Joining the Poker Professionals

The lives of the poker professionals are undeniably glamorous. After all, how many people can travel the world playing their favorite game and receive a comfortable income at the same time? The attractive lifestyles of top poker professionals have encouraged hundreds of other players to try their luck on the pro circuit. So how do you become a professional?

Most poker professionals run their poker lifestyles as if they were running businesses. While many view poker as a career, others may play to supplement other incomes or to try their hand at something new. Many poker players calculate that they can make more money playing poker than they can from a range of other occupations, or they may appreciate the freedom and risk associated with being in charge of their own game.

If you're looking to join the poker professionals, bear in mind that raw talent and skill will only take you so far. The best poker players know which games they can make the most money in and know how to compare their skills to those of others. They have also reached the point where they can play a set number of hands each hour. Factor in rake charges, time, and a maintainable bankroll and you'll see that working out an hourly rate for your poker career can be a complicated task.

You also need to consider the downside of joining the poker professionals. If you're playing online poker, you may experience less social interaction in your day than you would ideally like. You may also find that you need to play just one version of poker to make the hourly rate you are accustomed to.