How to become a poker champion

Hi Everyone,

I am new to this site and poker for that matter. I have decided I want to work on becoming a poker master, since I am currently unhappy with my job and figure I can learn poker and quit (or even buy the store that I work at and fire my boss.) LOL

Since you guys seem to know your stuff, I'd like to ask you some questions.

What does it take to become a poker master?

I know it takes dedication and I have that. I know you must have talent too. I am considered the best D&D player in my area. In fact, people are afraid to go up against my characters. hehehe

I figure that there must be a way to convert my D&D skills into poker skills. Does anyone have advice?


Thank you in advance,

Doug Bird

[Greg J]

Go for it. Jump right in. Just keep in mind the difference between third level thinking and a third level Druid.

Not to be a jerk, but is this a real post??

Dude, if you are actually considering quitting your job to become a poker pro without having the slightest idea about what this type of move would entail, please stop thinking about it. I know pretty much nothing about poker, but what I do know is that there are many people who play upwards of 10k to 20k hands per month, study the nuances of the game continuously, and have been playing for years, and they STILL don't even think about trying to make a living at it. Give it a few years and see how you do, then start determining whether or not you have what it takes. It's just as hard as becoming a professional in a sport like baseball, football, etc. No matter how hard some of us work at it, we just don't have the God-given ability to make it. You might, but I wouldn't tell the boss to F-off anytime soon if I were you. Also, regarding your prowess at D&D, I doubt if that will be much of a factor in your quest. Maybe instead of knowing .001% of what you'd need to go pro, you might know .003% due to your D&D experiences. Heck, I'm averaging 234 at bowling right now, and I still blow donkey's when it comes to holdem. Good luck. By the way, I suck, so take this with a grain of salt.

[mittman84]

whoa, calm down. He said he wants to learn then quit, not quit then learn

[jb9]

Seek wisdom from the masters.

Study the Tomes of Knowledge.

Begin at Level 1.

Be careful in the rowdy tavern.

Do not wander too long in the dark forest.

You will find your greatest enemy within.

Be careful when feeding trolls.

Be sure to have a good map to track your progress and direction.

Finally, don't forget to equip your magic shield and carry a +2 sword.

That response by jb9 is one of the greatest I have ever seen. Nice job.

Thank you!!

For the reading part (figures you'd have to read to become unbeatable) should I start with:

Gambling for a Living by David Sklansky and Mason Malmuth

It seems to apply to my overall plan. Also, David Sklansky wrote a lot of those books on your link. Is he considered a master player? I assume he is if he writes books, but ya never know.

Thank you,
Doug Bird

[phish]

If this is a serious post, I'd suggest opening an internet account at one of the bigger sites, start playing micro-limits and read some books (Lee Jones' "Low Limit Holdem" is as good as any to start.

See how it goes from there. You may be a prodigy and be crushing the biggest games within a year. Or you may find it sucks and never play again.

But don't delude yourself with dreams of easy money, TV fame, million dollar endorsements, and gorgeous babes. The vast majority of people who play poker never become successful enough to make a living at it, no matter how hard they try.

[TheBlueMonster]

every time I look at your avatar I start laughing.

[ZenMusician]

[ QUOTE ]
Also, David Sklansky wrote a lot of those books on your link. Is he considered a master player?

[/ QUOTE ]

Mr. Fekali would say no...

-ZEN