what does a person have to do to become a pro.

[TS Clark 0]

For the OP, your question is somewhat analagous to asking how one goes about becoming a porn star. First, lie down. More info will follow.In all seriousness, you are asking completely the wrong question when you ask about how to be a pro. The answer to that question is that you are a pro when you make your living from playing poker. Only a VERY small number of people can say this. No offense, but you are likely not one of them. I know that I'm not and I believe (and PokerTracker and my own records back me up) I am a fairly accomplished amateur player. Emphasis, however, is on "amateur." Even if my skills would allow me to make my living off playing poker, I absolutely know that I do not have the disposition, love of the game, and discipline to grind out a living day in and day out. Not to mention the incredible amount of mental and emotional toughness it takes -- it's one thing to go on a 100+ BB downswing playing with your modest online bankroll. It's another thing to go on the same downswing with your rent/mortgage payment at stake. People get berserk when their opponent hits a two outer for a huge pot at .25-.50 stakes. How will you feel when this happens and flushes your week's profit down the drain?Back to my point about your asking the wrong question. You are. The question that you SHOULD be asking is "how do I become a good NLHE player?" You've been given a lot of answers in this thread -- study, keep good records, find your game leaks, exercise bankroll management, and (most importantly) play a TON of hands at a limit you can afford. Going through these processes will help you know whether you are capable of making a living playing cards. The answer for 95% of the people who go down this path is definitely, unequivocally "no."Finally, I'm assuming from your post that you're young. If so, then please, for the love of all that is holy, make sure you are not neglecting your education, current career, etc.. I'm not lying when I say you'll likely never become a pro, so make sure you're taking care of your future life by doing what you're supposed to be doing and not just spending all of your time playing a game. Poker is fun, but it's not your life.Good luck.

[TS Clark 0]

For the OP, your question is somewhat analagous to asking how one goes about becoming a porn star. First, lie down. More info will follow.In all seriousness, you are asking completely the wrong question when you ask about how to be a pro. The answer to that question is that you are a pro when you make your living from playing poker. Only a VERY small number of people can say this. No offense, but you are likely not one of them. I know that I'm not and I believe (and PokerTracker and my own records back me up) I am a fairly accomplished amateur player. Emphasis, however, is on "amateur." Even if my skills would allow me to make my living off playing poker, I absolutely know that I do not have the disposition, love of the game, and discipline to grind out a living day in and day out. Not to mention the incredible amount of mental and emotional toughness it takes -- it's one thing to go on a 100+ BB downswing playing with your modest online bankroll. It's another thing to go on the same downswing with your rent/mortgage payment at stake. People get berserk when their opponent hits a two outer for a huge pot at .25-.50 stakes. How will you feel when this happens and flushes your week's profit down the drain?Back to my point about your asking the wrong question. You are. The question that you SHOULD be asking is "how do I become a good NLHE player?" You've been given a lot of answers in this thread -- study, keep good records, find your game leaks, exercise bankroll management, and (most importantly) play a TON of hands at a limit you can afford. Going through these processes will help you know whether you are capable of making a living playing cards. The answer for 95% of the people who go down this path is definitely, unequivocally "no."Finally, I'm assuming from your post that you're young. If so, then please, for the love of all that is holy, make sure you are not neglecting your education, current career, etc.. I'm not lying when I say you'll likely never become a pro, so make sure you're taking care of your future life by doing what you're supposed to be doing and not just spending all of your time playing a game. Poker is fun, but it's not your life.Good luck.

[Chief 0]

..step 1..make shitty thread on internet..step 2..?????????..step 3..profit

[Smiddywap 0]

I can't leave a hometown boy hanging (or a boy from a town with the same name... crazy Euros) so I'll chime in. A lot of what I have to say has already been posted above but I like to hear myself talk and see myself write, so that's ok.OP, you've got this whole thing backwards. You don't base the decision on when to turn pro on what you know, you base it on your results. For example, by now I know pretty much all there is to learn about poker (sw) but somehow I'm not making much money yet. I should not turn pro right now. (no sw)In your case, play poker on the side as you go to school/keep a full-time job until you're making a wage per hour playing poker on which you would be comfortable living. Remember to take into account taxes. Since variance will move your hourly wage up and down in the short run take your hourly wage over, say, a month's time. Then compare the hourly wage from that month to the next month and the month after that. If there's a somewhat consistant wage, that's probably what you're looking at. The process I've recommended seems like it will take a long time but remember, this is literally a life-changing decision for you and it's worth taking the time to see if it's the right move.As far as learning on play money tables goes, yes you can train yourself to make the right decisions there however the decisions you face there generally don't resemble the ones you'll see at real money tables. People are much more loose with their chips, you usually won't get the experience of playing against a ring of tight opponents.Now, some extra advice since I don't know your age. If you're in high school, don't drop out. Even if you're great at poker there's no guarantee turning pro will work out, and your parents would slap me if I didn't give you this advice. If you're in university, don't drop out. Now, some people don't agree with me but I believe college is very beneficial in the long run. In any case, it takes less time away from a person than a full-time job so you'll still have time for poker as a part-time job.I have to get to bed so Santa will come so I'll stop there. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

[rookie2619 0]

rude dog, your post was hillarious, im still laughing

[TeeSludge 0]

step1-take a credit card from mommys pursestep 2-deposit 100 dollars on FTPstep 3- play LHE until you are playing at the 1000/2000 with mike matasowstep 4-withdraw everything but 100 dollarsstep 5- buy as many preteen cambodian prostitutes as you can affordstep 6- have fun with your hookers for 2 weeksstep 7- come back to FTP and play NLHE until you are playing 1000/2000 with mike matasowok other than the cambodian hookers and mommys money i am seriousif you can work your way to the top level of online poker you will be able to turn pro........and finnally move out of ur parents basement

I disagree with this last bit of advice. Living in your parents basement is definetely +EV. If anything I would recommend living in your parents basement. Let your mother know that you intend to not pay any bills and expect her to buy your clothes and make your food. I reccomend a steady diet of pepperoni hot pockets.GL.

[jayboogie 0]

To the OP:If you really do want to get serious about poker, the way to do it is to be dedicated to it. You need to constantly work hard on your game to get better. Don't even think about becoming a pro when you've barely even started playing. Focus on being a good player first that can at least hold their own, then focus on being a winning player and lastly when you've had a ton of table experience, know you want to be a pro, and have logged in a ton of hours to know you are a winning player, then you are able to consider being a pro.It doesn't happen overnight, it'll take a while because most people are not just naturally talented at poker. You may think you are, but you probably are not as good as you think you are. It's funny how it is, but when you're ready to be a pro, you won't need to ask, you'll just decide 1 day that hey I love doing this and I'm good enough at it to make a living from it. Nobody can tell you that your ready, it's just one of those things where you figure it out for yourself.As you play more, more than likely you'll decide you hate doing this as a job. Poker may be fun when you're playing with money that you can afford to lose, but when you run bad and the bills are due and you need to win, it suddenly isn't fun anymore. There are just so many attributes you need to be a pro and most people are not suited to become one. You need to have a disregard for money, you need to have a passion for the game. I just can't see how you can be successful doing something you eventually hate doing. If you think it's a path to make an easy buck, you definitely have another thing coming for you.

[milestodavid 0]

pm dna4ever

[TeeSludge 0]

pm dna4ever

weak.can we get an insta-ban for anyone who says this from now on?Or can someone at least come up with something new that everyone can repeat over and over again and laugh at?

[FishingSchick 0]

Ray if you're from Regina, I live 1.5 hours away from you, I could give you some lessons lend you a few books, help you on your way. Send me a e-mail to claytonschick@hotmail.com

[milestodavid 0]

pm dna4ever

weak.can we get an insta-ban for anyone who says this from now on?Or can someone at least come up with something new that everyone can repeat over and over again and laugh at?

pm Tremoney

[TeeSludge 0]

pm dna4ever

weak.can we get an insta-ban for anyone who says this from now on?Or can someone at least come up with something new that everyone can repeat over and over again and laugh at?

pm Tremoney

haha okay I laughed at that. you win.

[milestodavid 0]

pm dna4ever

weak.can we get an insta-ban for anyone who says this from now on?Or can someone at least come up with something new that everyone can repeat over and over again and laugh at?

pm Tremomey

haha okay I laughed at that. you win.

haha, first time i won on this forum.edit: sorry Tremomey not Money

[gcirons 0]

Unlearn any respect for money that you might have.Merry Christmas

[matthew r 0]

pm dna4ever

weak.can we get an insta-ban for anyone who says this from now on?Or can someone at least come up with something new that everyone can repeat over and over again and laugh at?

pm Tremoney

pm theredpill99