Age and Professional Poker

lukyl · Jan 15, 2013

I've recently started to feel kind of stressed about my age and my (hopeful) prospects of ever going pro in the game of poker. I'm currently 19 and have been playing poker with the aspect to make money not just fun for roughly 1 year. But i'm nowhere even remotely close to where alot of pros are/have been by my age.. stories from poker pros always depict how they were already playing high stakes by 18-21 eg. blom, negreanu, dwan etc. and yes these examples are some of the best of the best, but in all honesty thats where i would like to someday be. (let me dream =p)

But as mentioned im still so far behind and dont genuinely feel that without some awesome break like a tourney win or something i wont be that far past 500NL games by the age of 21.

Are these thoughts rational? Or am i trying to get things done way to fast?

FWIW i can see how this post may sound pretentious or stupid, (maybe even offensive since alot of you guys here i know are older then me). But these thoughts have really been worrying me lately.. just feel like theres so little time..

Debi · Jan 15, 2013

You have loads of time - just don't count on being dependent on it for income by any specific date. You need another source of income until you get there.

AlfieAA · Jan 15, 2013

Lol are you serious bro! I mean like really?.....well if you think 19 is old then I suppose I better just give up then (I'm 30) haha and I've only just started playing.....I wish I was 21 again.....there you go, you've got an extra 2 years on what I wish I was......seriously though it doesn't matter if you are 18 or 58 if you are good enough then you will succeed...be yourself and not anyone else....be an individual not a clone...

Seraphim · Jan 15, 2013

lukyl said:
I've recently started to feel kind of stressed about my age and my (hopeful) prospects of ever going pro in the game of poker. I'm currently 19 and have been playing poker with the aspect to make money not just fun for roughly 1 year. But i'm nowhere even remotely close to where alot of pros are/have been by my age.. stories from poker pros always depict how they were already playing high stakes by 18-21 eg. blom, negreanu, dwan etc. and yes these examples are some of the best of the best, but in all honesty thats where i would like to someday be. (let me dream =p)

But as mentioned im still so far behind and dont genuinely feel that without some awesome break like a tourney win or something i wont be that far past 500NL games by the age of 21.

Are these thoughts rational? Or am i trying to get things done way to fast?

FWIW i can see how this post may sound pretentious or stupid, (maybe even offensive since alot of you guys here i know are older then me). But these thoughts have really been worrying me lately.. just feel like theres so little time..

Ha yeah I actualy have the same thoughts all the time..your not alone lol:icon_thum

T-Dubs82 · Jan 15, 2013

lukyl said:
.. just feel like theres so little time..

there is PLENTY of time. you are 19, i am not sure if you expected immediate success, but it takes work and patience. you will be just fine. keep working on your game like we all do. all the best and good luck. fwiw, i would give my left nut to be 19, quit stressin and start grindin

TIMNILES44 · Jan 15, 2013

You guys are killing me ! I'm 51 been playng cards regularlly for money since I was 16 won alot lost alot. I can hold my own at any table for any stakes .Would I call myself professional LOL nope. Theres alot of places I'm not even allowed to play anymore due to my wins. The people you speak of caught a break that vaulted them to where they are now. A bit of advice dont quit your day job if you have one, if not get one! The only way your going to make enough money to play and call it a profession is to be able to play in a major tourney and WIN! Good luck on that one,cause like your mom probably told you growing up theres always someone better! ALWAYS!!!!!!!!Bui keep dreamin and hope to see you at the tables cause pplayeres like me will take your money!!!!!

Seraphim · Jan 15, 2013

TIMNILES44 said:
You guys are killing me ! I'm 51 been playng cards regularlly for money since I was 16 won alot lost alot. I can hold my own at any table for any stakes .Would I call myself professional LOL nope. Theres alot of places I'm not even allowed to play anymore due to my wins. The people you speak of caught a break that vaulted them to where they are now. A bit of advice dont quit your day job if you have one, if not get one! The only way your going to make enough money to play and call it a profession is to be able to play in a major tourney and WIN! Good luck on that one,cause like your mom probably told you growing up theres always someone better! ALWAYS!!!!!!!!Bui keep dreamin and hope to see you at the tables cause pplayeres like me will take your money!!!!!

Lol

lukyl · Jan 15, 2013

Cheers for the reassuring feedback =]

no1here · Jan 15, 2013

what gambling sites are you allowed on? why are you allowed here? You're nothing but a baby! If you get to mich pm me.

Jblocher1 · Jan 15, 2013

Don't worry about time, don't even think about it. Time is just a number 20, 80. Does it really make a difference? Poker will take you your entire life to get really good at. You have PLENTY of time to hit the peak of your skill level. Don't be discouraged

frozensprx · Jan 15, 2013

Don't stress about it bro. If you play poker while focusing on getting rich before you get old then you won't be playing your best game. However, if you put all your effort into becoming the best player you can, then you might go pro sooner than you think.

Cooking · Jan 15, 2013

Like the others said, 19 is not old at all!! You have plenty of time to improve as a player and you shouldn't worry about the age matter.

Zin · Jan 18, 2013

If your only source of income is from gambling then you are already considered a pro, don't let the word pro get in your head. Most so called poker pros are broke or playing with someone else's money.

hackmeplz · Jan 18, 2013

Why does it matter how old you are (unless you're worried about dying before you're good)?

Tropwen · Jan 19, 2013

Lol bro ur not even old enough to play in a casino and ur worried about being to old I've worried about my age too (cuz like a lot of players they share the same dream) but I'm 22 but I'm focused on just being a winning player not playing 500nl+ u have more time than most ppl its like wanting to be lebron james some ppl just are naturals and the people u named are not normal humans btw lol

ReptillianAgenda · Jan 19, 2013

im currently 23 with the same dream. been chasing it since i was around 18. likewise im in the same boat. i have made about 20k total in the 5 year span playing.. no where enough to maintain a decent lfestyle, or to consider my self "pro"
but cheer up mate, Rome isnt built in a day. and also i have realized that bankroll management is everything when proving yourself a successful player. All the god players lose all the time. Its managing your winnings properly that make or break you.

JusSumguy · Jan 19, 2013

TIMNILES44 said:
dont quit your day job if you have one

-

gotchips · Jan 19, 2013

way too fast you only 19 success happens at different speeds i my self 2 years ago was on a hot streak in the firs couple months of the year i was up about 37K then the government took it away from us in the US so i have to start all from scratch ..

dj11 · Jan 19, 2013

I'm currently 63 with the same dream.

I did good last year.

Arjonius · Jan 19, 2013

Different people learn and improve at different rates. And not necessarily steadily, but rather in spurts. So have at least a little patience.

It is a factor how much you work on your game, both at and away from the table, and also how effectively you spend your study time.

rfbh54 · Sep 27, 2017

In professional poker you can play at any age you just need to have the skills and your tactics.

Rational Madman · Sep 27, 2017

I'm 22 and for the majority of my life as a 21 year old I barely was grasping poker and that was months of playing, winning and losing bluffing and failing playing safe and failing but bluffing and winning playing safe and winning back and forth. It takes hundreds of thousands of poker hands to make a true amateur. It take millions to make a pro.

Don't feel bad focus hard and improve.

Smokewood · Sep 27, 2017

If your dream is playing poker for a living, you have major issues in life.
First off, the thought of playing poker for a living is crazy. How would you ever enjoy the game, it would no longer be a game, it would be..... WORK!

Second, what kind of life is grinding at a poker table 9 hours a day?

Do yourselves a favor, get a good good at a good company and stay there for life. Meanwhile, play poker on weekends, holidays, and vacations for extra money.

If you hit a high dollar tournament for a couple of million... cool, then quit your job and invest your money.

Age and Professional Poker

lukyl

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Debi

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AlfieAA

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Seraphim

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T-Dubs82

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TIMNILES44

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Seraphim

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lukyl

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no1here

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Jblocher1

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frozensprx

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Cooking

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Zin

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hackmeplz

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Tropwen

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ReptillianAgenda

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JusSumguy

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gotchips

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rfbh54

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