The Pros and Cons of Becoming a Professional Poker Player

The Pros and Cons of Becoming a Professional Poker Player

Becoming a poker professional involves studying, practice and business savvy as well as an adequate bankroll to cover living expenses and weather potential swings in the game.

Playing professional poker may sound appealing to many people. Before making this leap, however, it’s essential that individuals carefully weigh both its advantages and disadvantages before making their decision.

1. You’ll have to quit your job

As a poker pro, one of the major benefits is setting your own schedule. Unfortunately, this can also be detrimental; when things are going well you could find yourself studying too much for exams or grinding tournaments late at night when things are less-than-stellar – both can put undue strain on relationships if any exist between yourself and those closest to you.

As with any career choice, it’s wise to establish some sort of safety net before diving in headfirst to poker as a means of earning your living. Perhaps consider cutting your hours or taking an extended leave before fully dedicating yourself to this path.

2. You’ll have to travel a lot

While becoming a professional poker player can be exciting, it may not be for everyone. Although most can appreciate the thrill of competing at World Series of Poker and winning millions therein, when it comes to making a living from it it can be more daunting.

Travel can be an incredible way to see the world, but it also requires spending a significant amount of time away from home and can strain relationships with family and friends. Furthermore, some places may pose danger and you could likely be alone for much of the trip.

3. You’ll have to spend a lot of time studying

Poker is a game of skill and to become an elite player takes time and dedication. To do this successfully you will need to invest time in studying the game with GTO tools such as trackers.

Poker can take its toll on both your mental health and relationships, particularly since it can be an isolating career choice. Furthermore, its study may leave you without an income source and could put strain on finances.

If you are thinking about turning poker into your full-time job, I advise reducing hours at work or taking an unpaid leave of absence first to gain experience of living the lifestyle and make sure it truly fits with what you want to do. This will allow you to establish whether poker truly meets those criteria and can become part of your future plans.

4. You’ll have to spend a lot of time at the table

Poker can be an isolating hobby that may lead to emotional and physical strain on its player. Furthermore, time spent at the table can take its toll on both mental and physical wellbeing.

Your time at the tables must include playing, studying and improving your game. This may require long hours at the tables analyzing hands while using poker solvers to find GTO strategies or pinpoint leaks in PokerTracker.

Becoming a poker professional can be extremely lucrative, but it may not be suitable for everyone. Before making the leap into professional poker, make sure that you thoroughly consider its pros and cons before making your decision to become one.

5. You’ll have to deal with a lot of pressure

Poker isn’t a team sport, so you’ll often spend long periods alone. This can be challenging for some individuals and may lead to feelings of social isolation; also, because you may spend much of your time sitting at a computer this could negatively impact your health.

Another big consideration when going it alone in poker is not having the safety net of an established job to depend on. A downswing can be much harder to weather since your poker results will need to cover bills; thus putting added pressure on you as an individual player to perform well and produce results.

6. You’ll have to spend a lot of money

There is much misinformation surrounding what it’s really like to be a professional poker player. Many assume they live an extravagant life of travel and winning millions in prize money. This perception simply isn’t accurate.

Of course, poker can be an extremely profitable career path; however, it may not suit every person. Being a good poker player requires hard work and dedication, with it often difficult to strike a balance between your professional life and personal life.

Spending money on coaching and training programs will also be necessary if you want to become a successful pro player. Although this expense can be considerable, committing yourself to this journey will pay dividends down the line.

7. You’ll have to deal with a lot of stress

People usually react in one of two ways when they learn that you make your living from poker: either with silence followed by moments of quiet judgment, or an impassioned demand that all secrets be revealed immediately. Either response could make it difficult to maintain relationships and lead to social isolation.

Being your own boss can be both rewarding and stressful when the going gets rough or you struggle to break even, leading to anxiety with potentially serious repercussions. If this type of stress leads to anxiety, becoming a poker player might not be best suited for you.

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