Beginner wanting to start a poker career?

[TheGenera1]

I once thought I could be a pro when I turned $2 on pokestars into $100 in a couple of hours. It was the best heater of my life and unknown to me, to be my absolute downfall for a couple of years. It gave me false hope. It was only when I went right back to the drawing board, posted on forums, made blogs and studied and studied and studied that I even became a winning player. And I still am far from being pro after all of that.

I wish you the best of luck with this OP, but please for your sake, don't expect it to be an easy ride. It absolutely wont be.

With that out of the way, please feel welcome on this site as I'm sure many people will be willing to help you achieve your goals sooner than if you tried it alone. A lot of good players here whose advice will be very useful in the coming months

edit 50k is well above the country average. I believe it to be around the 25k mark actually. That is of course if you go by the mean average. The median would be stupid because of all the rich people.

 

[prepare]

Most pros are not the million dollar pros on tv, 50k a year is a lot of money, and your not going to make that much. especially at 2nl.

Honestly, I advice you to quit. But since your not going to do that, play this game as a hobby, play for some years, build you bankroll, if you think that you can make a significant amount of money at it then try your chances.

But seriously, if you want to make 50K a year, why do it in poker if you can do it a lot safer in IT? Your income is stable, the stress is less, luck plays a very minor roll, where in poker it plays a higher one.

I am not sure about IT salary cost though, I don't think that many people make 50k in IT, but I don't know too much about that.

 

[R1ace]

my dad + uncle working self employed as electrician/plumber and general builder earn around 50k a year not to mention there are times where they sit at home for a month as to the lack of job but sometimes they make up by having a couple of jobs at once. Depends on your qualifications and what job your lucky enough to get into

 

[TheGenera1]

Do both, make a career with IT and then play poker in your free time to supplement your income. No reason why you can't do both. Absolutely don't quit poker, I think that is poor advice. You should never turn something down until you have had a proper crack at it. Follow correct BRM and you cant go too much wrong.

 

[Aldito]

edit 50k is well above the country average. I believe it to be around the 25k mark actually. That is of course if you go by the mean average. The median would be stupid because of all the rich people.

This. LOL at thinking £50k is the average UK salary.

 

[R1ace]

am i not explaining clear enough? everyone is telling me to quit poker ? prepare i said like 3 times already i want to get a job in IT and do poker in my spare time...

are you superior to me? your allowed to play poker and im not allowed to TRY ? whats your reasoning to this? you dont like the way someone talks or someones username and you tell them "ok, i dont like ur username. Quit poker as theres no point of you playing?"

ps. its advise not advice (ps to user: prepare)

 

[TheGenera1]

Did you really DC with quads Aldito?

 

[TheGenera1]

am i not explaining clear enough? everyone is telling me to quit poker ? prepare i said like 3 times already i want to get a job in IT and do poker in my spare time...

are you superior to me? your allowed to play poker and im not allowed to TRY ? whats your reasoning to this? you dont like the way someone talks or someones username and you tell them "ok, i dont like ur username. Quit poker as theres no point of you playing?"

ps. its advise not advice (ps to user: prepare)

I think you should learn a few more facts before you try and advise someone on the correct usage of advice. I would advise you check your facts because I was stating that quitting poker was terrible advice.

lewl.

ps you misspelt "it's"

 

[RSdavid46]

I think you should learn a few more facts before you try and advise someone on the correct usage of advice. I would advise you check your facts because I was stating that quitting poker was terrible advice.

lewl.

ps you misspelt "it's"

TheGeneral i think what R1 said is that his "ps" message was to prepare as what he said was "i advice you to quit poker" and not to you. Read the message again he wrote "(ps to user: prepare)"

No need getting angry

 

[stg1969]

in uk 50k is probably the average pay so if i get into a job ill probably earn that much or just under 50k as i said im more concentrated on school but i want to learn poker in my spare time

No offence but this just proves your naivety and or lack of knowledge... I think you will find that the average wage is mid twenties 23k I think the last Government figure was.

Sorry, but just wanted to correct your facts there...

Also, if i'm being completely honest, you don't write too well, are you sure your education is going to net you a 50k IT job, most decent IT techs I know (and i worked for CSC for 6 years) have a good standard of education (including English)... just an observation, but you come across more like my 15 year old daughter...

 

[TheGenera1]

I believe the bracketed bit came after I started writing my reply. Confusing to say the least.

 

[RSdavid46]

although the average is around 25k a year, i wonder how people manage to survive like this? it makes around 2k£ a month.

800 mortgage/rent (for a 2bed house in 4-5th zone in london dont think you can get any cheaper unless you rent a flat)
bills, insurance, food, etc. makes around 1.5k of monthly expenses

if you have a family to feed and a non-working wife which is looking after your kids then the expenses are even higher so earning the uk average you probably would just about have enough money to live a simple life

I MIGHT BE WRONG BUT AS I LIVE IN THE UK IMO - as you said the 23k average is mainly earned by young people that just left school/university and are starting their career or people without any qualifications that get the rest of their money from benefits otherwise i can't see how you could live a life with such salary.

 

[Big_Rudy]

NOT gonna get into all the drama in this thread.... I'll just say to OP that you're young yet. Why not play part-time while focussing on getting your degree just in case you're not the next Phil Ivey. Study the game. Study other things, too.

Play the game seriously, but NOT as your main source of income, for a couple of years. See how it goes. Many pros, it seems, just realize one day that they are making more from their "hobby" than their "real" job and say WTF and start calling themselves a pro/ quit their other job. Seems a logical route to me. Also far less pressure when you're just starting out if you don't need to rely on poker for your primary income.

 

[prepare]

I told you to quit because I think its the best advice someone can give you right now.

I am not better than you, I think your going to lose a lot of money. Your ambitious, and you've set goals way to high, when you don't reach those goals (which you won't) that will emotionally screw you up and you will be throwing your money away. Because I don't think you can handle your emotions too well. You posted this looking for confirmation, when you met criticism, you became defensive, try to understand where people are coming from, not argue, because arguing is not going to benefit you.

So you want true advice, quit.

But since your going to ignore that advice, I gave you the next best thing, get better, play as a hobby, then make this decision later.

If you want confirmation, you're the next phil ivey, don't even go to college, just go straight up and buy in the wsop, besides, its very easy to make money poker, the society is trying to scam people so the don't get too many millions playing this game.

And for grammar/spelling mistakes, this is normally what goes on

Me: spelling mistake
Someone else: you think your so smart, you misspelled that
Me: English is not actually my first language, I am prone to mistakes
That guy: oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know
Me: maybe you stop focusing on the words, and think about the meaning behind the words.

But thank you for pointing that out, because it really diminishes by argument. Ohh wate, it's dont haz any affect ov me arguement

 

[champkamp]

Hey I am nineteen years old seeking a mentor to get advice, experience, and to guide me to brush up my flaws. I have been playing for over a year and have done some home tournaments and cash games. I have played cash games at the casino. It would greatly be appreciated. thank you

 

[falstaff99]

This is the dream-crusher thread. Haha. Seriously, I would check out one of the poker training sites like dragthebar.com or cardrunners.com and work with them if you're committed to becoming a pro. Now-a-days, it just seems like the most promising route since you will be actively working with professionals, or at least players with more advanced knowledge than yourself.

As for champkamp, there is a whole post for getting coaches/mentors on the first page of the Learning Poker section. Here is a link.

 

[stg1969]

although the average is around 25k a year, i wonder how people manage to survive like this? it makes around 2k£ a month.

800 mortgage/rent (for a 2bed house in 4-5th zone in london dont think you can get any cheaper unless you rent a flat)
bills, insurance, food, etc. makes around 1.5k of monthly expenses

if you have a family to feed and a non-working wife which is looking after your kids then the expenses are even higher so earning the uk average you probably would just about have enough money to live a simple life

I MIGHT BE WRONG BUT AS I LIVE IN THE UK IMO - as you said the 23k average is mainly earned by young people that just left school/university and are starting their career or people without any qualifications that get the rest of their money from benefits otherwise i can't see how you could live a life with such salary.

Because it's higher average in London, but lower in places like, Devon... thats why, but yes, lots of families are supplemented by benefits, which shows that our country is in a downward spiral, we will be a 3rd world country soon, and the irony will be, that Brits will be going to places like india (a fast developing nation) to find work...

 

[twoturntablez]

I remember when I was 17, I was so sure I was gonna be a lawyer or a headhunter, drive a porsche 911, I just knew I was gonna be rich. All I had to do was use my charm wit and brain, too easy.
For a start I was way smarter than all these idiots who told me it probably wouldnt happen and I was so cool and wicked I knew I could do anything I put my mind to.
I had to learn the hard way.

 

[TheGenera1]

^Rings a bell. I thought I could get a good job without doing exams properly lewl was I stupid.

 

[fletchdad]

I dont think anyone who thinks they can make a living at poker, but who has little to no experience, should quit. Quite the opposite. I want a LOT of newbies in the game.

A forum like this one is counter productive to players wanting a profit. We try to HELP a bad player. WTF??? Why would we do this? IDK, but we do. SO, yea - Play, newbie, play....

No, dont quit. BUT, do study and try to learn what will lose you money. Having that dream, why not. But just realize it is not easy.

The one BIG mistake you do not want to make is arrogance. Know your limitations.

Who knows, maybe you ARE good enough.... someday...


GL.

 

[champkamp]

Thanks a lot but I guess those coaches charge. Im just looking for people who have the same goals and motivation as me. Maybe start up a channel and talk and learn together. As of now I play on lock poker if any of you play let me know.

 

[TheGenera1]

Do you wish to concentrate on cash games or tournament?

 

[falstaff99]

Thanks a lot but I guess those coaches charge. Im just looking for people who have the same goals and motivation as me. Maybe start up a channel and talk and learn together. As of now I play on lock poker if any of you play let me know.

I guess another option would be to setup sweat sessions and see who would be interested, but I think this requires a lot of work. Still, it would be pretty helpful for you in your development. Start a thread and get a consensus.

I dont think anyone who thinks they can make a living at poker, but who has little to no experience, should quit. Quite the opposite. I want a LOT of newbies in the game.

A forum like this one is counter productive to players wanting a profit. We try to HELP a bad player. WTF??? Why would we do this? IDK, but we do. SO, yea - Play, newbie, play....

What I like about this post is the honesty in your game plan. Tell an inexperienced player that they should play so you can take their money, then quickly switch it over to a solid piece of advice. This is reverse psychology at its best.

 

[Poker Orifice]

My friend makes on avg. ~$75k/yr. playing pokerz online (MTT & cash) & my neighbour loses ~$5k/yr. (average income for all poker players in da World = $35k/yr.).

Dreams are good!
Reality can suck.

Good Luck OP, see you on TV!

 

[TheGenera1]

Wouldn't the average income of poker players in the world be $0? For someone to win, someone else has to lose. If you incorporate rake, the average income ins probably well below 0.

Or maybe I'm missing something.