Becoming a Pro - Part I

Many people who think they play poker well envision becoming a professional poker player. They want to sleep till noon, be their own boss, and dream about making a lot of money. My advice is to remember what the legendary Johnny Moss used to say about playing poker for a living: "It's a hard way to make an easy living."

A number of poker players who become professionals (probably most of them) do so because they don't care to adhere to a normal 9-to-5 lifestyle. They are Damon Runyon characters, independent free spirits who want to do things their own way. Some may view playing poker as adventurous - a risk-taking job that provides a daily adrenaline rush - but I would presume that most pros simply believe playing poker is a better way to pay the rent than other jobs.

Obviously, to turn pro, it's a given that you must be an excellent player. You also need to have a proper bankroll and good money management skills, must take beats without steaming, must be able to handle the swings, and so on.

Those are the stock answers. Now, I'll tell you what I think is the most important factor if you are remotely considering playing poker for a living. You need to love the game. I don't mean that you like to play poker; I mean that you love to play. Without this passion, you will be a miserable person trying to make a living playing poker - and that includes being miserable even if you are successful at it.

If you are not anxious or excited about getting to the casino to play on a daily basis, you're barking up the wrong tree trying to play poker for a living. If you don't have that "I can't wait to get to the game" attitude, take my advice and find another career.

I've often been asked, "What is the best thing about playing poker for a living?" Far and away the biggest benefit of being a professional poker player is that you are your own boss. You work when you want. If you don't feel like going in one day or one week, you take off. If you do go to work, but feel a little tired and prefer going to a movie, it's movie time. Sounds good, huh? Well, you're right. That part is good. Just recognize that to make a living playing poker requires putting in a ton of hours. There is no other way. It doesn't matter what limit you play, you have to put in lots of hours if you expect to make a living playing.

I hear all of those grandiose suggestions and requirements that in order to become a professional player, you need all of your bills paid for six months, shouldn't use your poker bankroll for anything other than poker, and so on. That sure sounds nice, but it's fantasyland. I don't know any professional players who started out this way. And if any pro I know lost his "poker bankroll" and had six months' rent money tucked away, that rent money became his new bankroll.

Yes, you need a sufficient bankroll to get started, but I don't believe it's necessary to have as much as most people claim you need. The catch is to start and stay at an affordable limit until you have the confidence and bankroll to move up. A common mistake that many players make is to move up too fast (usually when they get lucky and win a tournament). I would recommend that starting out, you play $10-$20 for a year or two, $15-$30 and $20-$40 for a few more years, $30-$60 for at least three years, and then if you're doing well, see how you feel about playing higher.

You must recognize your talent level and stay in games you can beat. And make no mistake about this: the higher the limits, the better the players. Here's a story that says it all: Doyle Brunson was once asked, "How good do you think Eric Drache plays stud?" Doyle said, "He plays real good. In fact, he might be the seventh-best seven-card stud player in the world. His problem is that he plays against the top six every day."

Another recommendation I would make to those who want to play poker for a living is to start when you're single (and young). The ups and downs of the business are tough enough when you have only yourself to worry about. Having a family to support only adds to that stress when you're first starting out.

Regardless of what Moss said, I would not discourage anyone who is single, has a real passion for poker, is very good at the game, and wants to take a shot at making a living playing poker. (Others, I would discourage.) I say, go for it if that is what you really want to do. After all, the worst thing that can happen is that you'll go broke and have to get another job. A wise man once said, "There's no shame in going broke, only in staying broke."

This was the first of a three-part series on becoming a pro. Next time, I'll tell you how I became a pro.

Take care.

Mike Sexton is the host for the online poker site PartyPoker.com, whose flagship tournament, the PartyPoker.com Million, is an event on the World Poker Tour.