Saturday evenings have become a tradition in your group of friends: you play poker as a friend and you always win. Your office job suddenly feels boring, especially if you are able to make a fortune by playing a game you love. If you think you are good enough to become a pro, this is the best time to start.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Make your way into the Sector
Step 1. Start young
As many as 4 out of 5 of the world poker champions are under 25 years of age. It seems that the more you start young, the better your chances of being successful. Generally, in fact, the younger you are, the more you tend not to be afraid of anything and to be aggressive.
- It's not enough to know how to play poker. You have to know the strategy, the tricks of the trade, you have to know how to bluff and understand when others are bluffing.
- In general, you must be of legal age to enter a casino. If you are under 18, try to find a place in the area where you are allowed to play with other people who want to get serious, just like you.
Step 2. Become very, very good at playing poker
But just absurdly good. Good enough to earn more than you lose and to be able to go home with a lot of contacts. It doesn't matter if you always play at the same small casino in the area - coming home as a winner must become a habit.
- Try to play with people of all kinds. With those you know how to decipher, and with those who test you. With those who always play with the same strategy and with those who do not follow a strategy at all but only instinct. It is important to choose opponents who cover the greatest number of possibilities. When you find a type of person you feel weak against, focus as much as possible and play until you have compensated for your weaknesses.
- Don't just play Hold'em. Learn to play Omaha, 5 card draw and 7 card stud. The more variations you know, the better your skills will be. And you could always run into a tournament based on one of these variations.
Step 3. Try to keep track of your hours of play and accumulate at least 1500 hours
At this point you may be tempted to say, "What a stress, I feel like I'm working." And you are doing it: to make a living, you need to start with the basics. This means keeping track of all the games you play and their results. Here because:
- You will be forced to keep track of your losses. That way you won't be able to lie to yourself. If you lose often it is important to know so that you can stop in time and keep as much of your winnings as possible.
- This way you can keep track of how much money you are really earning. It is important to know this, to understand how much you can bet and how much you will have to play to maintain your lifestyle.
- It will allow you to see your weaknesses. By writing down a number of details, you will be able to find similarities in games where you have made mistakes.
Step 4. Establish your budget
Since you'll be used to keeping track of your games by now, this part will be a breeze. How much money do you need to earn, for example, each month to maintain your financial stability? For some people, € 2000 may be enough, for others it may be 10,000. Are you earning enough to keep playing full time? How much do you do on average per hour?
If you understand that you need higher stakes, to make more money in less time, congratulations: you have just increased the level of competition you will face. You will have to play in tournaments with the big boys of the trade. Or you can keep playing locally and earn your loaf a little at a time. How far can you go?
Step 5. Learn to play under pressure
Playing with your best friends and winning continuously is not quite the same as taking on new tables with new people every night, in the red carpeted VIP rooms of the best casinos. To make sure you have what it takes, learn to play when the going gets tough. Are you able to stay calm?
Staying calm and logical are part of the qualities required of a good player. Sometimes even the best players can get nervous and do something they might regret. When you get used to the most intense competitions, you will get used to the anxiety and (at least in part) you will learn to control it
Step 6. Find out how much cash to take with you
Try to gauge what amounts you will need to have on hand to play. There are two possibilities:
- Limited cash. Generally, to determine the cash limit, we refer to the amount needed for 300 important bets. Try to understand what bets you will have to play to earn the amounts you have imposed on yourself. Once you have established this number, try to predict the rate of return of a consistent bet per hour. Multiply your stake by 300. If you intend to play € 20-40, which is around € 1600 (for 40 hours a week), you will need € 12,000 in cash.
- Unlimited cash. If you intend to play without limits, it doesn't matter if you set a goal. A good rule of thumb would be to limit yourself to a maximum of 20-25 buy-ins. If you have decided to play in a game with a buy-in of € 500, then you should get at least € 12,500 in cash.
Part 2 of 3: Hone Your Skills
Step 1. Find a place that allows you to earn money safely
Becoming a pro doesn't mean becoming famous - it just means making a living playing poker. You don't have to go to casinos all over the world to be a professional player - just make poker your primary source of income. If you find a seat or two that are right for you, keep them tight. They will be your daily bread.
By regularly attending one or two places, you will most likely make a name for yourself. People may start not wanting to play with you or, even worse, recognize your habits and strategy. If you have this feeling, it may be advisable to widen your circles and play with people you don't know
Step 2. Another strategy could be to play online to fund your cash flow
Many people find it easier - it's often quicker, painless, and to be honest, it's easier to take money from someone you don't see in the face.
If you live in the United States, it is possible to play online poker but it may not be legal. The US government recently ruled by law that banks should not deal with online poker companies. Either way, you can play for free to practice - or you can break into the system and use a foreign IP address, even if it's a very dodgy practice
Step 3. Start increasing your cash flow
Remember the staggering number you read any advice above? You have to start applying it seriously. You will need it to pay for buy-ins and stakes, as well as for moments when you won't be blessed with luck. Whenever you win a game, let half of your hand go directly to your reserves. If you play often enough, you should build up what you need within a few months.
Don't give in to the temptation to throw yourself into a pretty intense tournament unprepared. You may lose your earnings and be forced to start over. Be patient
Step 4. Try to save for emergencies
Some people are not meant to play this type of skill game. One of the biggest risks is losing all your savings just when you swore victory was in your pocket. This type of person often returns home without a penny and is forced to ask favors from friends in order to survive. Don't go this way! Set aside some savings for the toughest days, should you ever develop a gambling addiction and end up captive in an unfortunate losing streak.
If you think something similar is happening to you, ask for help right away. A gambling addiction can ruin not only your life, but also that of your family and those around you. Talk to someone about your problems or call a support number
Step 5. Don't be ashamed to level down
You have surpassed the level of your friends, you have made your way through the most important tournaments of the local casinos, but at the Venice Casino they even stole your underwear? It's time to swallow your pride and start over. Hone your skills and try again. There's nothing wrong.
See it as an opportunity to grow. Where did you go wrong? What could you improve? Instead of allowing this experience to damage your self-esteem, take it as an indication of where you can improve
Part 3 of 3: Getting to the Summit
Step 1. Play various cash games and tournaments
Regularly playing games at your local casino is fine, but you will need bigger tournaments to earn large sums. Visit the best casinos in your region and contact local poker organizations to find out about all the earning opportunities ahead in your area.
Major tournaments can go as high as $ 10,000 buy-ins. This type of experience is only for those with a lot of cash on hand. Make sure you are financially stable before making a leap like this
Step 2. Learn from the best
Poker has a long history of champions and experts - remember that you can always draw on their knowledge, at any time. Read books, watch videos, take lessons. Find inspiration in those who have been successful and try to understand how you can do it too.
- Start with Phil Gordon's Little Green Book or Doyle Brunson's Super System II. You will find that there are aspects of the game that you are not yet familiar with.
- Some poker sites are a rip off - they will try to ask you for money to offer you material you don't need, especially if you are already good enough. Do all the necessary research before buying anything.
- If you know any poker player who could teach you something, try to draw on their resources. Having a poker teacher (even if you are already good enough) can drastically change your skills, for the better. You will have the benefit of learning something, while they can take advantage of the opportunity to teach a subject they are so passionate about. You will all emerge victorious from this situation.
Step 3. Proceed to bigger, higher paying casinos and tournaments
Once you start gaining experience at local casinos, try your hand at bigger and more difficult tournaments. Remember to go step by step and be realistic about your financial situation and abilities. In this field it will be a slow and steady step to offer you the key to victory.
At this point you will, in all likelihood, have hundreds of contacts that will allow you to stay active in the world of poker. Research online, sign up for newsletters, and keep in touch with people who often participate in tournaments and matches you're interested in
Step 4. Quit your everyday job
When you earn enough to support yourself and are aware that you can keep this pace, it's time to quit your office job. But remember that at this point you will have to play poker. It will be your only means of livelihood. The stakes will be higher than ever. Don't be discouraged - maybe all this tension will increase your skills.
Try to take advantage of the other opportunities that come with being a professional, such as becoming a teacher, writing a book, or opening a website. This way poker will be your life, but it won't all depend on playing 40 hours a week, always feeling compelled to win. Life can be stressful, even that of a professional poker player
Advice
- Try not to bluff repeatedly. Other players may notice your attempt and you may lose your chips.
- You could buy a poker game for your console that allows you to play alone and practice.
- If you know someone good at playing poker, ask them to help you out and teach you the tricks of the trade.
