The following interview is hypothetical. I never actually did an interview but I want to give the answers I believe a candid interviewee would give. This article is designed to open your eyes to the reality of life as a professional poker player. The questions I have answered for my hypothetical pro concerns playing poker online and whether poker as a career is sustainable in the long term. Perhaps these answers are similar to the ones you would give.
Question 1: “How have you made your Living from playing poker?”
There is always a pressure to win and I have always managed to come out ahead each month. I play cash games with some sit and go tournaments thrown in for variety. My position in life is that I need to make a certain amount to survive and everything else is a bonus. Sometimes it looks like I might lose but I always pull it out of the bag. I love playing poker and have even tried mobile poker to play while I am on the move. As a career it is fun, but playing for hours on end everyday does take the shine from it a little.
Question 2: “What is the best thing about being a Pro?”
The best thing about a professional poker player’s life is the freedom to get up when you want and not have a time restraint of having to work for someone else everyday. You still need a good work ethic to put in the hours playing your hands and it is easy to get lazy. The money is good but it is not guaranteed in the way normal jobs money is to a point. In many ways I work harder than a lot of guys I know that do a 9-5 normal job.
Question 3: “What is the Worst part of a pro poker player’s life?”
Losing sessions hurt more when it’s your livelihood on the line. You can get desperate quicker if you feel like the universe is trying to prove your decision to go pro wrong. I would not recommend it for everyone but if you are strong mentally then if you are good enough it is not a bad life.
Question 4: “Is there a stigma attached to being a professional gambler?”
Most people really want to talk to me about it when they find out I am a pro poker player. Some people look down on me as they think I am taking the easy way out but it is not easy earning money from poker especially these days. The games are a lot harder than they used to be and there are not that many weak players in the game now. Table selection, game selection and self-control are important factors in poker. But to many people I’m simply a gambler who is lucky enough not to have busted yet.
Question 5: “When should someone turn Pro?”
There are no steadfast rules on this. Turn pro when you have enough money to survive. Think carefully about it and always have a back-up plan. Poker is a hard way to make an easy living.
That is my hypothetical poker friend giving lots of good advice there. I would recommend you to visit the bwin poker school and read the bwin poker blog at www.bwinpokerblog.com and put in lots of practise. Keep working hard at the online poker tables and you just might be able to make the grade and become a professional poker player, if you want to.
By Malcolm Clarke