Should I Turn Pro?

I get many letters from readers about all sorts of topics. One topic that seems to be of great interest is that of the pros and cons of turning pro. To be honest, I am not sure I really know what "turning pro" actually means. There are many players out there who play on a very regular basis, but to me, someone who does something as his profession is doing so without any other source of income. Not that the semantics of the process really matters, but for a semiretired businessman to play pro poker, things might be a little different than for someone who doesn't have stocks and bonds and other forms of money working in his favor.

One of the regulars in our Wednesday Poker Discussion Group (WPDG) recently sent a letter to our mailing list with some items he thinks are of utmost importance. Don Olney, a Las Vegas resident, plays mostly middle-limit poker and has really become a student of the game. He had a plan for going pro, and shared with us some of the "what ifs" of this risky venture. For Don, unfortunate health concerns came up, and they really affected his game plan. Everyday concerns are different for someone playing poker for a living and someone working at some sort of a regular job. Getting that routine paycheck has all of the benefits with none of the drawbacks. Even on your worst day of working for someone else, you get paid. As a professional poker player, your bad days cost you money and set you back. Don stressed in his list to our group the need to have a plan.

Some of the things one needs to plan for when giving up the security of a paycheck for the rigors of playing poker are the necessities in life – things like rent, utility bills, transportation, food, recreation, routine maintenance on everything you own, and most importantly (to me, anyway), health insurance. By giving up a real job, you generally forego health coverage. Those who are fortunate enough to be healthy and seldom visit a doctor might not be aware of the healthcare crisis that the United States is experiencing. Surely, they wouldn't be aware of the extremely high cost of receiving treatment. Dental insurance, another health care need, seems to be sorely lacking with some aspiring pros.

Do you have an adequate enough bankroll to withstand the bad times? No one, and I mean no one, wins every time he plays. A very good winning player might reasonably expect to win 75 percent of the time. Personally, I think two-thirds of the time is more realistic. So, you can see what a struggle it is to make your nut each month. After a bad month, you might have to play another month or two to get back to where you were. If you were working and playing for fun and recreation, you would still have the security of a paycheck. You could use your winnings for the extras in life – the good times, frills, and vacations. Playing poker for a living is really a grind. If it sounds like I don't suggest it, I'm communicating well. My whole point is, it is not for the weak-hearted or the ill-prepared. Even the best player in the world doesn't know when the cards will go sour.

Another thing to factor in when making the decision of whether you should make poker your job is your personal situation and relationships. Do you have a significant other? Have you discussed the pros and cons with that person? Does that person support your effort? If not, you already are drawing dead. Do you have a backup plan?

These are all things to consider before quitting your day job and jumping in. I have left the most important question for last, as it is a tough one to answer objectively. The rest are pretty straightforward and easy. Do you play well enough? That is not to say you have to be the greatest and be able to beat the Las Vegas pros. Very simply, do you honestly believe you play well enough to consistently beat the games that you will be playing. For many, the "good player curve" is very high in their locale. For others, the players in their local cardrooms may play very poorly, meaning the skill level needed to beat those games would be a lot lower.

Ask yourself these questions and answer them honestly. Put things down on paper and see if it makes sense for you to try "going pro." I don't suggest it, but I wish each and every one of you who makes the transition the best of luck. Class dismissed.

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