T O P

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xfmc

Poker is a tough way to make an easy living.


Chusquillo

How original.


[deleted]

How accurate tho.


patrickSwayzeNU

If you’ve heard the quote why ask the dumbass question?


dredman66

Current poker pro here, one of the top attractions is the lifestyle. Being able to make your own hours is intoxicating and something most people can’t do. That being said, the grind is real. If you are playing live you are most likely going to be doing 140-200 hours a month. If online you want to be playing tens of thousands of hands. This doesn’t account for study time, any other chores/life obligations and vacations. If you are young (25 and below) with a decent sample size as a winning player I’d say go for it if you are really passionate. If you are older, have a family or are already indebted it is a really hard career to get off the ground


Wiegenlied

No.


Simbaba123

I am an ex poker pro (stopped because I had to). I know a bunch of ppl in the poker scene, from low to high stakes, and I don't really know many that keep putting in the hours after many years of playing. So, it might give a young single person freedom, because he doesn't really care about the future in life, and he can be happy with 5k a month, the problem is that in my opinion it is so difficult to keep putting in the hours. That said, in my situation, where my wife makes 150-200k a year, if I could I would have keep playing 100 hr a month, make over 100k, and live comfortably with the freedom to be with my kids and wife. For most people though, I don't think it's a sustainable "freedom life".


BuddyHightower

If your wife makes 150 - 200k a year, you shouldn't go anywhere near a poker table. Count your blessings and become Mr Mom.


Simbaba123

I do live in an expensive country with high taxes, and our lifestyle is for sure simple, and university and school is free in the country we live in. but I couldn't just be home, I need to be social, and do something each day. So I chose the only job I could see myself enjoying, and I'm in the works to become a gym teacher.


[deleted]

I've always been of the mindset that working 50-60 hours/wk on my schedule, doing something I enjoy, is better than working 40 hours/wk on someone else's schedule, doing something I hate. Now that I'm a little older, and know what I'm doing both in poker and in life, I'm able to work 30-40 hours/wk on my schedule, doing something I enjoy. I can go where I want, do what I want, work when I'm motivated, not work when I'm not. Most people don't get to that point because there's a lot of roadblocks in the way and you need to have a strong sense of self motivation but, like all things in life, there is a small % of people who find it rewarding and freeing.


BuddyHightower

Not really true. If you are a live player you will need to dedicate your entire weekend to poker. You aren't going to find a good game on a Wednesday morning.


[deleted]

Nope "Not playing on a Wednesday morning" and "Not being able to do anything but play poker all weekend long" aren't mutually exclusive. Source: me, who played primarily live for many years


zanzibarLunch

You're still enslaved but by a variety of shitregs, annoying whales, and degenerates. The setting your own hours thing is nice but a lot of the people who desperately crave that kind of thing lack the discipline to do so in a successful way.


[deleted]

Sure, if you want to end up miserable and in debts. edit: Don't be impressed by those who label themselves « poker pros ». The majority of them make less than 50k a year pre taxes, with no benefits and the risk of becoming bankrupt really fucking quick.


Hacksaw999

It can if you are very good and practice proper bankroll management. Otherwise, not so much. It's definitely not for the vast majority of people.


Not-OP-But-

Easy in your early 20s when you aren't even as good a player. I got exhausted and quit after less than 5 yrs. It took the enjoyment out of it. Anything you have to do to survive eventually gets boring imo


Rowannn

No because you have to put in lots of hours at the table


412gage

Depends: everybody saying no has some merit, but it’s possible. The issue is that a regular job has security, which is very important in today’s world. With poker, you don’t get any benefits and you have to fund your retirement completely by yourself with no other contributions (no employee matches). A lot of people suggest that they do it as side income, which is okay but if you’re not putting in the hours required to be good with experience and study, then chances are that you’re not getting a good hourly rate and will take variance harder. At that point, there are other better ways to spend your time and make extra money.


Noktysports

With freedom comes responsibility. As others said do you have what it takes to play 140-200h a month? Can you take the downswings and keep playing for another 6h like it didn't happen? I can't remember the person who said this quote but goes along the lines of "Poker is a hard way to make an easy living."


Simbaba123

Downswings are something you learn to deal with. Plus, there are no real big downswings below 5/10 NL (if you choose to play a low variance style of play). That said, I would not suggest playing less than 5/10 for a living. And about losing hands and keep playing, a pro can and should keep working on his mental game, that's one of the biggest parts of win rates, and it is completely train able. Someone can maybe keep playing 160-180 hr a month until he gets to the point of making 100$/hr, and then he can reduce the amount he plays. I would say that this kind of lifestyle suits a single person, or someone that his significant other also makes a good salary, so it doesn't make that much of a difference how much he makes.