Anybody considering going "pro"

[EliminateU]

I am curious about poker players with full-time aspirations...

[Wyte22]

Once my BR is over 40K, I am quitting my job and going pro lol If last night was any indication as to when that will happen, sometime in the year 4040.

[frob23]

I don't think I could ever go pro. Not because of fear or anything but because I love what I do professionally. I do not think I would ever want to stop doing what I do and that takes a lot of time away from playing poker. So I wouldn't be able to play enough to be pro.

So, it looks like recreational player for life right now.

[iceveins0901]

I decided if I ever got my BR to 10k online that I would consider going pro, I know the 1/2 game at the local casino is very easy to beat most days, and here in Iowa you only have to have some back up savings for the rough times but other than that, if you could make $200 a day here you would be living lavishly.

Because really, the cost of living is fairly low, and If I could beat 2/4 online over the course of 50k hands or so, the casinos would be a breeze, plus 1/2 and .5/1 online would be easy too.

Too bad I am for now just a basically break even player playing .5/1, hovering between 1k-2k. I hope if I keep studying and playing I will finally break through into being a winning player online.

[liladypokerpro]

I would have to make enough to live off of for at least 5 years before I would consider going pro.....reason being, one year's worth of salary is not going to sustain a living AND absorb the downswings of playing professionally. Pro buy-in levels are waaaaaaaaay higher than the norm we're all used to.

[iceveins0901]

yea, I just dislike working at my job, so my monetary standards are probably a bit lower than normal.

[liladypokerpro]

I hear ya...I don't know if it's humanly possible to dislike a job more than I dislike mine, but it's guaranteed money if I show up, so the odds are a little more in my favor no matter how much I hate it...

[Wyte22]

As far as jobs, I worked a DOUBLE friday, and made $16 lol I go home, make $175 playing poker in 2 hours .v. working 8 hours at my job If I wasn't soo scared of the idea of poker as my job, I'd have quit along time ago =) but then agian, I need a BR to absorb my losses at the 220 HUsng level before I even consider going pro!

[powrdragn]

Your decision is likely going to be beased on how much you need to live on. In some parts of the country you can make $100/day and never play anything more than 1/2 or 2/5 and live quite ocmfotably without having a huge bankroll.

Being a pro doesn't mean you need to play high limits.

[Wyte22]

Originally Posted by powrdragn Your decision is likely going to be beased on how much you need to live on. In some parts of the country you can make $100/day and never play anything more than 1/2 or 2/5 and live quite ocmfotably without having a huge bankroll. Being a pro doesn't mean you need to play high limits.

Very true, but the big issues most people don't consider (in the US) is the tax ramifications of being a Pro. Poker is not seen (yet) as a legitamte self-employment job. The court systems see it as a "Luxury" and tax it accordingly (believe it is around 40% tax rate). Soo if you do play, and make $100 a day, and do your taxes right, can you honestly live off of around 1800 a month? honestly, I can almost live off of that, I'd need alittle bit more.

and as for the high limits, I am not interested in playing the 2K/5K HuSnGs but I'd enjoy playing a high enough limit to where I am not having to spend HOURS in front of my computer everyday to just make end's meet! around the 100-200 range is my target and if I get a BR that takes me higher, so be it. but if I am to play professionally, I want a 200 min BI BR.

[iceveins0901]

well considering I live off of 1600 a month right now, yes I could.

But then of course you need to take health insurance into account in the US, which I think is more expensive if you are self employed.

either way, if I were able to make 10k playing online, I know I could take the same 10k out, and start playing everyday at the local casino, with the 10k back up in the bank and be absolutely fine, being the level of difficulty online is much higher than the 1/2 and the 2/5 game live, I am sure it would be a breeze.


[edit]

Hey everyone who wants some cash play in the cash games! it really must still be the weekend because the chips are flying like a drunken friday night, up 3 buy ins already, (would be 4 or possibly 5 but lost one 2pair vs 65o straight in ep, lol)
The games are live and easy, this extra weekend night is nice!

[liladypokerpro]

Hell try living off of 600 a month...if not for Carrie I'd be under an overpass somewhere...