how to become a professional poker player?

I just started to play poker and want to know how to improve my game, and may be become a professional player?

thanks a lot for help

Quit your job.

Make $$$ from poker.

You're a pro.

(Although you might want to make sure you can do number 2 before you do number 1)

Your not ready to be pro and quite frankly you may never be ready. Just play the game, post on the forums and learn but do not expect anything major out of it.

Keep track of how much money you make at poker per time frame over a large sample size. Then compare that to how much money you make in your job. If you make more money at poker consistently over a long period of time then become a pro player.

I have just taken up jogging, does anyone know how I can become a professional runner?

Thanks in advance

Unless you are the next durrrr, it will take years to become even a break even player in this game, then even longer to start showing steady profits and a lifetime (or longer, lol) to master it.

If he actually tries hard enough, it should not take him longer than 2 weeks to beat 2nl.

Ive actually thought about something. If you live in a very poor country, like Burundi, you probably dont need to make more than like 3$ a day to have an ok salary, and that isnt too hard to accomplish.

How about no for many reasons. Internet/ Electricity cost more than 3$ a day. And you cannot live on 3$ - those expenses.

I played baseball when I was a kid, am I ready for the MLB?

I think so, sounds like you have experience too.

Does anyone know how this chap can become a professional baseball player?

Most people don't have computers in countries like that though.

If you have to ask how to be a pro player. Dont worry you arent ready.

Thanks to whoever fixed the "bacome" typo, much appreciated

Move to Burundi. Their baseball league is prolly at American peewee level

I just bought a snowboard and grew my hair out I think I'm ready to be the next Shaun White any tips

concertrate on the game not becoming Mr.$$$$$$. U kinda need to loose the vaule of $$$ so ur not play with scared money.
Use this forum to make ur self a better play then hopefully in the long run we'll b seeing u on TV vs Durrrr. Lets hope u beat durrr ok? lol.

Welcome cesar rabelo. ^^ This. If you're in the US...the IRS will let you know if you're a pro (or if you're just a gambler ).

Aw gee Boys & Girls, this is his/her 1st post...he/she may not realize the level of hilarity that occurs here (yet).

Or might just be a troll. Sorry, level. Damn kids and their newfangled language.

Seriously, I just started playing poker and want to know how to be a pro? I guess I can relate. I just bought a box of band aids. How do I become a doctor?

Seriously, millions of people play poker. Very few are pros. It's a question you ask when you're making a lot of money at poker. Not before.

RF

Get $10,000. Enter the WSOP main event. Become one of the November 9 (final table), take up a sponsorship deal***********BAM!!!! UR PRO!

U've made at least $1million and ur face is all over the poker globe for every jealious person to see. Now ur pro. Go use ur $1million at the Golden Nugget and strut around the place untill ur fame has worn off.

Seriously mate there so many levels of becoming "pro". Is it pro like Phil Ivey where ur famous? Pro like ur professional at what u do so u are making comfortable money at what u do? Pro at the game u choose (cash/tournament) or jus the all round "i've won a WSOP bracelet/WPT-EPT title, so i've gotta b pro?"

On the chance cesar is not just trolling, here's a real answer.

Play for 2 months on play money tables. See if you can beat those players. Then play freerolls and see if you can get a bankroll. When you have $100 made through freerolls, move over to micro tables and mini-tourneys and see if you can build your roll there.

Use excellent bankroll management. Never put your whole roll on the table. See if you can avoid going broke at all for a year. Or three.

Read at least 5 top poker books. SuperSystem, Harrington on holdem (series), look through the book section on others that might help. I like The Poker Mindset a lot, but it's more advanced. Try doing some of the things in these books one at a time. Eventually try each thing. Find out what works for you. Develop your own style of play.

Watch every lesson in the FTP Academy, and every session. Watch them again. Take the tests. When you start playing for real money, take the challenges. Look around the net for similar help. When you have made $100K, invest in a poker coach. Or a WSOP Academy class.

After you have been playing for two years, see if you are breaking even. Many people can't do that. Most cannot.

If you can go from $0 to $50000, you may be ready to consider going pro. But then you have to take into account whether you can make a profit beyond your basic expenses, which will have to come out of your bankroll monthly. So, if there comes a point when you think you might be able to pull this off (few can), take a two week vacation from your job and play as if it is your work (8 hours each day, with disciplined breaks.). See if you can make more profit than you would make at your regular job.

Then think about whether you can stand doing that every day. By that point, you will have considerable experience and vast familiarity with variance. You may have a clue whether you are mentally capable of playing poker for a living.

I am, of course, thinking "pro" as someone who makes a respectable income over the course of a year. If you live in your parents' basement, and you make the $200 a week you need for food and stuff grinding away online, and that's what you live on, that could be a "pro" too.

With respect, you made my point for me. All you have to do is make the final table of main event? Like I said, millions play poker. 9 make the ME FT every year. It's hard. I may have sounded unkind, which I honestly do regret a little, but I think it's a message all new players should probably hear. We -all- think it would be really cool to be a pro. It's hard to get that good. A new player should concern themselves with not losing first. Unless they're a natural, the road is long, like from "How do I open this damned band aid!" to "Nurse, scalpel please." I know I'm exaggerating, but I firmly believe it's a process of years.

What's pro? Not to be pedantic, but "pro" is short for professional. In my book, you're a pro if this is your profession. You don't have day job, and don't need one because your poker winnings pay for your lifestyle.

And that, too, is hard. I sincerely wish it was as easy as just asking on a site like this, and following the directions.

RF

WVH said #2

Doops answer rawks, imo. It's basically what I'm doing. Beat play money. Played freerolls, built that up to 10x what I started with, now I'm grinding cash games.

I love and fully agree with the when to go pro criteria, too. When you don't need the job anymore. Personally, if I could put an extra 20-30k on top of the salary, that would be awesome. Realistically, I need to start averaging 50-100% more than I make at work before I'd seriously think about quitting.

RF

You're either really good, a top elite player a.k.a. Dwan, Ivey, etc.
Or you just pretty good and taking a beating because of the economy imo. Poker is hard enough even when you're a pro, not to mention it takes all the fun out of it. Dream another dream rockstar.

I don't know of too many "pros" that make a living off of 2 NL.

All I was saying is that it would not take him years to break even.

Oh, ok...gotcha...

I have a lot of sex.. I mean ALOT. Does neone know how I can become a pornstar..

You need to measure up.

This one is easy. Just need a camcorder and some studio lights. You don't even need to know how to act!!!! Also just remember to do some man trimming and you should be fine.

Funniest thing Ive ever read from Marginal.. Lmfao

Old one:

How do u get a pro poker player off your porch??

Pay him for the pizza!!!!

WHOA WHAT?!?!?!?!? I have to do #2 before #1???? What if I dont have to do #2 do I just wet myself...........oh wait thats not what your talking about NEVERMIND!!!!!

True but when your first post says you just started playing poker and want to be a pro you kinda open yourself up to some funny business, just like the guy whose first post was I want to open my own online poker site what do I do LMAO.