going pro

[bolt pp]

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

[PocketLady]

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.

[kinboshi]

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.

[the mole]

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

[thetank]

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.

[Wardonkey]

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.