You Probably Can't Be a Professional Poker Player

Hi. Come on in. I've made a gourmet treat from the days of my childhood - spaghetti sandwiches. I call them "Sloppy Roys." Dig in.

When my 800 phone number rings, I'm being called by people who want to make money playing poker. Usually, they are breaking even or winning a little, but want to do better than that. And at some point in the conversation, the questions and answers often go like this:

Q: Could I be a professional in the lower limits?

A: Probably not. Most can't. Lots of people play poker, and about 90 percent of them are losers. They don't lose much, but enough for the 10 percent who are winners to augment a paycheck or a pension.

Q: Could I be one of them - a player who wins a fair chunk of money for expenses each month?

A: Sure. Many have and many are, even now as we speak.

Q: How?

A: That's what we're going to be discussing today, and during the next couple of times we meet.

We'll be talking about making a living (or augmenting an income) playing low-limit poker, and what you should consider before giving it your best shot. (And it had better be your very best shot.)

By low limits, I mean limits of $10-$20 and lower. A single person with lots of expenses can squeeze out a living. A retired person can augment a pension and do quite well. But someone with a family, a mortgage, and two car payments had better be an exceptionally good player with great discipline.

We can safely assume that if others are doing it, you, a reasonably intelligent person, can also do it. You want to know how they do it.

They are very good players who really know the game. They study. They have all the books. They've taken all the lessons. They think about poker as a business - seriously.

You'll have to learn to pick your spots. Look for a game where people are just out to have a good time. and look like they can afford to lose some money. You'll want to sit down in this game and make these people enjoy themselves while losing their money to you. That's right, you have to make them enjoy it! That is the mark of a very good working player.

How do you make them enjoy it? You sit in the game and become friendly with everyone. You talk to them and get them talking. You get them feeling good. And when you win a pot, no one gets angry. They just laugh it off, and you laugh with them. And when they beat you out of a pot with a disastrous miracle draw, laugh and say, "Nice hand. You really got me on that one."

It's very important that you do this, because it makes people want to play with you. They won't mind losing their money to such a nice person. Just try being surly with them; let them get the idea that you're a poker hustler, and see how long they stay in your game.

Develop movement - playing in a game as long as it's a good game, and then moving on. Find those action games. Sure, it takes time and effort, but I never promised you strawberries in your champagne - or an easy time of it while trying to earn a living at low-limit poker. The only promise I'll make is that the money you earn, you will earn.

The downside is that most of your opponents will be playing in a free-and-easy manner, not worried about money. But you will be playing for your living. You're giving up a psychological edge. This means that you need strong discipline. You cannot be casual about your play. You must play your best - every session, every game. For most people, if they have a bad day at work, they still get paid. If you have a bad day at work, you not only don't get paid, but have money taken from you. This is not a profession for the fainthearted.

But if you must do it (and don't do it unless your entire being cries out that you must), go into it with your eyes open. Most importantly, learn your trade! Master it. Live it. Love it.

We'll speak of this again when next we meet. I'll have some tough questions for you to ask yourself.

I should have given you a red shirt to wear while eating your spaghetti sandwiches.

Editor's note: Roy West, author of the bestseller 7 Card Stud, the Complete Course in Winning (available from Card Player), continues to give his successful poker lessons in Las Vegas to both tourists and locals. Ladies are welcome. Get his toll-free 800 number from his ad on Page 110.