25 replies to this topic

[Tantalar]

I got into no limit holdem poker about 3 months ago. I have been slightly up ($20) lifetime now. Ive been reading, studying, learning, observing, and getting better at the game. I just won a $120 at our weekly tournement we have, and I won another $100 from holdem poker. Lately, I have been unstoppable. I have been able to bluff everyone out of great stuff, and I just love it.But my parents hate it.Being 18, I can not just leave the house. At the same time, I also cant go to a casino.the nearest one is 4 hours away from here. All the others are 21+ requirement on age.People keep telling me im a fool and im going to waste it all. I think about poker a lot. I want to learn and study it and be the best I can be, because its so much fun. People tell me I spend too much time with it, but I love it, and I am doing just fine in it, I am up a fair ammount now. What do I do if I love poker, and want to be really good at it. I know being a pro poker player is next to impossible. But how does someone go about becoming a pro? I already know youll all say "Thats what everyone wants to do, youll never do it" But what would I have to do, to have a chance at it? OH and what are the chances of me meeting Daniel Negreanu? Cause he's the best

[custom36]

I'm not going to tell you that you can't do it. It's really hard work, but it's possible. Don't let those that tell you it will never happen discourage you - you're the only person stopping you from doing it.The best advice I can give you on becoming a pro (or preparing to do so) is to go check out the 2+2 forums. There are a TON of threads (avg. 4 pages) on what it takes to become a pro. You should find some real good advice there.In regards to meeting DN, it's hit and miss. You just have to be in the right place at the right time.

[justblaze]

I got into no limit holdem poker about 3 months ago. I have been slightly up ($20) lifetime now. Ive been reading, studying, learning, observing, and getting better at the game. I just won a $120 at our weekly tournement we have, and I won another $100 from holdem poker. Lately, I have been unstoppable. I have been able to bluff everyone out of great stuff, and I just love it. this is the mindset of a poker player right before he loses everything... People keep telling me im a fool and im going to waste it all.theyre probably right. What do I do if I love poker, and want to be really good at it. suffer for years in mid limit games, carefully stashing away a bankroll bit by bit. sounds like fun, no? But how does someone go about becoming a pro? I already know youll all say "Thats what everyone wants to do, youll never do it" But what would I have to do, to have a chance at it? you dont. stay in school. but please come to my home game!

[TruePoker]

I am 19 tomorrow, I however live in the UK so I can play at casinos, the closest one is 30 miles away and I expect to go there in August. Right now I am playing 2/4 and 3/6 multi tabling. My friends say to watch out incase I get addicted and lose it all because it is gambling, I don't divulge profits to friends otherwise they would become jealous (I could guarantee I am earning more than their parents). I get told I should have gone to university as its a lot of time wasted, I got straight A's in all my exams but I feel that in poker I can make more money in total than going to University paying back the debt and getting a menial job at a desk.With poker I can play whenever and do whatever I like, I have the money to pay for rent, go out when I like and still increase my bankroll. I think that if you actually are good at the game then continue, but don't let 3 months decide for you. I have been playing since December 04 and it is now June 05 and I am turning a significant profit, this is from playing 1000+ hands every day, sometimes up to 5000 hands / day. It gets very tiring but you just look and think to yourself, I know I am going to continue getting better and better with more practice.If you seriously are going to play poker you should look into bonus + rakeback as a cushion as you will probably lose money when you start.All I can say is, my parents used to shun my decision to quit university to play poker full time, now they both play and come to me for help with their game. Once they see the perks, they will never say anything bad about your decision.

[custom36]

TruePoker said:

My friends say to watch out incase I get addicted and lose it all because it is gambling, I don't divulge profits to friends otherwise they would become jealous (I could guarantee I am earning more than their parents).

Ugh, I hate when people say that, though if you're not telling them what you're making, I suppose I can see why they would think that.What happend to your scooby avatar?

[Teph]

TruePoker said:

All I can say is, my parents used to shun my decision to quit university to play poker full time, now they both play and come to me for help with their game. Once they see the perks, they will never say anything bad about your decision.

That is quite an assumption. Sorry to say but 9/10 parents are not going to support their teenage son on venturing into a life based on gambling.My two cents here is this: I am also 19, I have been playing for three years, using it as income for 1 1/2. I am no where near the calibur of being able to say that I want to become a pro, I am young, egotistical, and like action. NOT the greatest mindset for grinding limit poker as a job. I believe by your statement:"Lately, I have been unstoppable. I have been able to bluff everyone out of great stuff, and I just love it." You will quickly hit a bad run and question yourself, just keep a good head, remember, anybody can win everything, and a top pro can lose it all. Work on your game, and maybe in time you will find out if it is right for you. I hope it is. With that said, I would also like to invite you to my home game, where are you from?

[Sushiman]

You got into poker 3 months ago? You've won a couple of hundred dollars at it? You've been able to bluff people when they've had great cards? I'm glad you've had fun but 3 months is nothing. You should definitely continue to advance your poker skills, but don't make "turning pro" your goal after such a short time of play. First of all build your roll. A couple of hundred bucks isn't enough to play 2/4 at casinos, much less steady games of NL. Variance will catch up to you and you will start to lose your winnings. We all felt invincible when we started, but it's just not something that lasts. Learning to take your beats and soldier on is one of the most important attributes of a player.I highly suggest moving your game online. You don't need a lot of money and you don't have to be 21 to play. (technically you do but that's not stopping all the other underage players on there).

[TruePoker]

Custom36 said:

TruePoker said:

My friends say to watch out incase I get addicted and lose it all because it is gambling, I don't divulge profits to friends otherwise they would become jealous (I could guarantee I am earning more than their parents).

Ugh, I hate when people say that, though if you're not telling them what you're making, I suppose I can see why they would think that.What happend to your scooby avatar?

I aint the scooby doo guy . But yeh MOST of my friends know nothing about poker... they say its a game that lucks skill and is all luck. I don't even bother trying to talk these guys out of it as they are never going to change their opinion.A few of my friends however have started playing poker conincidentally with their Univiersity studies, they are only playing small SnGs but think they are great. These make for interesting home games .

[TruePoker]

Teph said:

TruePoker said:

All I can say is, my parents used to shun my decision to quit university to play poker full time, now they both play and come to me for help with their game. Once they see the perks, they will never say anything bad about your decision.

That is quite an assumption. Sorry to say but 9/10 parents are not going to support their teenage son on venturing into a life based on gambling.

I am in the 1/10 situation I guess, my parents believe in that anything I do I am going to do well. I have played computer games for money and my parents weren't really into that until I won some tournaments. I am in the clan pG if anyone is wondering and I have played SC, WC3 and some other small games including AoM and DoW. I did well in school and carried out a couple of small business ventures including a small lan gaming company and an ebay and .com product selling company which all did well.This is how I funded my poker career although I only dipped around 300 dollars into the red. I guess my parents realise that I have a record of achieving at irregular schemes so they have been quite supportive of anything I do. Poker is the new thing now and they have even jumped on and joined in with me. They are playing 1/2 Hold em and 1/2 Stud and are doing averagely. My father is a marginal loser and my mother is a above marginal winner (1-1.5bb/hour). There are many people who may not be so understanding I guess, however I wouldn't know about this therefore I can only reinforce the good.

[Teph]

LOL!We are identically the same True. I am attempting to find investors for a LAN style cafe, and early on I was ebay'ing, not to the point of a store, but I tried to get it to that point. I also spent most of my time gaming, more FPS, ut2k3, but I also played AoM, and AoEsmall world!

[TruePoker]

my msn is mat.hop@gmail.comdont hesitate to add

[pokerplayer24]

playing 2/4 or 3/6 poker i highly doubt anyone can make a decent salary unless you're putting in upwards of 50-60 hrs a week.

[feedmykids]

I have some experience in this. I am 18 and currently play bridge professionally and have for about a year. My parents at first were HORRIFIED by my decision not to go to college (I even graduated HS a year early and was an excellent student). They had alot of negative things to say, however this was my dream and my passion. It is what I wanted to do. That being said, I have played for about 8 years, and at very high levels for about 3 years. It's great if you can follow your dream, but it has to be realistic and has to be able to pay the rent (once your parents cut you off and make you pay for EVERYTHING because you didnt go to college, lol). They are more supportive now that I am doing well. Still, I do not think it's realistic to be thinking about going pro after 3 months. I have played poker for about 6 months and my bankroll is at the point where i play 3/6 NL regularly (it started at 1,000 and is up to 8,000 now) but I would not consider going pro. That is not viable in such a short period of time, maybe I have just been lucky and variance will kick me in the a$$. You have to be a proven consistent winner before you can even think about it. Then you have to make sure it's the lifestyle you want to live. As a bridge professional I travel alot, and have lost a serious girlfriend because of this. It is part of the lifestyle. I also was becoming like you, thinking about bridge all the time. This isn't good as one needs to be well rounded. If you become a poker pro you will have to deal with the ups and downs as well as the lifestyle. That isn't for most people. Anyways, I hope everything works out for you but don't jump the gun.

[justblaze]

pokerplayer24 said:

playing 2/4 or 3/6 poker i highly doubt anyone can make a decent salary unless you're putting in upwards of 50-60 hrs a week.

a poster whose name i will not reveal cough*smasharoo*cough claims to have made upwards of 40k last year multitabling 3-6 on party. I see no reason not to believe him. Thats the equivalent of a ~70k salary before taxes.

[speedz99]

I had no idea you could make a living playing bridge...Is it like poker, with large buy-in tourneys and such?

[feedmykids]

Well there are 2 ways...one is called rubber bridge... this is like a "cash" game. You are putting up your own money and can win or lose money like in a ring game.The other is tournament bridge. Here however, there is no buy-in and no prize money. However, sponsors (also known as clients) will hire a team of professionals to play in big tournaments so they have a better shot of winning. This is a much more stable income and is preferable to rubber bridge.There is ONE tournament where its like a poker tournament, a big buy-in. It's held in Las Vegas at the rio and big money changes hands. Most professionals play tournaments and make 6 figure salaries with no variance.

[Jordan]

Tantalar said:

I got into no limit holdem poker about 3 months ago. I have been slightly up ($20) lifetime now. Ive been reading, studying, learning, observing, and getting better at the game. I just won a $120 at our weekly tournement we have, and I won another $100 from holdem poker. Lately, I have been unstoppable. I have been able to bluff everyone out of great stuff, and I just love it.But my parents hate it.Being 18, I can not just leave the house. At the same time, I also cant go to a casino.the nearest one is 4 hours away from here. All the others are 21+ requirement on age.People keep telling me im a fool and im going to waste it all. I think about poker a lot. I want to learn and study it and be the best I can be, because its so much fun. People tell me I spend too much time with it, but I love it, and I am doing just fine in it, I am up a fair ammount now. What do I do if I love poker, and want to be really good at it. I know being a pro poker player is next to impossible. But how does someone go about becoming a pro? I already know youll all say "Thats what everyone wants to do, youll never do it" But what would I have to do, to have a chance at it? OH and what are the chances of me meeting Daniel Negreanu? Cause he's the best

You will have days where you "go to work" and lose $500. Can you handle that? Bills are bills. They have to be paid whether you are winning or loosing.You said poker is fun, and it is. I think you should keep it "fun" while you are learning and beginning the game, before you decide to do something stupid and lose a lot of money.If you want to slowly get serious, great, go for it. I've never read books, I got my learning from playing, but I would recommend reading a lot. It's a good way to start and a good way to learn. Ask and people will give you lists.Of course, play as much as you read and go from there. Just don't be stupid and start playing "now" for a lot of money. I guarentee you that you know very little of the game and are not ready to handle swings. Don't be dumb, be smart! :)I personally don't think I could play poker for a living because I don't really see much of a point to just playing a game for money, but hey, I still love the game and play it my fair share, but you sound young and excited, which is fine.I'm only 20, a college drop out, not because of Poker or anything, but I suggest you do the "norm" for now and decide later.edit...i forgot. I have a good friend who is also 21 who decided to drop out of school/quit his job and play. I'm pretty sure he did this based on good results over three months. I came back from Guatemala and learned of his new "job". I personally think it is a bad idea for him. I know the guy personally, and his skill level. He is doing well for himself right now, beating easy NL games with rich working men. You just have to wonder how long that will last...and if it does last for a long time, when will he move on to something better? What is better anyways in this profession? Higher-stakes. If so, that's what he is "working" towards now...I personally just don't see it as the "smartest" decision. I support him, but I think he does a lot of things wrong in relation to his BR, etc. I just hope he doesn't go broke after a few years. I'd rather him bust now, than later. Follow me?- Jordan

[Tantalar]

I udnerstand exactly what you guys are saying. I am completely ready to play poker. The only times I have lost BIG were on bad beats. Some dude catching a running straight on the turn and river to beat me out of $80 most recently :(But yes, I completely am obsessed with poker, but I am winning. Even when I lose, its just more the reason to consider what I did wrong when I lost. And improve my game. I know I wont even come close to being a pro anytime soon. Its a dream that I just want to persue as much as I can! And I want to meet D.N!!!! WOOOOOOOTTTTTT!

[SOWhatKid]

pokerplayer24 said:

playing 2/4 or 3/6 poker i highly doubt anyone can make a decent salary unless you're putting in upwards of 50-60 hrs a week.

those limits are so low it's rediculous

[TruePoker]

SoWhatKid you play 50 dollar tournaments in your home game. We see the hand you posted today and it doesnt even look like you could play in .25/.5 and then say 3/6 is a low limit.You really are cracking me up....