How to Play Poker for a Living

Poker takes a lot of skill and practice, and a little bit of luck as well. There are hundreds of people who play poker professionally and can actually say that they make a living at it. They don’t consider poker gambling; they consider it their job. If this is something that interests you, you will need to expect to work hard and practice your skills before you quit your job.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Bankroll
• Poker chips
• Table
• Cards

Instructions

1. Purchase the necessary tools to play at home. There are a lot of websites that offer poker playing, and if you have a computer and internet access this is the best way to practice. You do not have to wager any money. In fact, online gambling is illegal in most states. Get a group of friends together on a weekly basis and play poker for fun. This will help you learn the game, and pick up some tricks of the trade.

2. Make a budget so you know what your expenses are. You want to know how much money you will need to make to survive. It give you a lot of stress, which can effect your game, if you must concentrate on money. Save as much money as possible before you quit your job to play poker. Know what you will be able to afford, and have a backup plan.

3. Read up on poker books. There are thousands of books available on poker. Some will teach you the basics of playing poker, and others will teach your different strategies to beat the game. Even if you do not use any of the techniques, some of the other players at the table might be trying to trick you with them. Be familiar will all book strategies so that you can approach the table more confidently.

4. Find out about different tournaments. You will want to know when all the big tournaments are so that you can register for a chance to win big money. Some tournaments are different than others, so you will want to know what kind they are so that you can prepare yourself on the variations.

5. Create a backup plan in case failure occurs. This doesn't mean you will have to stop playing poker. If you are the type of person who likes to play it safe, you may want to consider having an additional source of income just to pay the bills, until you either win a large sum of money, or your skills improve.

Tips & Warnings

• You can never have enough practice.

• Make sure you have some money saved up before you quit your day job.

Resources

• World Series of Poker