How to Become a Professional Poker Player (and Why)?
If you’re already playing poker for a long time and discovered that you could make money from it, you’ve probably considered quitting your day job to pursue your dream of being a full-time professional poker player.
Poker as a profession might be a very appealing prospect: you’d be your boss, set your hours with no limitation to how much money you can make.
However, it’s not for everyone. If you decide to pursue poker as a career, you will be put to the test in various ways.
According to poker veteran Daniel Negreanu, a mix of learning, practice, and business knowledge is required to become a professional poker player.
To apply your knowledge at game speed, you must spend time working through innovative ideas and drilling the principles of how a specific situation is played.
What is A Professional Poker Player?
A professional poker player has earned a living playing poker and is considered a specialist in the game.
They cover all or most of their expenses and costs with their poker table earnings, Rakeback, and other poker-related sponsorships or revenue.
So, before you decide to pursue a career as a professional poker player, consider the following factors. Then, before making your decision, read this article to learn how and why you should become a professional poker player.
Research and Know The Game Basics
It would be best to study the games you are playing to learn how to become a professional poker player.
For example, if you’re a cash game player in Texas Hold’em, this involves knowing the intricacies of the position, bankroll management, and table selection.
When it comes to live tournaments, you’ll need to figure out where the most significant deals are and how to make the most of your visits. That involves looking for good hotel packages to stretch your budget further.
If you live in the United States and want to play poker online for real money, you’ll need to know the finest online poker sites, so you must research not just online poker but everything about the poker games.
When you thought you’d learned everything, there is to know about poker, and you’ve just scratched the surface because you’ll need to conduct researches much more. However, you should never stop learning since staying still means being left behind in this game.
Study the Rules
If you want to learn how to make a profession playing poker, this may be the most fundamental guideline. You will lose money if you enter games without a thorough understanding of the rules.
PokerTracker is a tool that allows you to study poker metrics and hands. As a professional, you should spend almost as much time learning and honing your game as you do playing. Remember that copying high-stakes TV bluffs may not benefit your game in the long run.
Also, try to use the most prevalent and famous poker variation in the world, Texas Hold’em. It’s the simplest to pick up, but it also draws the most talented players. Determine where you may obtain value from weak players and select the appropriate level to avoid losing money.
Nonetheless, you may discover a variety of unusual variations like Badugi and Razz at online poker sites, where the pool of excellent players is limited. Finding lesser-known varieties is an excellent method to play online poker like a master.
Come Up With A Strong Strategy
Playing without such a tactic is nothing more than a gambling game, so you need a smart strategy to be successful.
This line separates someone who plays poker for pleasure now and then from a professional poker player.
You must not only have a strategy, yet you must also be free to adapt it whenever and wherever you need to. Moreover, because no two games are the same, you must be adaptable in your tactics.
Have True Passion For The Game
If you have a genuine passion for poker, it may be a hugely gratifying experience. So many people in today’s society want to make a livelihood doing what they enjoy, and many professional players have reached their goals.
However, if you believe you are simply playing for the money, you will most likely burn out as a pro at some time. Poker is indeed a demanding game that will take its toll on individuals who are only interested in the monetary benefits and not the game itself.
In addition, if you want a stable job and a predictable work schedule, this is not the best option. Playing poker for a living necessitates building the groundwork and reaping the rewards of consistent practice sessions after a lengthy period.
The ups and downs of gaining thousands of dollars and losing hundreds of dollars might wear you down over time. Furthermore, the game’s level of difficulty varies widely for each player, and you’ll need to know when to stop playing.
Be Mentally & Physically Prepared
Modern poker pros are youthful, fit, and committed to being in top mental and physical shape. However, to get a competitive advantage in poker, you should improve your nutrition and quit disregarding your emotional well-being.
The finest poker players in the world generally approach the game like athletes, so; you must prepare your body and mind to play effectively at a challenging event like the World Series of Poker, where days can last up to 16 hours.
Most essential, consider that full-time professional poker players are not paid regularly. The way of life necessitates self-discipline and a desire to progress through the ranks. It would help if you didn’t allow your ego to control your mind.
You can perform yoga and other forms of exercise each week because this helps you counteract the numerous hours you’ll be sitting in a chair by increasing your stamina and tapping into other energy sources than simply adrenaline.
These regular routines can benefit both your mental and technical game, for example, by assisting you in getting off tilt faster.
Final Words On Becoming A Professional Player
If you want to be a professional poker player, you’ll need a strategy in place. To be successful in your poker career, you will need to put in a lot of effort and a good tactic that will considerably boost your chances of achieving your objectives.
Ask yourself if do you truly want to pursue this career, because if you’re looking for a job shift or making more money, you should probably look at other choices first. You will not succeed unless you have genuine enthusiasm and devotion.
A professional poker player’s life isn’t for everyone, and while it may be a lot of fun, you should think about it carefully before jumping in. Don’t attempt to push success; instead, take step by step and take it slowly and steadily.
