Turning Pro

Todays blog answers a question that was sent in by Neil Hartley on turning pro and if it is wise to do it. This also was talked about on The Hendon Mob forum as well this week.

A……turning pro isnt as easy as it used to be thats for sure and certainly if you are considering doing this online. The games have got tougher because players are getting more and more educated. Like I said on the forum, playing poker when you are doing it properly is boring, this means that it is nothing more than a job just like any other and if you are seeing it as more than that then you are looking at it incorrectly.

Personally I would definitely retain the day job and especially in todays economic climate. It is never a bad thing to be able to get your income from as many different sources as possible. I dont play that many hours a week in the 25-50 game but if you look at how much I have made so far this year ($11,000), that is hardly going to keep me in a life of luxury.

I became far happier with my situation when I started playing semi-professionally a few years ago and interspersed my poker with writing and coaching and other things. Poker can make a great second income but unless you keep moving up in limits (not possible) or you keep playing more and more tables (not possible) then you are going to reach a stage where your earnings are going to max out and then when that happens, your earnings are steadily going to be worth less and less each year that goes by.

Plus the variance within poker is very severe and this means that it can seriously blow your mind when all is not well with your mental state to begin with. This can be either through boredom, not being happy with your hourly rate……anything. So you can even be a winning successful player and still not be happy with your lot…..its a tough way to make an easy living as the famous saying goes. Better to play poker to make money rather than play it for a living as your main job.

Hope that helps

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The Dean is sponsored by Cake Poker and can also be contacted at Carl@Pokerquest.f9.co.uk for coaching, mentoring and all other poker and gambling related matters