It seems to me that playing poker for a living would be very difficult right now. Everyone seems to be a fairly solid player these days. Back when all the old pros were rounding they could go to the casinos everyday and scoop up thousands in free money from stupid tourists. Now a days even the stupid tourists have read Doyle Brunsons super system or at least know basic strategy. The majority of poker players are full of bs, constantly lying about their earnings - fact is 90 -95% of players never and will never beat the rake. When I started playing in the late 90's there was still a lot of free money available - there is still plenty of easy money but it's not nearly as plentiful as it once was. I've been playing poker part-time - and have considered playing full time. I've been fairly profitable at live games for the past few years. I have a lot of friends in LA and Vegas who play for a living and it just seems like the money goes around in circles. No one really gets ahead and stays ahead for long - unless they get a big tourny score. Even a lot of the top name pros on tv are broke most of the time. Just wanted to get some other opinions. Is it harder to make a living playing poker these days with the increased skill level? Or is it easier given the explosion of popularity - making more money available than ever before? I'm not sure.....just wondering what you think?

of course you can play poker full time.
the problem with "full time poker" or "poker for living" is that ppl who want to go to the next level take this wrong.
poker for living doesnt mean millions or something like that, it means that this is your job right?
lets say you make 200 USD per day, ok? can you do it in poker? dont be greedy, for me i think that when you get to this 200 USD you stand up and leave. can you do that? if the answer is yes than you can play for living. if not, stick to your job

Just because they might be "broke" doesn't mean they don't make decent money playing poker. I have friends who bring in over 60K a year working a 9-5, but are still "broke" because they don't handle their finances correctly.

Most poker pros who play for a living are successful tournament players and have some very nice cashes under their belt. Tournament poker is great because if you are a skilled player, no matter how good the other players at the table may be, you're eventually going to take down a major tourney, which more then makes up for the losses you will take trying to get to your next victory. It's all about the number of tournaments you play. There are some successful poker pros/poker players who play for a living who prefer cash games also, but more money is made playing high stakes tournaments. Remember, millions of people play poker as a hobby, so the 10%-15% of people who actually play to make money, can and will make money if they put their time and effort into learning to beat the game. You don't have to consistently play "donkeys" or under skilled players to profit. If you are a skilled poker player, you are going to profit regardless. Poker is long term. A lot of people think they are going to jump into the game and become an instant success, and when this doesn't happen, they want to say "poker is rigged" or "nobody can beat the rake" or "nobody really profits in poker, people just lie", which is silly. Poker, like any other sport/game of skill, requires years of practice, learning, and playing to get better. No one can wake up one day, having never picked up a baseball bat and decide they are going to be a pro baseball player overnight. Understanding something and taking the required time to become great at something are not the same thing.

You didn't really answer my question but that's ok. I think you're reaching when you say 'most poker pros who play for a living are successful tournament players.......' Most who play are definitely not successful - The vast majority are losers -- A tournament player needs a bankroll at least twice as large as a cash game player -- Some go there whole careers without 'taking down a major tourny' - I think you watch too much poker on ESPN - it's not that easy. Those that do win big tournys often have backers and have to split a large portion of their winings. Then there's the IRS which is an entirely different topic all together. It took me several years to become profitable at cash games - but the swings are still unbelieveable. Very few people profit in poker -- poker players do lie! That vast majority only talk about their winnings failing to mention their thousands in losses. 90% of poker players are 'compulsive gamblers' - they piss away their winnings on blackjack or sports betting. Poker is a game of skill somewhat - but it is still most definitely gambling - People that have seen Rounders too many times seem to always over emphasize the skill factor and seem to forget that they are gambling. A large percentage of poker players subsidize their bankroll with illegal activites - selling marijuana, running a game, being a bookie, etc... Most of the young people today who rush off to become pro players are just that - 'young' and naive. They don't realize what they are getting into. There are a few players that are successful - Phil Ivey, Mike Sexton, Phil Gordon, Chris Ferguson, Barry Greenstein, Daniel Negranu - but in additon to being great poker players with unbelieveable bankroll management - these guys have successfully exploited the business aspect of the game. Being a successful poker player is comparable to being a professional athlete - very few make it. The vast majority of poker burnouts end up broke and alone in dimly lit card rooms surrounded by scum bags. Never really getting ahead, just watching their money go around in circles - waiting for their big score.

You sound scorned.

Originally Posted by wsucouga

You didn't really answer my question but that's ok. I think you're reaching when you say 'most poker pros who play for a living are successful tournament players.......' Most who play are definitely not successful - The vast majority are losers -- A tournament player needs a bankroll at least twice as large as a cash game player -- Some go there whole careers without 'taking down a major tourny' - I think you watch too much poker on ESPN - it's not that easy. Those that do win big tournys often have backers and have to split a large portion of their winings. Then there's the IRS which is an entirely different topic all together. It took me several years to become profitable at cash games - but the swings are still unbelieveable. Very few people profit in poker -- poker players do lie! That vast majority only talk about their winnings failing to mention their thousands in losses. 90% of poker players are 'compulsive gamblers' - they piss away their winnings on blackjack or sports betting. Poker is a game of skill somewhat - but it is still most definitely gambling - People that have seen Rounders too many times seem to always over emphasize the skill factor and seem to forget that they are gambling. A large percentage of poker players subsidize their bankroll with illegal activites - selling marijuana, running a game, being a bookie, etc... Most of the young people today who rush off to become pro players are just that - 'young' and naive. They don't realize what they are getting into. There are a few players that are successful - Phil Ivey, Mike Sexton, Phil Gordon, Chris Ferguson, Barry Greenstein, Daniel Negranu - but in additon to being great poker players with unbelieveable bankroll management - these guys have successfully exploited the business aspect of the game. Being a successful poker player is comparable to being a professional athlete - very few make it. The vast majority of poker burnouts end up broke and alone in dimly lit card rooms surrounded by scum bags. Never really getting ahead, just watching their money go around in circles - waiting for their big score.

Maybe you should do some research on the matter. I know a lot of successful poker players. Learn to beat the game, and you too can be successful. Until then, think what you want, it makes no difference to me. But I did answer your question, yes, playing poker for a living is very realistic. Being a consistent winner is very realistic.

Originally Posted by ImNotSpecial

Being a consistant winner... this just does not happen.
I mean long term yes, but over the course of the month, your more than likely to win about 20/30 days.
which will end up profitable.
Making a living is actually rather easy, but making a millionairs life style is a little bit more difficult.
regards

You're right about everything except being a consistent winner. When I say consistent, of course I don't mean every single game... But me and a lot of other people are able to start playing with a certian bankroll and never look back. Which means we are consistent winners, as we have never lost money playing poker. Everything I play with is profit, and always will be. There are a lot of people in the same boat.

Don't get me wrong - I'm never going to stop playing poker - and I wish everyone the best. My question was simply is it easier or more difficult to make a living playing poker in todays environment.

Poker92 - Not at all! Like I said I'm profitable at cash games up to 5/10 NL. I'm been playing poker since I was 18. I'm just a realist. I'm sick and tired of seeing ESPN make it seem so easy to be a poker millionaire. All you ever see is some 22 punk winning millions of dollars. They don't show you the ugly side - and believe me there is an ugly side!! Poker is gambling - however you want to put it. I know of many college students who have lost all their student loan money playing on-line -many have had to drop out of school and a few resulting in suicide. A friend of mine lost his house and ended up divorced. If you don't have the discipline this game can be flat out dangerous. All the ugly stuff aside (that most people seem to ignore) - I wasn't even talking about that -- my question was is it easier or more difficult to make a living playing poker in todays environment? Compared to say in the 70's and 80's when the average player didn't have a clue what they were doing. Today everyone has read the same books and I would say that an average player today is fairly solid. All though with the explosion in popularity there is more money in poker than ever before. I was just hoping to have a discussion with people who play professionally and gain their insight - (who know what they are talking about.)