Joined: Mar '17
Location: Belgium
Age: 46 (F)
Posts: 3
I have been into poker cashgames and MTTs since a few months, I used to play hold'em with playchips, but that was years ago. I wasn't taking it very serious, but the game suited me well, and I wanted to try it with real money at some point... Took a few years until I really got back into poker, and 4months ago I finally started...
I was succesful in some MTTs, and won 8 of those in a pretty short time. I mainly focused on cashgames though, which seem to suit me a lot more, I realised some time later... Started playing cashgames on a bitcoin poker site (Betcoin), read a good review about it and gave it a try with my very first deposit. Quite some gamblers/fish on there so that helped to make some profit already... I played on 2 other poker providers, one of the few sites only that are legal in my country (Belgium). I got better and more refined in the game as I played cashgames. Since some time I also multi-table which worked well too. I did loose some money, but got better along the way, more insight into the game etc, so that motivated me to continue...
But now my problem: I was able to make really nice profits in a short time, like I started with 10$ buy-in in a room, and in the same room I went up to almost 100$, playing some hours. That convinced me I could really make good money with poker, and the possibilities had to be even much better than this, since I was still playing at really low stakes... But the problem was I seemed to loose a lot of that money in the end... Did I play too loose or overconfident when I got a big stack? Was I lucky and did I think I was already that great because I made great profit, and kept on making mistakes, after those upswings? I think it's a combination of all those things...
But the surprising (or not surprising) thing was that this pattern seemed to repeat itself later on, in a very similar way. I won a lot in a period like a day, but lost it again sooner or later, and offcourse that frustrated me... AT some point I made more than 300euros in a day, and that really gave me wings... I was convinced that I could be a professional poker player, and the possibilities had to be much greater than this, in the end... But even then I couldn't continue and keep those good results day after day... I didn't want to give up and I started again on the bitcoin site, playing up to 3 tables at a time, and they offer a nice VIP system with rakeback. It did seem to going better than before, even with some downswings. At times I did get mad and frustrated on bad beats and bad luck, cuz I thought I was so unlucky at times (I do have similar problems in life in general). But I still wanted to continue, thinking I also learned out of the hands that went wrong...
But so to cut my story short: I would love to be a professional poker player, I really like the game... For example the strategic thinking, the learning and evolving, the fact that you can play it from wherever you live, at any time. That you are not dependant on other people or a boss, etc... I feel like I really need it, to give me the (financial) freedom I'm looking for in life. I do have an income now, so in theory I don't need the money... I don't have a job though, and a "regular job" is just not an option for me (anymore). I was so euphoric when my earnings began to be really good playing cash games, and at another time when it went bad, I cried of pure sadness... I don't want to give up that dream yet, thinking I really have the talent for this game, and already proven that I can do it, despite the losses... But I can't deny that it's not really good for me if bad beats do get me mad, and my play might suffer under that too. Or the financial losses if I couldn't get my earnings and positive balance stable... In my opinion it's easier to find that balance though when you play games, rather than tournaments. I also feel that there is more luck involved in tournaments...
I do think the only way to find out for sure is maybe to give it once last chance, and do my very best to get it going... I gave myself a period of at least a few weeks now to consider, what the best thing is to do, because this is really a difficult situation for me. So I stopped playing for now... It's quite important to me because if I could be a poker pro, it could really give me the life I want... That I can live independent (now living with my parents still), build something up and have the money in life to make plans etc... (Now I just have a limited income). Thats why I don't want to give up that quickly, but maybe you guys have a different opinion. At this moment I just wouldn't know what else to do if I had to forget about poker. So only if I'd see it really is not for me, or does not work out, I'd stop... I'm also thinking, if poker is not for me, what do these pros have or can do what I could not? That might sound a bit arrogant, but I really believe I have all the skills to be a great player... I might not have nerves of steel, and I do have my flaws, but so does everyone, I think.
All ideas, advice or inspiration is appreciated!
For what it's worth, here are some of my stats:
Total Games: 505 game(s) doubt (disconnected) 1 game(s) Games Won: won 127 of 505 (25%) Win/Loss: won m฿118,07 Raise/Call Ratio: 0.4 (85 raises, 228 calls) Call/Fold Ratio: 0.6 (228 calls, 365 folds) Bet/Check Ratio: 0.8 (123 bets, 160 checks) Flops: saw 229 of 505 (45%)
Joined: Oct '08
Location: Germany
Age: 49 (M)
Posts: 2025
i hate to say it, because no one should ever listen to someone, who tells him to give up his dreams. you have to believe in your self. no dreams no success. but in this case i think you should give up your dream, making a living out of poker and take it as a hobby (as first). the pros have the money, not like they started with $100 and build a 10 million bankroll out of it. even if your good and have a steady monthly income, its still risky because you can be break even for months - thats poker - so you need a huge bankroll. i would see it as a nice additional income...and who knows, if you keep being successfull over the years, you can still think about to make a living out of poker.
Joined: Dec '12
Location: New Zealand
Age: 33 (M)
Posts: 504
to be a pro you need to be a regular on the circuits....and most these days get there via satellite then cashing the main event. the other way is to call yourself a pro and start up a youtube/twitch channel. to be a pro you need to become famous via tournaments not cash games
Joined: Jan '13
Location: Philippines
Age: 57 (F)
Posts: 857
yup thats true thats why im still enjoying the bankroll mob membership.i hope your all in good shape today guys, im still working on my laptop sonner or later ill play for poker
Joined: Mar '17
Location: Belgium
Age: 46 (F)
Posts: 3
Posted by T3ddyKGB: i hate to say it, because no one should ever listen to someone, who tells him to give up his dreams. you have to believe in your self. no dreams no success. but in this case i think you should give up your dream, making a living out of poker and take it as a hobby (as first). the pros have the money, not like they started with $100 and build a 10 million bankroll out of it. even if your good and have a steady monthly income, its still risky because you can be break even for months - thats poker - so you need a huge bankroll. i would see it as a nice additional income...and who knows, if you keep being successfull over the years, you can still think about to make a living out of poker.
Well I won't give up the dream I posted this on many forums to get a broad range of opinions, and I'm learning from it... I'm sure most poker pros didn't start out rich though, I guess they were just normal people with a normal income or bankroll before they really made it... I think once you're succesfull you can build up a bankroll pretty quick, and have 10k$ for example to play at WSOP. Or like the other guy says, by winning (smaller) tournaments or satellites... Most of us aren't born with a huge bankroll
Joined: Jun '13
Location: Canada
Age: 80 (M)
Posts: 3700
You are maybe good at poker however to know if you are good enough to be a pro you would need a lot more game experience.
Now you have only 505 games play this is not enough to make a very good opinion on your poker skills.
Now like one said just continue to play as a hobby and play a lot more games after having played over 10,000 or more games if you are still a profitable player than you maybe could think at being a pro.
Joined: Mar '17
Location: Belgium
Age: 46 (F)
Posts: 3
Posted by Robbo1990: to be a pro you need to be a regular on the circuits....and most these days get there via satellite then cashing the main event. the other way is to call yourself a pro and start up a youtube/twitch channel. to be a pro you need to become famous via tournaments not cash games
I think it depends on the kind of circuits you mean... I think in general you have 2 "kinds" of pros, either those that play mostly online (cash games or mtt etc), and make a living out of it, and the more famous, and sponsored players that grind the big tournaments of EPT & WSOP... The 2nd one will probably cash a lot more if they get far... However online I'm sure you can build up a big bankroll too, but the level has gotten higher in the years... So I don't think you need to become "famous" to be a pro, sure if you can become famous and grind the big tournaments, that you will cash a lot more but first you have to proof yourself at those tourneys before anyone will notice you... And Lol at the "call yourself a pro on youtube" idea, I doubt that would make you rich...
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Posted by pinotte: You are maybe good at poker however to know if you are good enough to be a pro you would need a lot more game experience.
Now you have only 505 games play this is not enough to make a very good opinion on your poker skills.
Now like one said just continue to play as a hobby and play a lot more games after having played over 10,000 or more games if you are still a profitable player than you maybe could think at being a pro.
Good luck to you.
Lol Thanks, but those 505 games was just a run at one single table... I still don't have much expierence though, just some months... I'm getting a coach now to get the best out of me!
Joined: Apr '11
Location: Montenegro
Age: 44 (M)
Posts: 636
I think u need more experience to think about bee a pro.U should play on bigger poker rooms where was taugher players.I play couple years ago ,i started with freerolls on many rooms and play every day a couple hours.I think that is main problem now that we dont have lot off freeroll like before,dont have much site who give free money like starting capital.For me is ok but for new players is very difficult,they spend a lot of money to learn to play. How is possible that play with play money and after some months become a pro?Poker seems is easy when u learn rules but i think is a very tough psihological game and when u learn to read ur opponents and his moves and cards like i see in youtube when Negreanu said exatcly cards which other have ,then u can may try to bee a pro.
Posted by Lieutenant_O: I do have an income now, so in theory I don't need the money... I don't have a job though, and a "regular job" is just not an option for me (anymore).
Joined: Feb '11
Location: United Kingdom
Age: 59 (M)
Posts: 5712
Hey! If you enjoy it and think you can make a go of it, give it a go. What have you got to lose? Don't let it be one of those things that you have thought of doing but didn't get round to doing it. Whatever you decide...and it has to be YOUR OWN DECISION (cos at the end of the day, who really cares what other people may say or think, cos their lives are different t yours), make sure you come back and tell us how it went. GOod luck.
Joined: Mar '09
Location: Greece
Age: 47 (F)
Posts: 14136
It was a dilemma indeed, reading such a long post. I would say first start grinding low limits and then go up. You will get an idea for what you can do. And this takes time. Because going pro at once its not easy, you need history, plus money to back you up, like the others said.
Joined: Dec '12
Location: New Zealand
Age: 33 (M)
Posts: 504
the reason why i said famous, was so you can get 'backing' see most these players dont have much money but people stake them to play. and by being famous you have a following allowing for you to get sponsorship deals.
cash games online is good if you multi table especially when grinding lower stakes. have a look at most of todays pros, a lot come from building up a youtube following. and main events high rollers get you noticed not much else will
Joined: Jan '17
Location: Lithuania
Age: 66 (M)
Posts: 1756
I dont know what pro means really, some pros lose lots of money everything they won and more and they still are called pro's, some are winning players, some are just goid at being in the press all the time, I think there is no need to have this status, just play and enjoy everything
Joined: Oct '08
Location: Germany
Age: 49 (M)
Posts: 2025
this is very true, gerimantas. anyway, a pro is someone who either is among the best at what hes doing or makes a living out of it. so if you earn 10-15k a month your a pro. i wouldnt quit my job for less than 10k a month. i mean, every freaking day poker? that has to feel like working on a assembly line and that would make me go crazy.
Joined: May '08
Location: Lithuania
Age: 39 (M)
Posts: 10090
as the saying goes: "with great power comes great responsibility" what this means is when you become a poker pro- you have to be always polite at the tables like for example tony g, and you also have to support the non profits with your profits, until you're out of profits... so it's a tough life being a pro, better just be a plumber.
Joined: Mar '14
Location: Japan
Age: 49 (M)
Posts: 8946
Hello, Lieutenant_O. Welcome to the forum. This is such an amazing post. I wonder if you could tell us who is your role model and why. Best of luck for all future endeavors and keep achieving all your goals.
Interestingly written ... but of course all that is described in this message depends on the large number of different factors ... I'm certainly not the most authoritative expert in this matter, but as it seems to me ... damn I do not know what to answer
Joined: Mar '14
Location: Japan
Age: 49 (M)
Posts: 8946
Posted by Tony_MON7ANA: Hello, Lieutenant_O. Welcome to the forum. This is such an amazing post. I wonder if you could tell us who is your role model and why. Best of luck for all future endeavors and keep achieving all your goals.
Inadvertently I put the words in the wrong order yesterday. The sentence should be written as follows: "I wonder if you could tell us who your role model is and why." A thousand apologies for my clumsiness.
I posted this on many forums to get a broad range of opinions, and I'm learning from it... 
< ...There's a big dilemma
