Great insights from Dan and James. Jame's comment about it being the hardest way to make an easy living is very accurate. I've never been a cash player as I get bored too easily, I generally do ok but haven't got the sustainability to be successful, so I play mtts.
I started playing poker online 6 or 7 years ago. I'd sold my business and was ''resting'' and so had a lot of time on my hands. I'd played poker since school and logged onto a site and entered a tournament. After a week or so I won my first tournament and a nice pot of money. I then joined a forum (1808gang) and began playing on the Tribeca network sites. I played 3 or 4 tournaments a day and became engrossed in the game. In 2004 I was starting to cash regularly in mtts in the range of $10 - $50 entry. In 2005 I had a cash rate of 1 in 3 played and won over 30 mtts that year. My best night was winning the 2 main events of the evening, a $5,000 and a $12,500 mtt at the same time. In 2005 I had tournament prize-money of $247,000, played across 3 sites, finished in the top 0.5% of the WCOOP main events, and I was knackered. I loved it but I was completely shattered. I had poker thoughts running around my brain 24/7. I would wake up thinking about hands I'd played the night before. I was a complete bore to anyone not involved in poker.
I wouldn't want to dampen anyone's enthusiasm for poker or the dream of being a pro. But as Jame's said, it's the hardest way to make an easy living. Online tournament play has changed dramatically in the last couple of years and making a living from tournaments alone is not really a sustainable option. It wasn't when I was taking it seriously and it's harder now. I can't comment on cash as I've never tried it.
I can comment on what I've seen over the years though. I know very good players who tried and most have fallen by the wayside. Some still scrape by and they are professional, but very few actually make much money. The intensity of trying to make a living from online poker takes its toll and the vast majority of players fall by the wayside. Nowadays I play for fun/amusement and because I love the game. Any thoughts of making a living at it don't exist (I don't think they ever did with me) and playing for fun is more enjoyable, although I'm still a professional in poker when it comes to moaning about bad beats etc.
Anyone thinking of doing poker for a living needs to be certain they are good enough and dedicated enough to succeed. Success might be life changing but failing definitely will be. If any of you are planning to try, I wish you luck, I really do. Those that do make a success of it such as Dan and James are in a minority, a very very small minority.
Great insights from Dan and James. Jame's comment about it being the hardest way to make an easy living is very accurate. I've never been a cash player as I get bored too easily, I generally do ok but haven't got the sustainability to be successful, so I play mtts. I started playing poker online 6 or 7 years ago. I'd sold my business and was ''resting'' and so had a lot of time on my hands. I'd played poker since school and logged onto a site and entered a tournament. After a week or so I won my first tournament and a nice pot of money. I then joined a forum (1808gang) and began playing on the Tribeca network sites. I played 3 or 4 tournaments a day and became engrossed in the game. In 2004 I was starting to cash regularly in mtts in the range of $10 - $50 entry. In 2005 I had a cash rate of 1 in 3 played and won over 30 mtts that year. My best night was winning the 2 main events of the evening, a $5,000 and a $12,500 mtt at the same time. In 2005 I had tournament prize-money of $247,000, played across 3 sites, finished in the top 0.5% of the WCOOP and I was knackered. I loved it but I was completely shattered. I had poker thoughts running around my brain 24/7. I would wake up thinking about hands I'd played the night before. I was a complete bore to anyone not involved in poker. I wouldn't want to dampen anyone's enthusiasm for poker or the dream of being a pro. But as Jame's said, it's the hardest way to make an easy living. Online tournament play has changed dramatically in the last couple of years and making a living from tournaments alone is not really a sustainable option. It wasn't when I was taking it seriously and it's harder now. I can't comment on cash as I've never tried it. I can comment on what I've seen over the years though. I know very good players who tried and most have fallen by the wayside. Some still scrape by and they are professional, but very few actually make much money. The intensity of trying to make a living from online poker takes its toll and the vast majority of players fall by the wayside. Nowadays I play for fun/amusement and because I love the game. Any thoughts of making a living at it don't exist (I don't think they ever did with me) and playing for fun is more enjoyable, although I'm still a professional in poker when it comes to moaning about bed beats etc. Anyone thinking of doing poker for a living needs to be certain they are good enough and dedicated enough to succeed. Success might be life changing but failing definitely will be.If any of you are planning to try, I wish you luck, I really do. Those that do make a success of it such as Dan and James are in a minority, a very very small minority. Posted by elsadog
Elsa,
That quote should be etchted into anybody's mind who's contemplating poker as a living
Top,Top posts on this enthralling thread. Thanks for taking the time to share your great storis and insight everyone.Forget about the cinema im staying right here!
Top post Alan and great reading the high stakes players stories Thx for sharing Heres mine At School - Ciggies as chips ( at least it stopped me smoking many) Facebook ( Only fun but amazing how attractive virtual chips make you to females, so played like it was the WSOP) Then Online Cash , i play on all the major sites but prefer sky for the community and mostly British players In profit overal on sky and MTT's but lately been playing a bit of PLO (not in profit on that atm but improving i think)managed to buy the gf a few treats so she don't moan everytime i log in Mostly play Posted by HuFlungPu
Can be a bad idea this m8. I convinced my missus to let me play one night by promising her a new stable/field shelter for the horses, if I won. I won and had to fork out £2500 for the promise. I actually won just under £2,000 so had to dip into my poker fund for £600.
In Response to Re: Anyone play online poker for a living, or to earn a living.... : Can be a bad idea this m8. I convinced my missus to let me play one night by promising her a new stable/field shelter for the horses, if I won. I won and had to fork out £2500 for the promise. I actually won just under £2,000 so had to dip into my poker fund for £600. Posted by elsadog
In Response to Re: Anyone play online poker for a living, or to earn a living.... : Lol If i win £200 i tell mine iv won £100 She getting a DS Lite not a PS3 Posted by HuFlungPu
Haha agreed! - I'm treating the missus to a Fish n Chips rather than a swanky eat in place!
By the way, absolutely brilliant thread! - Best I have read on here...
Absolutely agree total gripping reading i have often wondered what it would be like i could play poker for hours each and everyday (if i wanted to be single) but i love my girl so i have to let myself just believe that one day money restraints will be lifted and i will have the time and money to take a year out and really have a go at what to be honest is something the more i play the more i want to play getting used to bad beats now i just laugh and move on to next hand or next game thats getting easier although sometimes i still look twice and think how did you call me with that lol but who doesnt fingers crossed i will get the opportunity somewhere down the line i am a better player live than online so need to redress that balance i think the time you get live for thought process is greater that enables me to work things out and READ people better i have won a few tourneys live and recently a nice one resulted in just under 2k after christmas very nice too so i wish everyone the best of luck with whatever they choose to do in poker but above all else if you stop enjoying it STOP PLAYING yours Mark aka Mabsue
Comments
thread of the year.
some of these posts should be stickys imo
Great insights from Dan and James. Jame's comment about it being the hardest way to make an easy living is very accurate. I've never been a cash player as I get bored too easily, I generally do ok but haven't got the sustainability to be successful, so I play mtts.
I started playing poker online 6 or 7 years ago. I'd sold my business and was ''resting'' and so had a lot of time on my hands. I'd played poker since school and logged onto a site and entered a tournament. After a week or so I won my first tournament and a nice pot of money. I then joined a forum (1808gang) and began playing on the Tribeca network sites. I played 3 or 4 tournaments a day and became engrossed in the game. In 2004 I was starting to cash regularly in mtts in the range of $10 - $50 entry. In 2005 I had a cash rate of 1 in 3 played and won over 30 mtts that year. My best night was winning the 2 main events of the evening, a $5,000 and a $12,500 mtt at the same time. In 2005 I had tournament prize-money of $247,000, played across 3 sites, finished in the top 0.5% of the WCOOP main events, and I was knackered. I loved it but I was completely shattered. I had poker thoughts running around my brain 24/7. I would wake up thinking about hands I'd played the night before. I was a complete bore to anyone not involved in poker.
I wouldn't want to dampen anyone's enthusiasm for poker or the dream of being a pro. But as Jame's said, it's the hardest way to make an easy living. Online tournament play has changed dramatically in the last couple of years and making a living from tournaments alone is not really a sustainable option. It wasn't when I was taking it seriously and it's harder now. I can't comment on cash as I've never tried it.
I can comment on what I've seen over the years though. I know very good players who tried and most have fallen by the wayside. Some still scrape by and they are professional, but very few actually make much money. The intensity of trying to make a living from online poker takes its toll and the vast majority of players fall by the wayside. Nowadays I play for fun/amusement and because I love the game. Any thoughts of making a living at it don't exist (I don't think they ever did with me) and playing for fun is more enjoyable, although I'm still a professional in poker when it comes to moaning about bad beats etc.
Anyone thinking of doing poker for a living needs to be certain they are good enough and dedicated enough to succeed. Success might be life changing but failing definitely will be. If any of you are planning to try, I wish you luck, I really do. Those that do make a success of it such as Dan and James are in a minority, a very very small minority.
That quote should be etchted into anybody's mind who's contemplating poker as a living
Very sound advice.
Top,Top posts on this enthralling thread. Thanks for taking the time to share your great storis and insight everyone.Forget about the cinema im staying right here!
Can be a bad idea this m8. I convinced my missus to let me play one night by promising her a new stable/field shelter for the horses, if I won. I won and had to fork out £2500 for the promise. I actually won just under £2,000 so had to dip into my poker fund for £600.
Mine would be LUCKY to get a
With my Winnings.
Yes, really interesting.
Everybody has said they learn from others and this thread is a chance to do that too.
Looking forward to more poker life stories!
Really informative and interesting read - thanks for taking the time to fill us in!
+1 greats threads.
esp james's and gl in seeking revenge on 55 caller
andy purser plays at my casino, altho getting hammered HU still very good result