I'm a professional poker player, and as much as I make fun of other people and how much they work, I actually wind up working twice as much (I log almost 70 hours a week playing cards, more if I'm playing in tournaments). The good thing with my job is, when I want to take time off, I can just take it. The bad thing is, there's no 401k, benefits, sick days, and the biggest one of all: no guaranteed money!
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Big_w_powah
Trakanon Raider
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AgreedI just spent an hour and a half in the gym (on work's dime), as I am now typing this from my work computer.
Let's just agree that we are both spoiled assholes.
Big_w_powah
Trakanon Raider
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I hope you're a fucking millionaire, cause that shit just sounds like horrible work conditions.
I fucking wish. I make enough money that I don't need a real job. You always hope to take down a huge tournament, have extra bankroll to play in even bigger tournaments, get sponsors, etc. but that honestly is only like 1% of the actual poker world. Most of us just grind and try to eek out a living. I've been close a few times, have several WSOP cashes (not in the main event), but nothing substantial yet. I play mostly $2/$5 no limit holdem, $5/$10 pot limit omaha (my favorite), and occasionally $20/$40 seven card stud. Taking in all the highs and the lows, I probably make between $1,000 to $2,000 a week (and would probably make more if I didn't play in any tournaments, but I always wind up doing it, despite my better judgment).
Most professional players do it online. That way they can play multiple tables at one time as well.
Even then they would play online. It is easier and faster. How professional poker players generally calculate their weekly income is based upon how many hands they can play in any given week. So if you're playing six tables at one time you are maximizing your efficiency six fold. Eventually when you become good enough and can respond to the hand calculations it becomes a simple numbers game. But like the guy said above it is a long grind to make that money. Most professional players don't make their weekly income off "one big hand" they make it off several smaller winnings. Obviously you need to gain some live hand experience (which is why even online superstars can flame out in live events) since that is where the huge paydays occur. Your M-F work week will consist mostly of playing online.
Big_w_powah
Trakanon Raider
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And that, despite likely having a higher realistic earnings potential than I have right now, is the reason I'm never going to do that shit. Playing 4-6 games of poker at the same time just seems like a bullshit amount of work. I don't enjoy poker though. I guess if you love it its totally a good thing.
Ukerric
Bearded Ape
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If it has no guaranteed pay, no benefits, no risk coverage, it's not a job; it's a calling.
Big_w_powah
Trakanon Raider
- 1,887
- 750
Big_w_powah
Trakanon Raider
- 1,887
- 750
Actually, I play totally at casinos, not online at all. I'd love to be able to play online, but I live in Pennsylvania, which still doesn't allow online gaming. I live in West Chester, PA. I play mainly at Harrah's Chester (now Harrah's Philadelphia), but also play at Delaware Park (which is a ghost town now and will more than likely shut down soon), Parx Casino (by far the nicest casino in Pennsylvania, but over an hour's drive for me), and occasionally at the Borgata, Atlantic City (although now that's mostly just for their bigger tournaments since AC is a pain in the ass to get to and there's no need to drive to AC anymore since PA has gambling now). I make two or three trips to Las Vegas a year, but mostly now I just go out with some friends for the WSOP. I have several poker friends who live in Henderson, so when I go out they let me crash at their place and we go on a poker playing bender; playing in several WSOP events, cash games and side tournaments for two or three weeks straight. It's pretty insane. At this point in my life, I have a love/hate relationship with poker. I will say this: it is most definitely better to be lucky than good. I've seen players who are terrible make millions just getting lucky as shit in a handful of tournaments. Sorry for the derail.
