At What Point Can a Poker Player Be Considered 'Professional'?

What would you consider makes a poker player professional?


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L

L0RDVAD3R

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What do you think makes someone a professional poker player? Is it more to do with a life style, when you can change your life style,when it becomes a fully paid job? Were not talking skill level here, were talking money making ability.

Is turning pro all about when you get to wear a paid sponsor logo on your hoodie?

Do you hit the penthouse of player prowess and boasting just because you can make it rain $100 bills in an expencive strip club, or do you qualify when you can afford to pay the bills and afford to give some homeless guy money (making it rain quarters doesn't really count, and most likely considered to be assualt with connage in some countrys).

Obviously there are other things that some may consider. Playing and winning a ranking tourneyment, or having a manager. The most inventive idea wins absoloutely nothing but my thanks for taking part.
 
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detroitjunkie

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When you have made over 50% of all the money you have to spend in life from poker for a year then you are pro, its your main job - for that year. if you do it again year after year then you are a pro year after year (if you live with parents, and essentially do not have any bills of your own, and perhaps you only spend several $K a year on silly stuff this does not really count
 
Nathan Williams

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When it pays the bills imo.
 
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MikeTheEngr

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When it becomes your profession to support yourself.
 
alipalip

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When you got enough profit from poker (only) to live your life for 2 years min.imo
 
MattRyder

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After you've studied for years, apprenticed for years, and worked for years (steadily earning a living solely from playing poker). When you can proudly call yourself a professional poker player without hesitation and without qualification. When you 'expect' to win every time you play (taking variance into account).

6c21d6245f.jpeg
 
PapaC

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Are you going to try to become a pro?
 
finaltable1

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When you constantly make enough money for good living.
 
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burapeti

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Imo u can be considered professional when u have a constant earning from poker
 
arahel_jazz

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When you make enough money playing poker that it becomes a sensible decision on taxes to claim all of the expenses that go with playing.

You forgot the cardinal rule of polls on CardsChat - must add a Cake option.
 
Space Ghost

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You're pro when you wear a hoodie, sunglasses and earbuds. Until then, you're just a bad reg.
 
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Samsamsonite

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when you make what is the average American middle class household income. at least, that's all I would need.
 
Farseer

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When you make enough money to sustain yourself and some more. And when you have enough money in bankroll not to go busto and in addition at least some months spending money in reserve.
 
trog081

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When you become owner of online poker room so you dont need to play poker for a living.Let others do it for yourself.
 
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snake666

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at that very moment, when poker became your work...
 
6

6bet me

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When you are a winning player over a LARGE sample size (minimum 50k hands, but preferably much more like 500k+ hands) and make enough profit to pay for most or all of your basic expenses (food, rent/mortgage, bills, transport, etc.) over a time frame of at least a few months, then you can call yourself a pro.
 
Senneville

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when you spend all your time and money in this game and you win. And the last one is the only reason you are a professionnel player.
 
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asaell14

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when already you get enough money in poker and has the entry for those big leagues for good performance in the game that's being professional;)
 
Zorba

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When you have made over 50% of all the money you have to spend in life from poker for a year then you are pro, its your main job - for that year. if you do it again year after year then you are a pro year after year (if you live with parents, and essentially do not have any bills of your own, and perhaps you only spend several $K a year on silly stuff this does not really count

Ummm, where will the other 50% of your income come from.

When it pays the bills imo.

This is the only true answer.

:top:
 
T

TheImperator

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What do you think makes someone a professional poker player? Is it more to do with a life style, when you can change your life style,when it becomes a fully paid job? Were not talking skill level here, were talking money making ability.

Is turning pro all about when you get to wear a paid sponsor logo on your hoodie?

Do you hit the penthouse of player prowess and boasting just because you can make it rain $100 bills in an expencive strip club, or do you qualify when you can afford to pay the bills and afford to give some homeless guy money (making it rain quarters doesn't really count, and most likely considered to be assualt with connage in some countrys).

Obviously there are other things that some may consider. Playing and winning a ranking tourneyment, or having a manager. The most inventive idea wins absoloutely nothing but my thanks for taking part.

Back in the heyday before Black Friday, I never considered myself a professional until I had six months living expenses set aside and was able to make all monthly expenses without any other income other than poker.

To be a professional, you have to treat poker as your occupation -- but you need to be properly prepared to withstand swings and not affect your life. That is why I said you need six months at least of ALL expenses covered.

I was playing professionally when Black Friday hit, and luckily, I had those six months in expenses saved for emergencies, as "total loss of livelihood" was definitely an emergency. :)

I didn't consider myself a professional until I was making over $2,000 a month. It was a long hard road, but it WAS so worth it...

Anyway, I'm going to cut my post short as its bringing up bad memories and I am starting my session in about 90 minutes. :)

Old joke to finish: "How do you get a professional poker player off your doorstep?"

Pay him for the pizza. :D
 
L

L0RDVAD3R

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Back in the heyday before Black Friday, I never considered myself a professional until I had six months living expenses set aside and was able to make all monthly expenses without any other income other than poker.

To be a professional, you have to treat poker as your occupation -- but you need to be properly prepared to withstand swings and not affect your life. That is why I said you need six months at least of ALL expenses covered.

I was playing professionally when Black Friday hit, and luckily, I had those six months in expenses saved for emergencies, as "total loss of livelihood" was definitely an emergency. :)

I didn't consider myself a professional until I was making over $2,000 a month. It was a long hard road, but it WAS so worth it...

Anyway, I'm going to cut my post short as its bringing up bad memories and I am starting my session in about 90 minutes. :)

Old joke to finish: "How do you get a professional poker player off your doorstep?"

Pay him for the pizza. :D

Lol. Thanks for the input buddy,it's always good to read some positive upbeat story's,and hopefully your downswing doesn't last long.

I think theres a pattern emerging here. It seems most people rate a professional depending on what they themselves need to make in profit to either buy a pizza or deliver one .
 
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Demagog

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I think that the player can only be called a Professional professional, and for me who is playing with a bankroll of 500 $ - professionals. :)
 
7svetoslav

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The pro players in poker are like other pro players in other games, their main thing is the game and to give their best. You have to wake up with poker and go to bed with poker (in case you sleep :D ) that is the main things of the real player.
I dont think im pro, and now, from that i readed here i think the most of you have too much confidence to claim that they are pro's. ;)

7svetoslav for the "pro's". haha
 
Samuel Lee

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When it becomes your job and you make enough money to live from it.
Shortly, when you are constantly winning/making profit.
 
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Bhfael

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Professional is this

When you can get an award of a major tournament like wsop
 
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