Going pro, need advice

David macdonald · Apr 30, 2019

belizebum said:
I say "go for it" Honestly life is too short. What's the worst that can happen? You go broke, you get another job. Big deal. What's the best that can happen? You kick butt and turn that $50 into millions. Good luck and keep us posted.

I am sitting here with a huge decision because I know the risks involved and I am indecisive. I really don't know what to do, I will decide soon [emoji3]

neptun1914 · May 2, 2019

This is very serious decision to take. If i were in your situation my first job would be to test how much money i can earn on average with my current skill level. Take a few days off work to grind, play for a few months during weekends and finally calculate how much money you have won on average per hour/day and if that would be enough for living or not. As already mentioned MTTs are much better choice for me instead of cash games for the beginning. In cash game you can easily loose everything that you have won for several hours in a single hand. Good luck if you decide to pull the trigger.

Jsnakes · May 2, 2019

all of your time times 2

Just consider 40hrs a week a full time job. Well double that if you plan on committing. Sleep will be micro managed in hours. Be sure you have other income. Playing loose wont get you too far. Fold even at the best of times. Wstch how certain games are played. The aggressiveness of some players are majority call centers. People throwing money away essentially. May win big once in a while. But consistancy is key. Betting, when to call, raise will all come almost naturally if you remain patient. Drill the routine into you just like any job. Frustration gets all of us one way or another and how you respond to the environment of each and every game will determine how far you go. Take notes on certain players when you recognize it. even if they have shit luck many have thier own set method and how to respond themselves. If you are resolved from the beginning you will not be perplexed. after thousands of hours it will come down to how you read cards and what cards the universe of poker gives you. we all take get eachothers money in the end. oh and if have to choose between your woman wanting attention or the game. give her some time. unless its a really good f(cking tourney. ziiiing

BobbyMorton · May 2, 2019

I take it you are a winning player at the moment to be considering this.

Zvezda kz · May 2, 2019

Hey.
I just wish you good luck in your new milestone in your life. Be careful not to risk big money until you know that this is your income, and you should not risk it.
I can still recommend books that all players have on their lips. Therefore, I will not repeat. Only your unique experience will give you income.
Once again, good luck and calm.

sibird · May 2, 2019

David macdonald said:
Hello guys/girls,

I have decided that I want to leave my job and play poker, I have no intention of going out to win big I just want to earn enough to get by and I will see where the journey takes me. I have played on stars since 2006 and I want to give all my time to the game online and live. I will start with £50 deposit on Wednesday and I will gradually build my cash at the cash tables and play at least 1 tournament per day. I am fully aware that this is going to be a tough grind and it won't go my way all the time. So firstly I want to add to my poker book collection, does anyone know of any good poker books? I think negreanu would be the best but does anybody have any good books about strategy? I will also use my poker tracker to monitor my stats.
Thanks

Firstly, you need money to live. I mean , food, lodging and other obligations for next one year. This will free your mind up to some extent and you may concentrate on your game.

Secondly, you need money to play regularly. For this you need extra fund (say, for next six months there won't be any shortage of money to play).

You are playing since 2006. That means you have gained enough experience of your own which lead you to make such decision. And i don't think you need poker books to improve your game. Poker pro don't read the books. They write them.

You intend to leave the job. That is the thing which is bothering me. Make a calculation, how much you gained from poker in last few months? If it is more than what you are getting from your job and if you are confident that you can make that much amount regularly then i think it is worth a try.

Best of luck.

David macdonald · May 2, 2019

sibird said:
Firstly, you need money to live. I mean , food, lodging and other obligations for next one year. This will free your mind up to some extent and you may concentrate on your game.

Secondly, you need money to play regularly. For this you need extra fund (say, for next six months there won't be any shortage of money to play).

You are playing since 2006. That means you have gained enough experience of your own which lead you to make such decision. And i don't think you need poker books to improve your game. Poker pro don't read the books. They write them.

You intend to leave the job. That is the thing which is bothering me. Make a calculation, how much you gained from poker in last few months? If it is more than what you are getting from your job and if you are confident that you can make that much amount regularly then i think it is worth a try.

Best of luck.

I haven't left my job I don't think I'm good enough to win enough money to quit it. I have a week off to give it a try.
Thanks for the advice

neafana · May 2, 2019

David macdonald said:
Hello guys/girls,

I have decided that I want to leave my job and play poker, I have no intention of going out to win big I just want to earn enough to get by and I will see where the journey takes me. I have played on stars since 2006 and I want to give all my time to the game online and live. I will start with £50 deposit on Wednesday and I will gradually build my cash at the cash tables and play at least 1 tournament per day. I am fully aware that this is going to be a tough grind and it won't go my way all the time. So firstly I want to add to my poker book collection, does anyone know of any good poker books? I think negreanu would be the best but does anybody have any good books about strategy? I will also use my poker tracker to monitor my stats.
Thanks

Before quitting your jo, you need to realize if are a winner player in cash, at least at 50NL, depending on which country you are leaving. In pokerstars I don't think you can win more than 3BB/100hands are 50NL, so if you play 3000hands/day (8hours/day, 50 hands/hour, around 8 to 10tables) which is a lot, you will have 45$/day). Have in mind that you won't be able to play everyday and if you increase the number of hours everyday, you will not play so well.

I'm saying this because most probably you are not a 200NL winner since you are asking this questions.

In conclusion, don't quit your job, play part time, count the hours and the winning and realize if you can quit your job.

tauri103 · May 2, 2019

I do not think it's a good idea to quit your job especially that it may take a lot of time to reach your goal with only $ 50.

terryk · May 2, 2019

Everyone who plays this game dreams of playing as a pro and living "the good life",,,for most,thats all it will ever be,,,,a dream.:deal:

TravelerLloyd · May 3, 2019

You are right terryk, but that's why life is so cool. We can dream.

Like that song says..."Dream on...Dream on...Dream until your dreams come true." .All Praises To The Most High YAH for allowing us to be able to dream...dreams and some men will see visions.

HallaluYAH!

terryk said:
Everyone who plays this game dreams of playing as a pro and living "the good life",,,for most,thats all it will ever be,,,,a dream.:deal:

marcumx · May 3, 2019

take the advice of not leave your job until you're winning on a constant basis and have savings to make up for droughts. there's times that i go weeks on a downswing, i have stash to cover expenses when this happens. realize most pros don't rely on poker as their sole income, some coach some have endorsements and alot don't put up their own buy ins. good luck

VisionNutz · May 4, 2019

If you believe it than you can achieve it!

There's is a license required in some way I think to be considered a "pro player"

rdpoker5 · May 4, 2019

It is possible to make it, but just jumping into the unknown can easily turn into a disappointment. It is one thing hearing stories about downswings, but actually going through them is very frustrating, so be prepared for that. It is probably not going to be just smooth sailing. Your mental game has to be on point.Keep posting, I am very curious how you will be doing. Good luck!

Manifestor · May 4, 2019

leave work and rely only on poker, is it strange how old are you? I think no more than 25, in other cases you are just a naive person If you have a large stock of money, you can try half a year old, but to quit a job for the sake of poker is not professional. Is it possible that your work is an employee at MD (
I have nothing against MD, but still this is not a dream job for many), then you can try, but then look for another job if yours does not bring you pleasure, but I wouldn’t put everything to work in poker.

ReoRekop · May 4, 2019

Always think about how to achieve your goal and beat the obstacles

vic88888 · May 4, 2019

Good luck.

David macdonald · May 4, 2019

Manifestor said:
leave work and rely only on poker, is it strange how old are you? I think no more than 25, in other cases you are just a naive person If you have a large stock of money, you can try half a year old, but to quit a job for the sake of poker is not professional. Is it possible that your work is an employee at MD (
I have nothing against MD, but still this is not a dream job for many), then you can try, but then look for another job if yours does not bring you pleasure, but I wouldn’t put everything to work in poker.

I have a good job but I used to play for money, I want to get back into it but I'm a bit rusty [emoji3]

David macdonald · May 4, 2019

marcumx said:
take the advice of not leave your job until you're winning on a constant basis and have savings to make up for droughts. there's times that i go weeks on a downswing, i have stash to cover expenses when this happens. realize most pros don't rely on poker as their sole income, some coach some have endorsements and alot don't put up their own buy ins. good luck

The problem is that I have no time for poker atm because of my job. I will play Sunday millions tomorrow and see how that goes and the Sunday storm

KristaK · May 4, 2019

David macdonald said:
Hello guys/girls,

I have decided that I want to leave my job and play poker, I have no intention of going out to win big I just want to earn enough to get by and I will see where the journey takes me. I have played on stars since 2006 and I want to give all my time to the game online and live. I will start with £50 deposit on Wednesday and I will gradually build my cash at the cash tables and play at least 1 tournament per day. I am fully aware that this is going to be a tough grind and it won't go my way all the time. So firstly I want to add to my poker book collection, does anyone know of any good poker books? I think negreanu would be the best but does anybody have any good books about strategy? I will also use my poker tracker to monitor my stats.
Thanks

hi hi
am i correct in understanding that you would like to quit your job, play poker for your livelihood, and you start with £50?
i am puzzled how many encourage you in this folly.

David macdonald · May 4, 2019

KristaK said:
hi hi
am i correct in understanding that you would like to quit your job, play poker for your livelihood, and you start with £50?
i am puzzled how many encourage you in this folly.

No I was planning on starting with 50 but it's going to be more [emoji3]

poker_bro · May 5, 2019

Game theory of poker and The mental game of poker by Jared Tendler. I think those two books are only books you need. Learn them 100% and I think there is not any obstacles

r21sp · May 5, 2019

I would advise you not to play cash games and tournaments at the same time because they are completely different games! Focus on one discipline and develop in it!

TpaEnforcement · May 5, 2019

Going pro will be tough but you can do it. Just keep your job and take a leave of absent. Then try the grind to see how it pans out. don't just throw all your apples in one basket.This way if it does work out great.

Like my brother he tried it ,but he didn't have the luck with it but he still had a job after running into diffiticultey

JBGoode · May 5, 2019

I highly suggest not leaving your job with only a $50 deposit online.... you need thousands to do that.... and you need to separate your poker capital from your personal with at least 6 months of living funds on top of your capital....

I went pro once, and now, even though I do work for myself. I had to devert focus from playing as much to other revanue streams.....

I had a 4,000 bankroll, and about 9,000 in my personal account for Bills when I attempted it.... I lasted a year before varience caught up to me, and I was in the danger zone of not getting my Bills paid....

Plus you need to be focusing on cash if you want to be pro. Putting in 4-6 hours at 200NL live, and multi tabling 4-6 tables at 50NL online. At least 5 days a week. With about 3-4 hours of study at least 2 days a week....

I know this isnt what you want to hear, but this is the truth of going pro, and what it takes. Anything less and you are just shark food for the real pros.

Going pro, need advice

David macdonald

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Jsnakes

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David macdonald

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