How To Become A Professional Poker Player

If you are considering a career in professional poker, good for you, but don’t be naïve and think that it will happen overnight, even if you beat all of your friends at home games. Becoming a professional poker player takes time and focus, but if you do it right, you could be the next Peter Eastgate.

First off, you must understand that ultimately professional poker takes long hours, big risks, and dedication. A career in gambling is not for everyone and bankroll management is a big part of learning the game professionally. This is also related to the games you choose. Working within a strict financial base is key to moving up your game to the professional level, and you must remember that there is no guarantee you won’t lose it all once you get there. Learning to balance your game with everything going on in life will keep you sane and advancing in your professional poker career.

Game Choice
Be strict on yourself about which games you choose. Don’t start off in the big blind games, even if you do have a substantially large bankroll to begin with. Make a game plan. Allow yourself time to learn each blind because the game is different from one blind to the next. Smaller blinds are for beginners who play tight and by the book. Bigger blinds are for more experienced players who tend to be more aggressive and loose. Also, as the stakes get higher, you will be faced with better and better players, and eventually more experienced pros. Don’t set yourself up for failure, losing everything before you ever had a chance.

Once you are winning consistently at the lower limits, and your bankroll can afford a promotion (at least 300-500 times the big blind), then move up. By gradually schooling yourself in every level of poker, you will develop a higher understanding of the game that can only be learned in this way. If you can’t afford a bigger office, then don’t move. Stay where you are and be patient. Have faith in the potential of your game, but at the same time, don’t overestimate your skills. Small blind games are essential to the training of prospective pros and are a great place to practice all of the individual techniques like calculating outs and pot odds and bluffing tactics, for example. Think of low-limit games as the minor leagues of professional poker.

And remember, while poker is a game of skill, it cannot be denied that it is also a game of luck. You are going to lose sometimes. Poker is not a sure thing. If your bankroll gets too low, move back down a limit and work your way back up, as you would retake a college course if you failed it. (Or you can just go to college and get a real job, if you prefer).

Time Management
Denote a set number of hours per week to poker and think of it as going to work. Losing touch with reality and getting disconnected from life outside of poker is not a good way to learn the game, just as working too much in any other occupation isn’t healthy. Don’t be a pokerholic. This is especially important if you are playing online poker. Like anyone else who works from home, you must be able to quit working at some point and eat, sleep, watch TV, socialize, or whatever else you do to unwind. Don’t let your poker game replace day-to-day activities. Your life must remain balanced or your game will be affected negatively. A healthy psyche is key to maintaining a consistent progression of your game.

Poker is stressful, especially if you are trying to make a living at it. There’s not a guaranteed salary or paycheck coming in. Your mind and your body must rest from poker in order to be successful at it. Play for no longer than five days in a row, then take two days off. This will ensure that you don’t lose your focus, your stamina, or your patience, all of which are key components to lucrative poker play. Furthermore, if you get bored or the table goes cold, leave, because the rake is not going to get any cheaper. Don’t lose your bankroll paying the casino to transfer money back and forth between players.

It is also great to study poker on an academic level by reading books and articles such as the ones on this site. Try out new techniques one by one, focusing on certain skill sets individually, mastering them one at a time. And finally, don’t be overconfident at the poker table. Nobody likes a cocky player; don’t be that guy. Respect the game and the opportunities it can provide for you. If you are successful, you’ll be taking everyone else’s money anyway, but you don’t have to be smug about it.