Do you think you could? Would you be able to face the responsibilities that this discipline entails? On the other hand, for you, what makes you professional? habits? Factors? I'm interested to know what they think

I have the potential to do it a lot of people think they are good at this game but I AM good at this and I think I have the discipline to do it Im training myself to, and Im more than strong enough to face the downswings and the bad sessions. what makes me a pro? the skill, the dedication to face the adversity and to keep studying new spots to have a edge over my opponents in so many different spots. I already built a bankroll and overextended to reach much higher stakes and did not move down when I had to and it went wrong 25BIs are not enough lesson learned. the sun will rise and I will try again...

Hello.
I believe that every player who has a strong enough desire can become a professional poker player. To do this, you need to clearly define the goal, create a plan, and work hard every day. Only your patience and discipline will help you achieve your goal.

Lots of learning, training, time, patience and discipline. Whoever really wants it can do it. Don't give up.

For now at least this is not an option for me. I like to travel and i like to play poker but following reasons make full time play no go for me for now:

1. I am nowhere near the level needed to earn enough money from poker so that it can be my main source of income.
2. I really like to be with my friends and have also other hobbies which share time and money with poker.
3. I like to have stable job which do not depend on variance as my main source of income and play poker in my free time for fun.

As people say - never say never but for now at least i prefer to have the joy of poker as hobby. Will see in future.

Who plays poker for living?

I have the skills to play buuuuut , my mind set is so weak , i cant be a pro right now , before i can make my mind strong

I used to have the patience for this game. Now, I hate playing anything over 3 hours, so I would not make a good professional poker player

Very hard to win every month to be a good profesional player

If I had a sponsor, to take the pressure off, I think I could be a poker pro.

Just like every race horse is a pro racing at the track, it doesn't mean it is a winner, consistently in the money.
From my poker experiences, I would be a pro, trying, but being an also-ran, out of the money, the majority of the time. Wins are hard to come by, a lot of very good players to get through.

I don’t think I can be a professional. I started playing poker 8 years ago and if I were a good player I would already be a pro

I think that for that, one should prepare in the best way, since his life would depend exclusively on poker. You have to read a lot about the mentality of the poker player and be strong in adverse situations, since a bad streak, severe anger, can end up killing us. It would be nice to be able to play poker traveling the world and seeing places.

Definitely not something I would be able to do. Besides needing to be a great player you need a huge bankroll and lots of time. If you’re going to win any big tournaments you need to have several hours to play. I guess you could play cash games but you can lose a ton there in one hand so would need an even bigger bankroll cushion.

Most players that play professionally have other streams of income like twitch streams, coaching and sponsorships.

I believe so. I intend to start a cash game coaching later this year and we'll see what comes next. I'm confident!!!

At this point (for sometime actually), it is a nice hobby that I enjoy playing for relaxation with a competitive spirit. Having to play and perform to make a living changes everything about the game.

Rather keep it as an enjoyable entertainment and not a job.

Maybe possibly...... But the time/years and effort and dedication it truly would take is more than I am willing. I just enjoy and want to keep feeling that I am improving as I see more games and hands over time - learning from the patterns I see and my mistakes.

I (like most players) fantasize I could, but deep down I am not 100% sure.

This said, I think more people could be professional than exist right now. Like many things in life it comes down to opportunity and good fortune. If for instance you have a deep run in a serious tournament and bag a large purse then you can bank roll yourself for a while, comfortably and with some confidence. Presuming you are smart and disciplined you can take advantage of the situation.

I say this because in many cases when you listen to pros talk about their career invariably they will mention an early significant 'score' which put them on an upwards trajectory. The same thing sort of applies to those who break into the high roller circuit. Whether backed or not, playing for a sustained period on that circuit comes down to initial success right out of the gate. Again, I have heard a few players say perhaps many more players have the ability/game to play at that level. But, they faced bad luck and bust outs at the first few attempts then shied away from the losses (financial and emotional).

In short, if more people could magic up a comfortable bankroll and take time to settle into the profession I believe we would witness more pros.

I really want to become a professional poker and participate in tournaments, earning a lot of money. But I'm still a beginner and I have yet to come.

Would be nice to only play poker. You could live anywhere in the world!

yes i play poker 13 years almost evriday i hope that enough to be pro.

Yes i do, otherwise i wouldn't spend my time on this game.

You need to have a lot of discipline, patience and will. But i think its possible, and not that hard.

In my current moment I would not be able to be a poker professional, as I don't depend on the game to keep me going. I have to work and I have other priorities at the moment, but I still study and play, maybe one day I might not be able to, but at the moment it is just another means of income.

If I have the time to myself to get into the right head space then sure, I could do it by building a bankroll over a year but, there's too many distractions to do it whilst still trying to make ends meet to support my family. When I do get the time to myself I've crushed the micros and final tabled a few tournaments but it's getting the time and space to be disciplined and really read other peoples games whilst not making silly calls.

No, at one point it had crossed my mind, but then I realized that I don't have the talent to make it so.
I keep playing because I like it, I have fun, it is an entertainment for my spare time

I played 1 year grinding the 1/2 NL at the casino along with a minor magic the gathering shop on ebay. I would play over 40 hours a week. I did do well.. I won around 22k that year.... So not much lol but I would say 1/4 times I went though I was not on point. I would be impatient or looking at it like a job, Only playing cards and not people.

I eventually got burnt out.. After a very small downswing I had to stop and got a real job... Poker actually became extremely boring to me for a couple years after that.

I would not recommend it if you love the game... Grind it on the side and be happy with your wins... Taking it to the next level seems to lose the purpose of playing in the first place.

I very much doubt it - I’m stuck at micro-limits))) Maybe if I put in more effort I would start moving forward but I'm too lazy for that))))

Originally Posted by Helvec

Do you think you could? Would you be able to face the responsibilities that this discipline entails? On the other hand, for you, what makes you professional? habits? Factors? I'm interested to know what they think

Time will tell.

For a long time last night, thought I was going to bink the Storm and finally get the breakthrough win which is so elusive, to so many.

Finished ITM, 3,102 / 37,xxx

Was short and shoved on the flop with JhJd on a 455 board (with two clubs), A8c made the call and hit Ah on the river.. </3

I was freerolling via a Twitch $11 MTT ticket (strangely given to me by the Pokerstars channel moderator for full attendance & valuable/fun contributions [ ])

Not being a pro makes it difficult to describe what it takes to be a pro. I'll leave that to the pros.

What I imagine it takes; hard work, self-discipline, dedication, committment and more blood, sweat and tears than most people would understand.

How about you Helvec, do you think you have what it takes?

Originally Posted by Tracid

Not being a pro makes it difficult to describe what it takes to be a pro.

well, there are four big things you need to consider.

Life Style, Mindset, Poker Skill and 4th mystery thing.


Life Style: You can't play only a poker. You need to find a time for things like exercices, meeting friends, health diet, rest etc. It's important to have a life balance.

Mindset: it's impossible to be a great poker player if you tilt all the time. You need to work on that too. Meditation, Visualizations, Affirmations, Warm ups! even leaving your poker ego. So many things.

Poker Skill: learning poker has to be your consistent process. People don't realize how this game is hard. You need to put a lot of effort to make your decisions as much +ev as you can. Playing a lot, analyze a lot, work on your strategy, gameplans, exploiting people, even money management is a poker skill.

Mystery thing: you have to enjoy it. You can't play poker professionally if you don't have a passion for it. You can't improve your skills in every area if you don't like it. Because playing is not everything. You need to realize that you want to be a poker pro because you are really passionate to this game.


and I can clearly say that if you win a lot in one tournament don't decide to be a pro after that win. Because reality can be really brutal for you.

Every person, if desired, can become a professional poker player.

i feel that because ive made final tables several times over the last few weeks... only being that I've only been playing for two months.. its definitely possible..

unfortunately I haven't been able to take that final first place yet.

I would like a lot, but I would have to work a lot on the mental, because playing for several hours if I make several mistakes, especially after the flop!

I do not think, I'm sure ! However, I am also aware that I am very far from this level at the moment. I have been planning to take my game to the next level for a long time.

What is the intention of the factors and habits؟

i think not, for me poker its a hobby, mostly at this times when you can play live poker.

Originally Posted by ThisCuteAsianGuy

i feel that because ive made final tables several times over the last few weeks... only being that I've only been playing for two months.. its definitely possible..

unfortunately I haven't been able to take that final first place yet.

I've found it took me a few years until I could really understand just how 'not' good I really was.

No...... wait a minute,, still no...... let me reconsider that ????? Uh NO !!!!!

I don't know if I could be a professional, I would love to but I should start right now and I can't leave everything. what makes you professional is to commit to study hard, you have to dedicate all your time to poker, you have to love poker and live poker, not just anyone can think so

I think it is very difficult, you need a lot of time and money, that's why, for now, I only see poker as fun.

I in particular believe that poker is not a sport and therefore I cannot classify anyone as a professional in the field. I do believe that there are certain strategies that could help a player to be more successful, but in the end it all comes down to who is luckier

with good discipline, skills, strategies and a kniwledge of all charts its easier to become a pro and do it professionally like daniel negreanu

Everyone has the ability to be a professional poker player if they are willing to put in the work. I don't think it's different from anything else. The people who are doing it for a living put in long hours of study as well as play. These are the things we don't see behind the scenes. Yes, some people can get lucky here and there and win tournaments for large sums, but the people who are consistently doing it put in the WORK. Even so, they still go broke at times. Poker is a very volatile game and I'm sure as with most things only 3-5% of active poker players make the huge money. I say all that to say it's going to take big goals and big dreams, but if it's what you want to do then be willing to GO ALL IN!

Originally Posted by Helvec

Do you think you could? Would you be able to face the responsibilities that this discipline entails? On the other hand, for you, what makes you professional? habits? Factors? I'm interested to know what they think

There's a lot to say on this so I just went ahead and made some videos. Hope you enjoy em!

You Tube

You Tube

Let\s Get STackin!

Originally Posted by carlosnuno

I in particular believe that poker is not a sport and therefore I cannot classify anyone as a professional in the field. I do believe that there are certain strategies that could help a player to be more successful, but in the end it all comes down to who is luckier

I'm not sure why something would need to be classified as a 'sport' in order for the person to be considered a professional?

I know of many professional poker players. They earn a living from the game.
It has nothing to do with who is luckier.... but I really shouldn't be informing you of this... it'd be much better for me to have you believe you just got 'unlucky'.

Read the post above this one ^

Originally Posted by Poker Orifice

I'm not sure why something would need to be classified as a 'sport' in order for the person to be considered a professional?

I know of many professional poker players. They earn a living from the game.
It has nothing to do with who is luckier.... but I really shouldn't be informing you of this... it'd be much better for me to have you believe you just got 'unlucky'.

Read the post above this one ^

consider your interpretation of the game valid, but I just don't share it, but you have the right to think that way as I do in a very opposite way.

I want to play professionally. I have spent years playing poker as a recreational player and have learnt alot about the game by myself from sheer volume of play. In the past year I have spent countless hours almost all my free time reading books, watching streamers who play and teach for a living and have registered for a training course to hone my abilities. The secret and I think the first step is to aim for a cash when you play mtt's because if you cash you get your money back and if you play 10 tourneys and min cash in 9 and make a deep run in 1 you make your money for the day. And playing as little as a $3.30 you can cash for 50 to 250 dollars which is a pretty average days work and then you brake even on the other 9 tourneys. Instead of always going for the big win playing conservatively. That is the trick of it the way I see it. I have started to finally see some consistency and more common cashes when I play. So hoping over the next year I can beat my bankroll challenge and start to accumulate enough money and cash with enough consistency to quit my job.

If someone is dedicated they can grow into being a pro.
The important factor is if you have a sponsor, for when the cards do not come and you go on a losing streak.
If not a monetary sponsor, having a partner who is supportive of your dream helps. Somebody has to help bring in the steady paycheck, help the kids with homework.

It is also feasible to become a semi-pro, who plays a fair amount of poker, and makes more than they lose. Being a semi-pro is a more likely scenario than the all-or nothing full time poker pro.

Originally Posted by carlosnuno

consider your interpretation of the game valid, but I just don't share it, but you have the right to think that way as I do in a very opposite way.

I wonder if any of the professional poker players share your view? fwiw, it's not just my interpretation of the game.

So if I'm interpreting correctly what you are saying... then it really just matters who is luckier? Is that correct? If so, then doesn't it seem rather odd that there are some players who put in 100's (if not 1,000's) of hours 'studying' so that they can become 'better' (not so that they can become 'luckier'). Would all the money that some profesional players spend on their coaches just be a waste of money? Would it be just as well spent on a fortune teller perhaps?

I'm just trying to decipher what your thinking about it is. Trust me... I'm not unhappy if this is how you think about the game (my father thinks the same way... which I find kind of odd considering he is a math kind of guy... but he's not a games guy... whereas my mother she was a poker enthusiast going back 70yrs. She taught me how to play and she LOVED playing. Her favorite part of the game was trying to outplay/ outsmart other players (she loved to bluff!).

Originally Posted by 63burner

If someone is dedicated they can grow into being a pro.
The important factor is if you have a sponsor, for when the cards do not come and you go on a losing streak.
If not a monetary sponsor, having a partner who is supportive of your dream helps. Somebody has to help bring in the steady paycheck, help the kids with homework.

It is also feasible to become a semi-pro, who plays a fair amount of poker, and makes more than they lose. Being a semi-pro is a more likely scenario than the all-or nothing full time poker pro.

Why not be your own sponsor?

I Know someone who can and poker is his job 6-7 years and still payin and doesnt have other jobe so yes it possibble but is not easie and not a lot of people can....

Everything can work out, the main thing is to be able to play well and understand the game
and in order to make fewer mistakes, for a good game you need a normal bankroll to participate in good tournaments or play good expensive cash games and everything can work out and you can win more, the main thing is to be able and correctly distribute the time for the game so that it is comfortable in the game and after your game for other things! I don’t have such an opportunity to play expensive tournaments or cash games now, I need to play a bankroll to go to good tournaments and try to win more, so maybe I can win somewhere and get good profit in a bankroll