How can I test that I am really ready to go pro?

[Badbeatbobby]

Hello all,
I go by Badbeatbob. I have played on free online poker sites for several years and have been playing in home games for nearly as long. I have recently started playing casino cash games and tournaments.

I have approximately 500,000 hands online on several sites. I have never bought a chip and have tens of millions to hundreds of millions in all the sites.

I have pretty good stats IMO. I am hoping to improve my knowledge and hone some of my skills. ALL MY SKILLS OR LACK THERE OF.

Any advice, tips, suggestions for books or articles would be helpful.

I am considering try to turn it in to at least a supplemental income.

Here has been my bankroll management, I have used for every poker App.
I start small and gradually build up to a point where I can play 5-10% tops of my bankroll. The first app I played was Zynga and play 100/200 I believe it was a $80,000 max buy in. I played that stake until I hit 10 million. Then I increased my buy ins. I am a bit more aggressive now on how quickly I build my roll.

I had over 100,000 hand on there and 17-19% SnG and shootout win percentage. I have had 1 fairly big tournament win over 300 people.


I am very serious about trying to make a living playing because I am on disability and can't do much else and sick of being broke.

Most people think that its gambling and a pipe dream. I am not WPT MATERIAL but I think I could do fairly well in local casino and micro stakes on line.

What is a good test to see where I am and what I need to improve upon to make it possible???

Regards,
Badbeatbob

I can supply other states if it would be helpful. On mega hit my most recent site I have a 31% winning in shootouts and a 26% in Sng , cash games I have a 25% win ratio. I have 1 win in a tournament with a 29% in the money percentage and $450,000,000 + in just over 6000 hands. I think I'm ready but, poor and this is fake money.

Please help!

 

[Tammy]

Hey Bob! Welcome to CardsChat! I moved this post here into a thread of its own, since it's pretty much its own topic starter. I wasn't sure if you focus more on tournaments or cash games (since you mention both), so I've placed it in the Learning Poker section for now. I can always move it to Tournaments or Cash Games (or even Live Poker) if you want me to later.

Here's my thoughts on what you are asking--

Play money poker is a lot different from real money poker as far as scope of skill for the player. Even in micro-stakes in my opinion. My advice to you would be to first play in some freerolls, try to build up a small bankroll from that. Practice good bankroll management, and see if you can build up playing in the micros slowly and steadily. Get a feel for the real cash games. In addition to that, maybe make a small deposit of what you can afford, and keep that only for your poker bankroll. Again, practicing good BRM so you don't go busto.

I am not a pro or anywhere near being one. I play for fun. But what I gather it is a real grind. You have to be ready for the downswings not just in the game, but I think the mental aspect too. And you've got to be smart about your money/bankroll.

Check out these articles for some insight:

Playing Poker Professionally

Building a Poker Bankroll from Scratch

 

[marcumx]

if you can go to the casino everyday and walk out a winner everytime you go, you're ready bub.

 

[BoyNamedSude]

You are ready to go pro, when you have 2 million cash in your legal bank account, and you just dont give a fark about anything else in life.
Your finances should not be affected by your losses... then you can be a pro... but how are you at hollywood?
Every Pro has an Acted role, or extreme personality, that will appeal to many Players...simply winning, is not what a Pro does...
They are actors and salesmen for the industry...
If You are a winning poker player, you would have no need to be on any circuit, or on tv, or even online...
The question of being a Pro-Online Player, is a quest of how stupid you are... because anyone risking their money against a computer algorithm is a fool...
I hope I have discouraged you from a bleak future, involving addiction, family loss, and depraved activities.

 

[Pablo22]

What is your biggest win playing real money?

 

[mpkr10]

play 100k hands of low stakes cash games online, if you are winning move up, etc, avoid tournaments

 

[eberetta1]

Yeah. I got zynga poker to a million dollars also. But play money is different than real money.

You start a hobby, then as it makes more money most people would call you a pro.

How much is rent or mortgage. And food. And how much you spent from the checkbook this month? If you can make as much a month at poker as it takes for your monthly expenses to live, then you can think of becoming a pro. That is the reality.

The other route which some pros do, is they inherit daddys money , then say they are a poker pro until they have spent it all. Then brag they used to be a poker pro.

Even Daniel Negreanu has said he does not make as much winning at poker as the cost of entry fees, most years. Being a poker pro is not all its cracked up to be.

Start with 100k in real money and then see if you have any funds left after 3 months.

 

[thetick33]

basically if you can sit down for 6 months at a cash game come out ahead with all pros at a table? you're ready I came out a little ahead 2006-2008... Doing cash games im more of a tournament player but in that regards its a HARD living cash games if you can go up each level and make money? Keep doing it till you cant and then be a pro to that level that makes you the most money and do a tourney as you are ready etc... being successful and honest is best way to be...

 

[eetenor]

Hello all,
I go by Badbeatbob. I have played on free online poker sites for several years and have been playing in home games for nearly as long. I have recently started playing casino cash games and tournaments.

I have approximately 500,000 hands online on several sites. I have never bought a chip and have tens of millions to hundreds of millions in all the sites.

I have pretty good stats IMO. I am hoping to improve my knowledge and hone some of my skills. ALL MY SKILLS OR LACK THERE OF.

Any advice, tips, suggestions for books or articles would be helpful.

I am considering try to turn it in to at least a supplemental income.

Here has been my bankroll management, I have used for every poker app.
I start small and gradually build up to a point where I can play 5-10% tops of my bankroll. The first app I played was Zynga and play 100/200 I believe it was a $80,000 max buy in. I played that stake until I hit 10 million. Then I increased my buy ins. I am a bit more aggressive now on how quickly I build my roll.

I had over 100,000 hand on there and 17-19% SnG and shootout win percentage. I have had 1 fairly big tournament win over 300 people.


I am very serious about trying to make a living playing because I am on disability and can't do much else and sick of being broke.

Most people think that its gambling and a pipe dream. I am not WPT MATERIAL but I think I could do fairly well in local casino and micro stakes on line.

What is a good test to see where I am and what I need to improve upon to make it possible???

Regards,
Badbeatbob

I can supply other states if it would be helpful. On mega hit my most recent site I have a 31% winning in shootouts and a 26% in Sng , cash games I have a 25% win ratio. I have 1 win in a tournament with a 29% in the money percentage and $450,000,000 + in just over 6000 hands. I think I'm ready but, poor and this is fake money.

Please help!

Thank U 4 Posting.

It would seem the question is not are you ready to go "pro", which would mean making a living from playing poker by playing for real money everyday but is it time to play real money poker.

That is easy yes it is.

Tammy gave good advice.

There are threads here on building bankrolls.

Now you have to find a micro real money game to play and beat that until you can move up in stakes.

Hope this helps

 

[Badbeatbobby]

What is your biggest win playing real money?

Not much because I am a poor white boy. I have doubled up 8 of 10 times and cash out lol. Shitty maybe but, I buy in for $100 on a $300 max buy in. Never fails there are 2 or 3 guys sitting and have 3-6 k. I would get bullied so I wait for my spot double up an hit the cashier.

 

[Badbeatbobby]

Thank U 4 Posting.

It would seem the question is not are you ready to go "pro", which would mean making a living from playing poker by playing for real money everyday but is it time to play real money poker.

That is easy yes it is.

Tammy gave good advice.

There are threads here on building bankrolls.

Now you have to find a micro real money game to play and beat that until you can move up in stakes.

Hope this helps

Thank you, and I agree. I am definitely going to start micro stakes. As for bankroll management My 10% rule has done me dandy. I never put more than 10% of my total roll in play. Usually, 5% or less. I know real cash games the comp. Will be much better. So, I am prepared to play my my best poker. If I see it's not my day I'm out. What should my voluntary put money in pot percentage be?? I change my play and see how my table image is simply by playing what I'm dealt and calculating pot odds implied odds ect. Wait for my spot and use all that to my advantage. Biggest question is it woth it to get software to keep track of my and my opponents play and fish hunt or just play solid and trust the gut? Be self aware and expect my winning percentage to go down and don't worry until it's gone. I know I can't play with scared money.

Micro I won't be scared to lose.

 

[Poker Orifice]

Thank you, and I agree. I am definitely going to start micro stakes. As for bankroll management My 10% rule has done me dandy. I never put more than 10% of my total roll in play. Usually, 5% or less. I know real cash games the comp. Will be much better. So, I am prepared to play my my best poker. If I see it's not my day I'm out. What should my voluntary put money in pot percentage be?? I change my play and see how my table image is simply by playing what I'm dealt and calculating pot odds implied odds ect. Wait for my spot and use all that to my advantage. Biggest question is it woth it to get software to keep track of my and my opponents play and fish hunt or just play solid and trust the gut? Be self aware and expect my winning percentage to go down and don't worry until it's gone. I know I can't play with scared money.

Micro I won't be scared to lose.

Honestly just from reading this ^ post, I would not expect you to be able to beat 5nl stakes online.
One of your comments expecially struck a chord... "If I see it's not my day I'm out"
How do you know if its 'your day'? I mean for me, it doesn't matter how the cards fall... I'm regularly playing my best poker at all times, making best decision I can for each & every spot. If I happen to run bad it does not matter. I do not stop because I am losing... I stop if I am no longer playing my best poker... if I am no longer making the best decisions possible for each & every situation.
Even at the lowest limits online cash game these days, over half the table is somewhat experienced. I don't know how your skills will translate over to real money from play money, but I am certain you will see a huge difference in the play.
All you can really do in order to have ANY KIND OF IDEA... is to give it a shot. Personally I'd suggest depositing ~$100 if you're planning on playing micro cash, & closer to $200 if micro tourneys. (you'll want 100 buyins for tourneys in your roll unless you're planning on depositing often). For cash, you should have 20-30 buyins... always buying in for 100bb's minimum. (which was another huge warning bell going off in your post... buying in short & ratholing. This isn't going to be a winning formula).

Get on there. Get your feet wet and try posting some hands for analysis. I'm sure some will jump in with both good & bad advice.

 

[stil370]

Hello all,
I go by Badbeatbob. I have played on free online poker sites for several years and have been playing in home games for nearly as long. I have recently started playing casino cash games and tournaments.

I have approximately 500,000 hands online on several sites. I have never bought a chip and have tens of millions to hundreds of millions in all the sites.

I have pretty good stats IMO. I am hoping to improve my knowledge and hone some of my skills. ALL MY SKILLS OR LACK THERE OF.

Any advice, tips, suggestions for books or articles would be helpful.

I am considering try to turn it in to at least a supplemental income.

Here has been my bankroll management, I have used for every poker app.
I start small and gradually build up to a point where I can play 5-10% tops of my bankroll. The first app I played was Zynga and play 100/200 I believe it was a $80,000 max buy in. I played that stake until I hit 10 million. Then I increased my buy ins. I am a bit more aggressive now on how quickly I build my roll.

I had over 100,000 hand on there and 17-19% SnG and shootout win percentage. I have had 1 fairly big tournament win over 300 people.


I am very serious about trying to make a living playing because I am on disability and can't do much else and sick of being broke.

Most people think that its gambling and a pipe dream. I am not WPT MATERIAL but I think I could do fairly well in local casino and micro stakes on line.

What is a good test to see where I am and what I need to improve upon to make it possible???

Regards,
Badbeatbob

I can supply other states if it would be helpful. On mega hit my most recent site I have a 31% winning in shootouts and a 26% in Sng , cash games I have a 25% win ratio. I have 1 win in a tournament with a 29% in the money percentage and $450,000,000 + in just over 6000 hands. I think I'm ready but, poor and this is fake money.

Please help!

Check this post out Bob,
It will give you the answers you are looking for. Imagine having to compete against the author of the article, Jason Koon.

https://www.cardschat.com/forum/learning-poker-57/your-poker-thought-process-445263/

 

[Ryan Laplante]

You've built some foundation for your game. But you have a long ways to go to even be a regularly lowstakes grinder.

Join a training site like my own, or upswing, take $100, and using very strict bankroll management grind it up the same way.


When you consistently make more than your real job over many months, then you are ready.

 

[Tammy]

You've built some foundation for your game. But you have a long ways to go to even be a regularly lowstakes grinder.

Join a training site like my own, or upswing, take $100, and using very strict bankroll management grind it up the same way.


When you consistently make more than your real job over many months, then you are ready.

Thanks so much for weighing in, this is great advice.