket sheets and leagues for literally anything and would make up sports to teach the neighbor kids. It was all kind of an extension of learning to play games before I knew how to read. I played full time mid limit games in LA for two years but really needed to get back. It's an isolating life, and if your friends and family don't understand - which mine didn't, it can be a drag. I'm back playing a lot again because it's really the place I feel most at home.I went into this kind of detail because I get the feeling from a lot of younger players (I'm only 35, but I feel like an old man in card rooms these days) that this is a glamourous way of life. Parts of it are, but like anything parts of it suck too. This game has to be your heart beat if your going to last for real for more than a little while. Otherwise, you're way, way better off playing as a profitable way to have a great time and do something else that keeps you connected in the way you need to.Hope this helps.