Thinking of taking the plunge into Professional Poker

hey pres.....xa makes a lot of valid points. pls look at the big picture.

On Feb 8 2008 7:40 PM, Preston wrote:

> On Feb 8, 6:31=A0pm, "XaQ Morphy" wrote:
> > On Feb 8 2008 5:58 PM, Preston wrote:
> >
> > > I guess I'm torn and looking for advice.
> >
> > Have you investigated housing/renting costs in the area you want to live?
> >
> > Have you investigated health insurance in the area you want to live?
> >
> > Do you have a bankroll of 500 big bets (minimum, I'd say) for the level
> > you want to play?
> >
> around $1000 a month
> health insurance at around $500 a quarter
>
> > Do you have 6 months living expenses based on the costs above saved away?
> >
>
> I have access to $30k or so if it comes to that, but I'm not sure I
> have the psychological fortitude to really go for more if I'm down
> 10-15k or so.
>
> > Have you tried playing poker for 40+ hours a week for at least, oh, 12
> > weeks in a row?
> >
>
> No
> > ---
> > Morphy
> > xaqmor....TakeThisOut@donkeymanifesto.comhttp://www.donkeymanifesto.com/
> >
> > -----=A0



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On Feb 8 2008 5:07 PM, johnny_t wrote:

>
>
> 20-30 bucks an hour is freaking chump change.

  It is?  The median household income in the US is about 50k/year which is
$25/hour.  I didnt realize what a poor country the US is with the average
household/person surviving on "chump change".

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On Fri, 8 Feb 2008 22:41:28 -0800 (PST), Preston <prestonpoulter.DeleteThis@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>On Feb 8, 11:57 pm, ghous <gh31....DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> Why dont you play on the internet? Then you wont even have to quit your
>> job.

>> All new "YouTube Style" Poker Videos:http://pokerTVnetwork.com

>> posted viahttp://LiveActionPoker.com

>Well the goal is to be closer to my daughter who lives in LA, hence
>the move and leaving the cush job.
>Realistically I'm going to give it a try for a couple of weeks and see
>how it goes. If it doesn't work out,
>well, nothing ventured nothing gained.

>I suppose I'm really trying to understand the negative perception
>based on those who take part in the lifestyle itself?

Maybe they have some actual knowledge about what being a "professional
poker player" entails, and have seen person after person try and fail?

There are some people who can quite reasonably take a shot at it.
It certainly isn't impossible. I just think most people with the mental
capacity to be consistently profitable at poker and play professionally
would be better off putting the same brainpower to better use.

Only a few people are not only capable of being a professional poker
player, but better off doing that than anything else. Many of the rest
are fuckups and gimps barely scraping along.
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On Feb 8 2008 3:58 PM, Preston wrote:

> I've played poker as a hobby a lot. I keep records and I do win about
> the usual big bet an hour. Right now I have a cush job in Dallas that
> has allowed me to save up quite a bit of money, but my six year old
> daughter is in LA and I need to be closer to her. I've started looking
> for a job out there, but I find myself questioning why I would work
> harder and more hours for less money than the $30 an hour I feel I
> should be able to get at $15-30 at one of the LA casinos.
>
> Now my experience at $15-30 is pretty limited- about 11 hours or so.
> But out of those $20 hours I've won $1800 in some of the loosest and
> most bizarre games I've seen. I know that this is not even close to a
> long term average, but it does reinforce in my mind that the game is
> plenty soft if I chose to make my living that way.
>
> But the other people in my life actively discourage me and I guess I
> don't have the courage to really do it. I feel I need to have a day
> job to go to just so I can say I do something, else I will be labeled
> as a loser.
>
> I guess I'm torn and looking for advice.
>
> Sincerely,
> Preston

11 hours isn't even a blip on the radar screen, you need a lot more hours under
your belt.  Were those 11 hours on a weekend?  On a Friday night you get all
sorts of weekend warriors who just got paid, Saturday and Sunday arent that bad
either, but what about during the week, when all the average Joes are at work. 
then the game gets harder to beat, a real grind it can be.  Make sure you can
beat the game during the week as well as on the weekend, and during the day
during the week, unless you want to spend all your nights in the casino. 

I really don't think you're ready for that kind of commitment, 11 hours is one
or two sessions at best, and really doesnt give much of an indication at all
whether you are ready.  I would seriously find some kind of good work in Los
Angeles before you give up your cushy job in Dallas.

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On Feb 8 2008 4:58 PM, Preston wrote:

> I've played poker as a hobby a lot. I keep records and I do win about
> the usual big bet an hour. Right now I have a cush job in Dallas that
> has allowed me to save up quite a bit of money, but my six year old
> daughter is in LA and I need to be closer to her. I've started looking
> for a job out there, but I find myself questioning why I would work
> harder and more hours for less money than the $30 an hour I feel I
> should be able to get at $15-30 at one of the LA casinos.
>
> Now my experience at $15-30 is pretty limited- about 11 hours or so.
> But out of those $20 hours I've won $1800 in some of the loosest and
> most bizarre games I've seen. I know that this is not even close to a
> long term average, but it does reinforce in my mind that the game is
> plenty soft if I chose to make my living that way.
>
> But the other people in my life actively discourage me and I guess I
> don't have the courage to really do it. I feel I need to have a day
> job to go to just so I can say I do something, else I will be labeled
> as a loser.
>
> I guess I'm torn and looking for advice.
>
> Sincerely,
> Preston

Take two weeks off from your job.
Go to LA and play 15-30 60 hours a week for the two weeks.
That should answer your question.



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On Feb 8 2008 10:42 PM, XaQ Morphy wrote:

> On Feb 8 2008 6:40 PM, Preston wrote:
>
> > I have access to $30k or so if it comes to that, but I'm not sure I
> > have the psychological fortitude to really go for more if I'm down
> > 10-15k or so.
>
> I asked questions that would come to mind for me if I were to ask the
> question of myself if I could play poker for a living. For me the answer
> would be never in a million years, because I wouldn't be able to make more
> at the tables than what I make in IT, but if I were to consider it, those
> would be the types of questions I would ask myself.
>
> Another big question is this, at least for me. If I look back to how much
> I've progressed over the years in my 15 year IT career, the technology has
> taken drastic jumps along the way, and my skills and pay along with it.
> If I were to be out of IT for even 2 years, I don't know how I would 1)
> get back into it with that lack of keeping up with things, and 2) explain
> to possible employers my 2 year absence from the industry without flat out
> saying I was playing poker.
>
> Just consider the big picture as you think things through. Don't have a
> heater month and look back and say "holy shit, I could play for a living
> with months like that" and jump right in.
>
> Ask yourself what you would do if you lost 3 months in a row. It will
> happen. Can you survive if you have not only zero income, but negative
> income?
>
> ---
> Morphy

Long long ago I had 3 months playing everyday where I did not book one win. 
Talk about a mind fuck.



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On Feb 8 2008 3:58 PM, Preston wrote:

> I've played poker as a hobby a lot. I keep records and I do win about
> the usual big bet an hour. Right now I have a cush job in Dallas that
> has allowed me to save up quite a bit of money, but my six year old
> daughter is in LA and I need to be closer to her. I've started looking
> for a job out there, but I find myself questioning why I would work
> harder and more hours for less money than the $30 an hour I feel I
> should be able to get at $15-30 at one of the LA casinos.
>
> Now my experience at $15-30 is pretty limited- about 11 hours or so.
> But out of those $20 hours I've won $1800 in some of the loosest and
> most bizarre games I've seen. I know that this is not even close to a
> long term average, but it does reinforce in my mind that the game is
> plenty soft if I chose to make my living that way.
>
> But the other people in my life actively discourage me and I guess I
> don't have the courage to really do it. I feel I need to have a day
> job to go to just so I can say I do something, else I will be labeled
> as a loser.
>
> I guess I'm torn and looking for advice.
>
> Sincerely,
> Preston

Take a weeks vacation.

Fly to LA on a roundtrip.   $350

Book a week in hotel.       $400

Rent a car for the week.   $150

Food budget                     $200

Play and hang out at the Bike or Commerce for 10-12hrs each day.

Bankroll yourself $2500 and see if you can grind out $200/day.

$1100 for a vacation (not counting your roll cause you're gonna beat the games
you play) and first hand experience.

Come back and tell us what happened and what You think.

Auburn Sam

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i dont see any reason to leave a 'cush' job to sit at a poker table all day. 
whats so wrong with finding a job in LA just lke anyone esle would that had to
switch towns, you know the poker room is open 24 hours and the games will be
twice as good at night. 

On Feb 9 2008 1:41 AM, Preston wrote:

> On Feb 8, 11:57=A0pm, ghous wrote:
> > Why dont you play on the internet? Then you wont even have to quit your
> > job.
> >
> > --
> > All new "YouTube Style" Poker Videos:http://pokerTVnetwork.com
> >
> > --
> > posted viahttp://LiveActionPoker.com
>
> Well the goal is to be closer to my daughter who lives in LA, hence
> the move and leaving the cush job.
> Realistically I'm going to give it a try for a couple of weeks and see
> how it goes. If it doesn't work out,
> well, nothing ventured nothing gained.
>
> I suppose I'm really trying to understand the negative perception
> based on those who take part in the lifestyle itself?
-------------------------------------------------------------
me and you, we'll never get along, i hate the way you play your hands and you
wear your gun all wrong.



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Go to groups.google.com and search rec.gambling.poker for my grilled cheese
story.

If you aren't prepared for that then you aren't prepared for professional poker.

I'm not joking.


On Feb 8 2008 6:40 PM, Preston wrote:

> On Feb 8, 6:31=A0pm, "XaQ Morphy" <a1c5....DeleteThis@webnntp.invalid> wrote:
> > On Feb 8 2008 5:58 PM, Preston wrote:
> >
> > > I guess I'm torn and looking for advice.
> >
> > Have you investigated housing/renting costs in the area you want to live?
> >
> > Have you investigated health insurance in the area you want to live?
> >
> > Do you have a bankroll of 500 big bets (minimum, I'd say) for the level
> > you want to play?
> >
> around $1000 a month
> health insurance at around $500 a quarter
>
> > Do you have 6 months living expenses based on the costs above saved away?
> >
>
> I have access to $30k or so if it comes to that, but I'm not sure I
> have the psychological fortitude to really go for more if I'm down
> 10-15k or so.
>
> > Have you tried playing poker for 40+ hours a week for at least, oh, 12
> > weeks in a row?
> >
>
> No
> > ---
> > Morphy
> > xaqmor....DeleteThis@donkeymanifesto.com<a href="http://www.donkeymanifesto.com" target="_blank">http://www.donkeymanifesto.com</a>
> >
> > -----=A0
Gary Carson
http://www.garycarson.com



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On Feb 8 2008 9:06 PM, Preston wrote:

> On Feb 8, 9:02=A0pm, bigjimmf1 <jimmyhoneyw... RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote:
> > Preston wrote:
> > >> Have you considered custody?
> >
> > >> --
> > >> bigjimmf1
> >
> > > My ex and I get along quite well. She has physical custody of her, but
> > > that's largely because I've been in another state. We have joint legal
> > > custody of her and I have unlimited visitation rights. Why do you ask?
> >
> > It doesn't seem like a good idea to move to CA and become a professional
> > poker player because:
> >
> > - you have a family
> > - you sound as if you lack experience
> > - you have a "cush job"
> > - you have money saved
> > - you need to seriously re-think "I find myself questioning why I would
> > work harder and more hours for less money than the $30 an hour I feel I
> > should be able to get at $15-30" gambling
> >
> > Listen to your friends.
> >
> > --
> > bigjimmf1
>
> I don't lack experience. I have logged thousands of hours playing and
> I don't understand why people don't respect that.

Because of the level of uncertianty you expressed in your original post.


Gary Carson
http://www.garycarson.com



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On Feb 9 2008 12:33 AM, CheckRazor wrote:

> > Search a thread on RPG labled "FellKinght Goes Pro"
> > It should tell you all you need to know about this.
> >
> > Slim->
> > - Show quoted text -
>
>
> >>>Did he ever really try being a pro in Vegas? From what I remember he moved
> >>>to Arizona with Tanya and started a (now-defunct) clothing
> >>>store called Ragz4hagz or something like that.

Don't you think that part of the risk of gambling for a living is the women you
meet in poker room?


Gary Carson
http://www.garycarson.com



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Playing poker for a living is a job with no salary, no commission and no
draw. No paid vacations, holidays or sick time. No stock options, saving
plan, 401K or profit sharing. No medical benefits, insurance or health care
of any kind. And, there will be days when you leave home, put in twelve or
fourteen hours playing poker and come home with less money than you started
with. Some people regurgitate the old "Poker is a hard way to make an easy
living" saw. It's not true. There is nothing easy about it. I've been
asked about playing for a living many times and I always give the same
advice. If you've got a job - keep it. Take full advantage of your
employer's benefits and play poker part time. If you're in school - stay
there, graduate and get your degree. However, in my experience, people who
ask for this kind of advice don't really want it. They've already decided
what they are going to do.

Good luck what ever you decide.

Irish Mike

"Preston" <prestonpoulter RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:b76c9d7d-3448-45d7-b641-f329650397ab@f10g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> I've played poker as a hobby a lot. I keep records and I do win about
> the usual big bet an hour. Right now I have a cush job in Dallas that
> has allowed me to save up quite a bit of money, but my six year old
> daughter is in LA and I need to be closer to her. I've started looking
> for a job out there, but I find myself questioning why I would work
> harder and more hours for less money than the $30 an hour I feel I
> should be able to get at $15-30 at one of the LA casinos.
>
> Now my experience at $15-30 is pretty limited- about 11 hours or so.
> But out of those $20 hours I've won $1800 in some of the loosest and
> most bizarre games I've seen. I know that this is not even close to a
> long term average, but it does reinforce in my mind that the game is
> plenty soft if I chose to make my living that way.
>
> But the other people in my life actively discourage me and I guess I
> don't have the courage to really do it. I feel I need to have a day
> job to go to just so I can say I do something, else I will be labeled
> as a loser.
>
> I guess I'm torn and looking for advice.
>
> Sincerely,
> Preston
>
 >> Stay informed about: Thinking of taking the plunge into Professional Poker 

On Feb 8 2008 7:06 PM, Preston wrote:

> On Feb 8, 9:02 pm, bigjimmf1 <jimmyhoneyw... RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote:
> > Preston wrote:
> > >> Have you considered custody?
> >
> > >> --
> > >> bigjimmf1
> >
> > > My ex and I get along quite well. She has physical custody of her, but
> > > that's largely because I've been in another state. We have joint legal
> > > custody of her and I have unlimited visitation rights. Why do you ask?
> >
> > It doesn't seem like a good idea to move to CA and become a professional
> > poker player because:
> >
> > - you have a family
> > - you sound as if you lack experience
> > - you have a "cush job"
> > - you have money saved
> > - you need to seriously re-think "I find myself questioning why I would
> > work harder and more hours for less money than the $30 an hour I feel I
> > should be able to get at $15-30" gambling
> >
> > Listen to your friends.
> >
> > --
> > bigjimmf1
>
> I don't lack experience. I have logged thousands of hours playing and
> I don't understand why people don't respect that. But the feedback I'm
> getting here is all negative. So I suppose that answers my question.
> Ya bunch of haters.

You got some amazingly good advice from everyone here, some of whom have
been/are "professional" poker players, and none of it was "hating".
Seriously, you wanted to hear everyone say "great idea bud, do it" but you
got actual, real, valuable advice.

What did you ask for if you didn't want real answers? You should post at
alt.toadies instead.

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