All these college kids who want to go pro

[LImitPlayer]

I think you are severely underestimating how much a decent player can make in low limit online.

playing the 2-4 or 3-6 limits a decent player can make $50/hour 8 tabling by playing ABC poker, A good player can make a little more.

Sure the higher limit games such as 15/30 30/60 may be beyond some of these kids curent skill level, but you dont need to play that high to make a 6 figure salry.

Yes the games will get a little tougher, but I dont think the low limits will ever get to the point where a
decent player will no longer be able to make a good living online if they choose to.

[willthethrill]

unfortunately it seems that these determined and persistent young kids will have to learn their lesson the hard way.

[LImitPlayer]

It amazes me to see all these posts about how bad a decision it is to go "pro"

Comments like these young kids will have to learn the lesson the hard way, etc etc make me laugh.

Just because some of you don't have the nerve to try it doesn't mean it will be a hard lesson learned or a "we told you so kinda thing"

I am willing to bet that the majority of the people saying it is a bad idea to make a career outa poker either A) have no desire to do so whatsoever or B) are very risk-adverse.

It takes a cerain personality type to make the plunge and go pro. It also takes a certain personality type to open your own business. The two are very similair.

What's the old saying, "9 outa 10 new businesses will fail?"
So lets assume 9 outa 10 Poker pros fail. Whats the difference in risk between the two?

I would go out on a limb here and say that the poker pro has less risk. He/she is not spending or going into debt for $100-$200K. He/she also knows their skill level and be accurately able to gauge their success at poker with their past track record.

Attempting to go pro is no different then attempting to start your own business. Both involve risk and a willingness to take that risk.

I am willing to guess that the majority of people who say going pro is a bad idea are also the same people who would be unwilling to quit their job and open their own business either A) because they are comfortable knowing their paycheck will never change and it is there for them each week or B) they don't want to put themselves at risk.


I am curious how many people here who think it is a bad idea to go pro are self-employed?

I know I would rather have tried to do something I wanted to do and failed, rather than wonder "What if?" the rest of my life.

[bobdibble]

I have started a business, and took a high risk position at an early startup company.

Poker is very different than such ventures. You can play poker *and* have a job. You can't start a business or work at a startup while maintaining a steady job.

Playing poker only is -EV compared to poker and job. If you are still young, you are paying a high opportunity cost for not starting a career.

It is possible to save a massive amount with poker and job, and then retire/go-pro. That is the plan I am currently on.

p.s. I sold the business to my partner for a modest amount, and the startup I joined was almost successful, but failed in the end. I now work for a large corporation while playing poker on the side.

[SittingBull]

enjoyed my field of study: mathematics. I never thought about going to college in the hope of obtaining a good job,good income,Etc. I earned my BS degree after 10 years of part-time study. At 61 years of age,I still enjoy learning mathematics. I continue with private study.
SittingBull

SittingBull

[Al Schoonmaker]

Since I went on record five years ago with "Don't quit your day job," it seems I'm part of your target audience. I left a good job at Merrill Lynch to start my own business, and I had three children at the time. That profile certain does not fit your picture of the timid, risk-averse paycheck grubber.

I think it is very significant that some of the world best players have stated that they don't want their children to turn pro.

I know far too many old men who once won big bucks who now struggle to survive.

Don't let anyone con you into thinking that the pro life is easy.

If you're in college, GET YOUR DEGREE!

Regards,

Al

[obsidian]

I am really enjoying this thread. I am in a similiar situation to Viscant. About 4 months ago I was seriously considering picking up another job for the summer. I currently work full time and go to school but the money just wasn't enough. Especially with the 45 minute commute to school everyday.

About that time a bunch of us guys at work started a biweekly poker game with a $5 buy in. I had a lot of fun and was pretty good. I decided to buy a book and toss $100 into Party Poker. My goal was to turn $100 into $1000 in 2 months. It is now 3 months later and I am up over $8000, well over what my full time job pays.

So now I play poker 2-3 hours a night after work, and I almost have enough to replace my dying car. Poker has been a godsend to me. It gives me the extra income I need.

I have 1 full time year of school left. Without poker, there is no way I could accomplish it in one year since I need to work. So now, I am saving enough living expenses for 6 months to a year this summer, and am planning on working part time while finishing my degree as I go to school full time. All thanks to poker.

[IcarusFalling]

everything in life is a risk... poker is no exception.. many people are smart enough to go pro

and this whole do something for society ... yea go get a job at wal mart.. see how it helps the small businesses... when it comes down to it there is tons of crap in this world... that's the bitter picture when it comes down to it.. when is important is that you lead the life you want... if grinding out the tables 8 hours a day isnt your idea of fun then do something else... simple as that .... as for only a few make it.. sure yea that's right a few do make the big times... you know yourself the best and you know your limits.. if you know you can make it why not?

[daryn]

i did the same thing sittingbull, i went to college to learn physics, not to get a job afterwards.

[Yako]

Hey all, I'm a 21 year-old college dropout (completed 1 year) from Canada. Always had good grades in high school and college without studying, but I could never bring myself to put any effort in academic matters. As well, my high school experience pretty much killed any joy/satisfaction/enthusiasm I could ever have felt going to school, so I ended up dropping out to go work full-time at a bar where my dad was the first employee. He's been working there for around 13-14 years, and I'll have been working there for 3 years come July 1st.

I make 22k (Amounts in US) at my job working 8-4 Monday-Friday. There is hardly any hope of advancement. The only job higher than mine that I could get would pay 25K, and would change my hours from 9-7 Thursday-Monday, which is highly unattractive. My bosses are old people who are getting less and less appreciative of the work their employees do for them as they rake in their million every year (I work for a VLT bar in Montreal, we have 25 video lottery machines, we're basically a mini-casino). Most of my income comes from tips, and the bar is located in an area which contains lots of rich, high-class people who take everything for granted.

Right now, I'm confident that I can beat online poker for around 40k. Granted, I'm not a great player, but I know I will improve as time goes by. I see poker as my only way to escape the horrible working conditions I have to endure. As well, being a competitive person by nature, poker gives me that sense of accomplishment that feels so special when I outplay someone.

So yeah, anyways, my plan is to go professional January 1st, 2006. By then, I'll have 20k in the bank (1 year's worth of savings incase things don't work out). As well, my poker skills should have improved even more by then, to the point where I should be able to make at least around 60k. For some people, playing poker professionally is an option. For others, it's the only way out of a miserable life spent serving unappreciative people.