Many poker players often imagine that becoming a professional player is the most glamorous thing in the world. They dream of major wins, flexible hours, an exhilarating atmosphere, and a posh lifestyle.
But is the life of a poker pro all that fabulous? Can you play online poker for a living with minimum risk and maximum excitement? Before you pursue a poker career, you need to know what it means to become a poker pro. Now is your chance to get answers to all your questions!
How Lucrative Can Poker Be?
What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think about the pros of playing poker? Most people will probably answer that it's all about the money. Movies, books, and news reports often cover major poker wins, which creates the illusion that you can get rich quickly and with little effort.
However, the truth is very different. While there are poker pros that managed to earn millions of dollars in a single game, they are very few of them. In reality, a poker pro can earn anywhere between $10,000 and $1,000,000 in the span of 12 months. But according to reviews, the average player can make about $100,000-$250,000 in one year.
Various factors can affect the player's winning rates:
- The setting in which the pros play – cash games can provide players with a semi-steady, yet modest, income. Big tournaments, however, can grant a player a major win. On the other hand, they can also have some unexpected and unfavorable results.
- The stakes they play – the higher the stakes, the bigger the payout.
- Experience and dedication – we will expand on this later.
So, while it is possible to make a decent profit while playing poker, it is not as easy as people might think.
What it Takes to Become a Poker Pro
Daniel Negreanu, which is known for living and breathing poker, made $195,764 in 2020 by participating in more than 35 WSOP events. Add that to his coaching and other ventures, and his earnings go well over the $200,000 mark. However, there is no question about the fact that he worked hard to earn the dough.
To become a highly successful poker pro – especially if you want to be as well-known as Negreanu – there are a few things you must do:
- Put in the hours – while many people believe you can win thousands of dollars by playing a few hours here and there, that is not correct. You have to practice and play as many games as you can to make a real profit.
- Be patient – even if you are a spectacular player, you won't always be the toughest nut at the table. From time to time, you will lose, and getting the money back can take a while. So - if you want to make a living by playing poker, you need to make sure you don't get discouraged by losses and that your wins outshine bad moments.
- Stay on top of your game – any player who wants to become a pro has to be rather consistent. That means always learning more about the game, getting to know your opponents, and remaining focused at all times. If you drop the ball at any moment, you might suffer a major loss that will be hard to recover from.
- Be driven – as professional poker requires a lot of dedication on your part, you have to really want it to become the nest of the best. Motivation, passion, and a calm state of mind will get you far.
In Conclusion
So no, turning poker into a career is not easy. It requires hours and hours of work, determination, and nerves of steel. But if you are committed to the game and you wholeheartedly love poker – you might get to play in the big leagues.