Poker: Hobby or Profession?
Texas Holdem is surely a game with a lot of “moments of glory.” With the WPT and WSOP on the television nearly ubiquitously, it makes sense that there are many aspiring poker players out there looking to turn pro.
But do you have what it takes to go pro in poker. Contrary to the glitz and glam of the life style, it take a lot more discipline that most people think.
First, you live and die by your bankroll as a professional. You pay you house payment, you car, you credit card bills, you cell phone, your meals…well you get the idea.
Second, you play all the time. This isn’t for the casual player. We’re not talking about a two hour a day investment of time. No, we’re talking about full time, 40-80 hours a week, at the table, trudging though the cards, in an attempt to win and survive. This isn’t about just sitting around, drinking beer with your friends. No, this is about holding a job. And you have to treat it as such, and approach the whole thing with professionalism and seriousness.
Third, you have to realize the technicalities. Not only do you have to be good, but you have to know how to read a table, how to pick your games, how to find games. How much to invest in any one game, and how to keep your profits above your losses.
Finally, you can’t take the game personally. It’s a business to you if you’re a pro. Sure, the emotions will run high, but at the end of the day you have to realize that you will lose some money at some sittings, and you will win some at others. And you can’t stop that. As an analogy, just like the market fluctuates in business, so to do the winnings in your poker career.
Realize, that this is not an easy job. It’s not just about having fun playing cards. If you’re seriously going to make a career out of poker playing, you have to, if nothing else, be good at the game. There have been too many who’ve lost it all trying to become a professional poker player, when they were far too inexperienced and uneducated in the game to seriously make a professional run. vSo if nothing else, if you’re going to try, at least be good, and at least know what you’re doing (or fake it really damn well).
