How many days/week do you play?
 

Since March I've only been working part-time and Poker supplements my income (quite nicely). I've played 7 days in a row now averaging $22/hour and I'm taking the day off. I feel like I need it, too. Until my job picks up more hours again in the fall, should I restrict myself to 5 days/week? Psychologically, what kind of playing schedules are you all comfortable with? I find that two 2 hour sessions 4-tabling/day are ok, but even that begins to feel like a "job" too many days in a row.

On a side note, since my hours are flexible, does the profit make it worth it to schedule my play on weekends?

Re: How many days/week do you play?
 

I don't really have set times where I play poker. If i'm at home and do not have any plans i play poker. I don't let poker hold me back from doing anything else its what i do in my freetime it just happens to make a nice income. That way i don't feel tied down to it and it does not feel like a "job"

Re: How many days/week do you play?
 

I just went semi-pro a few months ago, turned $75 into over $1,000 so far, but not quitting my day job anytime soon.

I usually do two or three-hour long sessions, sometimes longer, depending on what I'm playing.

I'll four-table Omaha Hi/Lo ring games (limit, not pot limit, and full-ring, not 6-max) or I'll play a single Multi-Table tournament.

If I didn't work for a living, it might be easier to play more often. I actually only work 32 hours per week by choice, but my fiance' is pretty needy for attention.

Prime-time for me to play is 6pm on, eastern standard time. Those seem to be the best for fishy play for my cash games.

I enjoy hitting up the morning guaranteed tournaments because there's usually a nice overlay on Empire.

If you're making $22/hr, that's pretty sweet, not sure how sustainable it is or what length/track record you have. But certainly, don't play to the point of exhaustion or being uncomfortable or unhappy. Life is too short to do that.

Re: How many days/week do you play?
 

This was the first week where I deliberately played a certain ammount of time, 4-tabling, every day, to make money, so I doubt $22/hour will hold up. Based on my previous ring game history I would expect that to drop down to $18/hour or so. Anyway, weekday evenings are obviously fine, but sticking to 5 days/week until my regular job picks up again seems prudent.

Re: How many days/week do you play?
 

I took a day or two off in June. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Re: How many days/week do you play?
 

I play 4 days a week if I'm lucky.

Re: How many days/week do you play?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I took a day or two off in June. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Me too. Damn, I need to take more days off.

Re: How many days/week do you play?
 

5-7
It has to be a good idea to take a few days off here and there.

Re: How many days/week do you play?
 

I'm pretty much in the same boat as you.

I don't like to play more than 4 hours a day, but if I dont feel like playing for any particular reason at all, I won't.

Personally I plan to try and stretch my ability to play for longer and longer periods, slowly over time. Hopefully I get comfortable with playing 6 hours day after day, but so far after a few weeks I have to pull back.

Re: How many days/week do you play?
 

I'll go back four months here; I have records for another year prior, but this should give you some idea.
Although, one year ago I played ALOT more.

March- 14 Days
April- 19 Days
May - 20 Days
June - 18 Days

Average around 4 hours for each day I play.

Re: How many days/week do you play?
 

Since switching from limit to NL the hours have increased because the results are so much better. I agree with the poster who plays Omaha 8ob and tournaments. I will jump to tournies, Omaha or other games depending on the action. Tournaments are incredibly profitable if you can play NL. I play almost every day but I am much more game selective than I used to be. I still prefer B+M to internet. It's been much more profitable.

Re: How many days/week do you play?
 

7.

Jeff

Re: How many days/week do you play?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I just went semi-pro a few months ago, turned $75 into over $1,000 so far, but not quitting my day job anytime soon.

I usually do two or three-hour long sessions, sometimes longer, depending on what I'm playing.

I'll four-table Omaha Hi/Lo ring games (limit, not pot limit, and full-ring, not 6-max) or I'll play a single Multi-Table tournament.

If I didn't work for a living, it might be easier to play more often. I actually only work 32 hours per week by choice, but my fiance' is pretty needy for attention.

Prime-time for me to play is 6pm on, eastern standard time. Those seem to be the best for fishy play for my cash games.

I enjoy hitting up the morning guaranteed tournaments because there's usually a nice overlay on Empire.

If you're making $22/hr, that's pretty sweet, not sure how sustainable it is or what length/track record you have. But certainly, don't play to the point of exhaustion or being uncomfortable or unhappy. Life is too short to do that.

[/ QUOTE ]

is this really semi pro? damn, im closer to being a pro than i thought

Re: How many days/week do you play?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I just went semi-pro a few months ago, turned $75 into over $1,000 so far, but not quitting my day job anytime soon.

I usually do two or three-hour long sessions, sometimes longer, depending on what I'm playing.

I'll four-table Omaha Hi/Lo ring games (limit, not pot limit, and full-ring, not 6-max) or I'll play a single Multi-Table tournament.

If I didn't work for a living, it might be easier to play more often. I actually only work 32 hours per week by choice, but my fiance' is pretty needy for attention.

Prime-time for me to play is 6pm on, eastern standard time. Those seem to be the best for fishy play for my cash games.

I enjoy hitting up the morning guaranteed tournaments because there's usually a nice overlay on Empire.

If you're making $22/hr, that's pretty sweet, not sure how sustainable it is or what length/track record you have. But certainly, don't play to the point of exhaustion or being uncomfortable or unhappy. Life is too short to do that.

[/ QUOTE ]

What is the definition of Semi-Pro ?

[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] Kasey [img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]

Re: How many days/week do you play?
 

I think how often you can play depends on (1) the level you play at (2) your skill level and (3) your bankroll.

If you're constantly playing at a level right at or just beyond your skill level and you're playing on a tight bankroll then you will need to take a lot of breaks so that you don't get burned out or tilted. If you're like me and you play with a healthy bankroll at a level that doesn't usually test your abilities, then you can play all the time because you aren't going to be stressed with a lot of hard decisions and bankroll stress will be almost nonexistent.

I play almost everyday for several hours, but I play $1/2 limit and the $22 NL SnGs on a $1500 roll. Poker is usually relaxing for me, but I would imagine that the $30/60 players would need many more breaks because they have to stay mentally sharp or their roll gets decimated quickly.

As far as playing on the weekends, I think that is a good idea because there are more recreational players online during the weekend.

Re: How many days/week do you play?
 

I have my whole month pretty much planned out in advance:

http://server2.uploadit.org/files/timm66-calendar.jpg

Everything is in pencil and I move things around alot, but the goal is to get 32000 hands each month, and 4 tabling that works out to 30 hours a week with two or three days off per month. I prefer each week to be four 3 hour days and three 6 hour days (two 3 hour sessions with a long break in between), rather than packing the 30 hours into 5 days and taking more days off.

I made a post in the magazine forum with more detail.

Re: How many days/week do you play?
 

don't mean to be a hater but
-----------------------------

[ QUOTE ]
I just went semi-pro

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
but not quitting my day job anytime soon.

[/ QUOTE ]

You should think about it, take a second



[ QUOTE ]
If you're making $22/hr, that's pretty sweet

[/ QUOTE ]

not really

Re: How many days/week do you play?
 

I play about 5-6 days a week. 4-8hr. Usually closer to 4.

During school, my time goes down to about 2-3 hrs a day. Damn education getting in the way of my poker

Re: How many days/week do you play?
 

Oy vey! To those bashing my "semi-pro"ness:

Semi-pro....to me, means that I do not rely on poker for my income, it isn't necessary to pay the bills. I work outside of poker, but I play enough poker that it can, and does, supplement my income nicely.

I'm just starting out, and tracking my results with Poker Tracker. If poker winds up providing me more income than I make working for the man, then I'll consider going completely pro (would need a good 4-6 months living expenses saved on top of my poker bankroll)

And yes, $22/hr playing poker is pretty sweet, and would be significantly more than I currently earn per hour and live on. Perhaps it isn't enough for you, but it would be a significant raise for me (i.e. my living standards are much less than wherever you're from)

Re: How many days/week do you play?
 

I know this wasn't directed at me, so I'll just add that I agree $22/hr isn't that much. It's enough to get by for just a little while.

To go permanently pro, someone ought to be making considerably more than what they could make at a regular job with their qualifications (or potential).

Post deleted by Mat Sklansky
 

Re: How many days/week do you play?
 

[ QUOTE ]
Grandgnu, what makes you think your a semi-pro. You turned 75$ into $1000, I mean thats nice and all but big f-ing deal. Too many people on this site think they are semi-pros because they made a few thousand dollars. Once you start making over $20,000 a year then you can lable yourself a semi-pro. Multi tabling 1/2 does not make you anything.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's "your" as in "you are" not "your". The Internet is really killing grammar.

I'm not saying it was a big deal, didn't mean for it to come across that way at all. If it was a big deal, I'd be full-on pro, not semi-pro.

The definition of semi-pro according to www.dictionary.com

semipro n : an athlete who plays for pay on a part-time basis

I consider poker a skilled "sport", and I play for pay on a part-time basis. I do not depend solely on poker to support me financially, nor do I play it full-time, therefore, I am semi-pro.

And I started out at the $0.50/$1 and then moved to $1/$2 and $2/$4 and $3/$6. Eventually I plan to move up, when my bankroll is sufficient.

p.s. Please, you and the others, take your attitudes and shove them, thank you for your attention to this matter, elitist scum! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]