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Poker Forums => The Rail => Topic started by: Azirapheal on September 10, 2008, 01:40:38 PM



Title: going pro
Post by: Azirapheal on September 10, 2008, 01:40:38 PM
its something i was considering before the horrific run ive had over the last few months, how did you guys manage it? what motivated you to dedicate your working hours to grinding out bb's?

i did manage to go semi, more than doubling my monthly wage from my far to freaking nice job for a while, but that dream got killed by rising costs and a bad run (losing 7/10 flopped nut flushes, losing 9/10 flopped top sets etc)

is ther any way to try and bounce back without just throwing more cash into this pit? or should i just go and hide my head under a pillow?

Az


Title: Re: going pro
Post by: Digger on September 10, 2008, 01:51:03 PM
Find a 'nice' job & play poker for fun -  IMHO


Title: Re: going pro
Post by: thetank on September 10, 2008, 02:32:43 PM
Find a 'nice' job & play poker for fun -  IMHO

+1  fun + profit


Title: Re: going pro
Post by: PocketLady on September 10, 2008, 02:34:07 PM
Find a 'nice' job & play poker for fun -  IMHO


Title: Re: going pro
Post by: kinboshi on September 10, 2008, 02:35:29 PM
Stick to dealing.  Definitely avoid comedy.


Title: Re: going pro
Post by: littlemissC on September 10, 2008, 03:13:55 PM
Stick to dealing.  Definitely avoid comedy.
lol i agree


Title: Re: going pro
Post by: Grier78 on September 10, 2008, 06:42:26 PM
Somthing I have noticed myself and from a few of my friends:
play poker for fun = nice ROI with no/little stress
try and make money from poker = negative ROI and mucho stress


Title: Re: going pro
Post by: RED-DOG on September 10, 2008, 08:05:52 PM
(losing 7/10 flopped nut flushes, losing 9/10 flopped top sets etc)

£8 please.


Title: Re: going pro
Post by: kinboshi on September 10, 2008, 08:29:09 PM
Somthing I have noticed myself and from a few of my friends:
play poker for fun = nice ROI with no/little stress
try and make money from poker = negative ROI and mucho stress

blatant "I've got friends" brag post imo


Title: Re: going pro
Post by: Grier78 on September 10, 2008, 08:50:01 PM
Somthing I have noticed myself and from a few of my friends:
play poker for fun = nice ROI with no/little stress
try and make money from poker = negative ROI and mucho stress

blatant "I've got friends" brag post imo

OK you got me, people I have met who may or may not remember me.


Title: Re: going pro
Post by: SuffolkPunch on September 10, 2008, 10:43:28 PM
Sh@t happens, I'm afraid. Swallow your pride, drop down the levels, rebuild and off you go again to a rollercoaster ride of banking what you can. As for going pro - you need deep pockets and an even deeper understanding from those around you before you should even consider it. Seriously, if you can pocket an extra 30%-plus on to your wages from playing poker, then you're doing much better than the vast majority. Enjoy that success, and you'll repeat it if you control your roll with sensible buy-in adjustments.

For those who have said play for fun and profit...

 ;iagree;

Good luck.


Title: Re: going pro
Post by: SuffolkPunch on September 10, 2008, 10:51:47 PM
Sorry - I should give an example:

In recent months I'd pulled down $1,000-$1,400 a month from various sites, making a nice little sideline in cash (and with the current credit crunch, bills soaring, more kids, cats and dogs than a zoo could afford, it was very welcome).

This was all from low-level, six-handed NL cash games. Then I had a horror run over two weeks, wiping a lot of my "in-poker-accounts" roll. Nothing in my game changed, it's just that fate decided this was my time to lose more than my alleged fair share in flips, outdraws etc etc.

I have, as a result, dropped down a level in the past two weeks to try and rebuild my sorry roll back to where I want to be to play at the original level again. I'm almost there, and soon hope to start withdrawing the wonga again.

The point is, if you think you should be making loadsa money all the time, you are slightly deluded. Sometimes you have to take the knocks and work hard in the "lower divisions" to earn the right to make a little pocket money again.

Hope this helps.


Title: Re: going pro
Post by: The Dean on September 11, 2008, 08:21:36 AM
I think it is important to keep things in perspective when considering playing full-time. I assume that you are playing online when doing this or contemplating it. I know it sounds great and it probably is to a great many people but I think that playing the game part-time and having some other stable income is a far better and safer way to go. There is no guarentee that winning players will continue to be so in the future and online poker is certainly getting tougher. I think there is a saying somewhere about putting all your eggs in the same basket.


The Dean





Title: Re: going pro
Post by: ScottMGee on September 11, 2008, 12:02:55 PM
Quote
I think it is important to keep things in perspective when considering playing full-time. I assume that you are playing online when doing this or contemplating it. I know it sounds great and it probably is to a great many people but I think that playing the game part-time and having some other stable income is a far better and safer way to go. There is no guarentee that winning players will continue to be so in the future and online poker is certainly getting tougher. I think there is a saying somewhere about putting all your eggs in the same basket.

Totally agree, if you are a winning playing then making a few extra pounds from your hobby is a nice bonus (which I do).

If you are seriously good enough to become a professional, surely this will happen naturally (just over a longer time period) as you build your roll, move up the levels and realise you are making more from poker than from working.

Whilst dumping a good job for poker will work for one or two, I'd guess the vast majority will come down to earth with a bump at some point.


Title: Re: going pro
Post by: Azirapheal on September 11, 2008, 04:41:10 PM
i was just curious tbh, theres no way in hell i can do it any time soon, i know im not good enough XD i just hope i can get abck to how i was with the doublings eery month :)


Title: Re: going pro
Post by: bolt pp on September 11, 2008, 05:15:14 PM
i was just curious tbh, theres no way in hell i can do it any time soon, i know im not good enough XD i just hope i can get abck to how i was with the doublings eery month :)

Everyone's lying, it's brilliant, do it


Title: Re: going pro
Post by: PocketLady on September 11, 2008, 05:20:01 PM
Quote
I think it is important to keep things in perspective when considering playing full-time. I assume that you are playing online when doing this or contemplating it. I know it sounds great and it probably is to a great many people but I think that playing the game part-time and having some other stable income is a far better and safer way to go. There is no guarentee that winning players will continue to be so in the future and online poker is certainly getting tougher. I think there is a saying somewhere about putting all your eggs in the same basket.

Totally agree, if you are a winning playing then making a few extra pounds from your hobby is a nice bonus (which I do).

If you are seriously good enough to become a professional, surely this will happen naturally (just over a longer time period) as you build your roll, move up the levels and realise you are making more from poker than from working.

Whilst dumping a good job for poker will work for one or two, I'd guess the vast majority will come down to earth with a bump at some point.

TBH I think it's often a bad move, even for winning players.  It's not just about going skint, it's about the lifestyle and stress that comes with it.  Whilst it might seem like a dream to be able to work when you want and do what you enjoy for a living, it doesn't always work out like that.  When you have to win to put food on your plate suddenly your perspective can change an awful lot.  Or when you sit at the computer for 12 hours a day and don't leave the house for a week...it's no life for the vast majority.


Title: Re: going pro
Post by: kinboshi on September 11, 2008, 05:58:06 PM
Quote
I think it is important to keep things in perspective when considering playing full-time. I assume that you are playing online when doing this or contemplating it. I know it sounds great and it probably is to a great many people but I think that playing the game part-time and having some other stable income is a far better and safer way to go. There is no guarentee that winning players will continue to be so in the future and online poker is certainly getting tougher. I think there is a saying somewhere about putting all your eggs in the same basket.

Totally agree, if you are a winning playing then making a few extra pounds from your hobby is a nice bonus (which I do).

If you are seriously good enough to become a professional, surely this will happen naturally (just over a longer time period) as you build your roll, move up the levels and realise you are making more from poker than from working.

Whilst dumping a good job for poker will work for one or two, I'd guess the vast majority will come down to earth with a bump at some point.

TBH I think it's often a bad move, even for winning players.  It's not just about going skint, it's about the lifestyle and stress that comes with it.  Whilst it might seem like a dream to be able to work when you want and do what you enjoy for a living, it doesn't always work out like that.  When you have to win to put food on your plate suddenly your perspective can change an awful lot.  Or when you sit at the computer for 12 hours a day and don't leave the house for a week...it's no life for the vast majority.

Welcome to my world.


Title: Re: going pro
Post by: the mole on September 11, 2008, 10:06:00 PM
Well i have to add something everyone seems to be missing, good money management outside of poker is key without this even great players go bust. You know if/when its right to turn pro basically when your house is in order so to speak.

It can be tough and stressfull but if you do it right it can be a great life also. The other thing i would say is it is much harder online now than it was a year ago so your game has got to be very good to withstand the test of time and stronger opponents


Title: Re: going pro
Post by: thetank on September 11, 2008, 10:35:39 PM
That's the trouble I found.

You make £5k one month and spend £3k.
You run into trouble when you're only making £2k and still spending £3k
A little more trouble when you break even and spend £3k
The month after you dip into your bankroll to pay expenses. This is also the month you lose money.
The next month you're spending £1k, most of it on credit, and playing $10 tournaments.

Poker is fun.


Title: Re: going pro
Post by: Wardonkey on September 12, 2008, 12:15:17 AM
That's the trouble I found.

You make £5k one month and spend £3k.
You run into trouble when you're only making £2k and still spending £3k
A little more trouble when you break even and spend £3k
The month after you dip into your bankroll to pay expenses. This is also the month you lose money.
The next month you're spending £1k, most of it on credit, and playing $10 tournaments.

Poker is fun.

I did pretty much exactly that over a slightly longer period. It's easy to lose motivation and focus especially when other parts of your life start to interfere.

I went back to work for a few months before all the money had gone. I made sure I got my head and my finances in the right place before I went back to playing full-time. I'm now a lot more cautious with my bankroll requirements and I keep a closer eye on my money generally. Going back to work was horribly depressing and I'll too all I can to make sure that if I ever return to the employment market then it will be very much on my own terms.

If you have a crappy job and you can easily find another if it goes wrong, then it's worth a go, but make sure that you are properly prepared with a plan an established winning record and a big pile of money.