Thinking of turning pro

[pokerjoker]

So I am about done with my degree and am looking to plan out my life a bit. I have been making $60/hr avg playing cards online everyday for a bit now and am seriously considering playing professionally.

I know there are a ton of things I need to know about this decision and you can not tell them all to me on 2+2 but I was wondering where would be a good place to get answers. Have any professionals written good books on this?

my previous plan was to get a grad degree in music composition but I thought taking a few years off would be a good idea as music jobs are a bitch to come by and I would like to be a bit more secure.

I just want to sort of evaluate everything before I make this decision wanted to see if anyone had any useful advice or places to look for useful advice before I commit to this, at least for awhile.

Thank you.

[tealk]

I asked the same question to Phil Gordon on his website, and this was his responce.

"Make sure you have a big enough bankroll to support your lifestyle, survive the
imminent bad beats, and that you're truly ready. My book, Poker: The Real
Deal, has a very solid checklist of things you need to have under control
before thinking about "going pro" -- best of luck. It truly is a hard way
to make an easy living.


Phil Gordon"

Hope that helped...And his book i just received....very informative.

[Art Vandelay]

I'm curious, didn't Gordon make all of his money in the dot com boom and not from playing poker? I wouldn't think he'd be the best source if looking for a checklist of things needed before going pro.

[Keith Fellmy]

yes he was the owner of NetSys if I remember right.

If you are 22 years old, there are very few professional decisions that you can make, that will turn out to be permanent career-limiting moves. So do it for a year. The worst that can happen is that you can go broke. Then you get a job like everyone else.

[JobyWan]

Also keep in mind that we are in the glory days of internet poker. Like the dot.com bubble, it will not last. In a year or two, the endless well of lower/mid level fish will dry up and we'll be left with lots of very skilled players competing for a shrinking pie. $60 an hour is good while it lasts - so I say play hard and often now while the time is right and start your degree in a year or two.

JobyWan

[Sasnak]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm curious, didn't Gordon make all of his money in the dot com boom and not from playing poker? I wouldn't think he'd be the best source if looking for a checklist of things needed before going pro.

[/ QUOTE ]

LMAO! Yeah nothing like taking a "risk" with tens of millions of dollars as a safety net. ie, hobby.

~

[revots33]

Ed Miller's article on going pro - Part I

Part II

These are must-reads.

[daryn]

from ed's part II article:


</font><blockquote><font class="small">In risposta di:</font><hr />
you ran great and have an extra $1,400 left over. What should you do with it? Absolutely nothing. That's because it's not yours at all; it belongs to your bankroll. This is the part that destroys tons of pro careers, so pay attention. They take the extra $1,400 and figure, "Hey, this is free money. I can buy toys with it." They buy plasma TVs and drum sets and new cars.

[/ QUOTE ]

[daryn]

oops, i can't edit my previous post.

anyway, drum sets? why you gotta pick on ME ed?