Originally Posted by Thinker

I think you have to pay extra attencion now, the pressure from needing to win can cloud your mind, expecially on one of those darker days.
Other than that ... things will go just smood
Good Luck!

Originally Posted by elipsesjeff

Its been a long time coming, but I finally did it. After a lot of support from Mike4066 and others around here I finally got up the balls to quit my $10/hour bullshit internship after 6 months.

My professional poker career will be shortlived until I start school again but until then I'm playing my ass off. After figuring out my monthly expenses I realized I have about 14 months saved in equity (being in college is awesome) and that 40 hours a week at $10 an hour is only $330 after taxes is fucking bull shit considering the dough I've been making.

I dont know what else to say but good riddance. Oh, I've also never quit from my job before so it really did take some balls. But, when it came down to it it was about the money. Now, I just have to keep it hidden from my mom and dad for a little bit. . .

Originally Posted by Fnord

You can make even more if you get really good at 5/10 6 max, although Rakeback becomes a large chunk of your income.

Originally Posted by koolmoe

If you 3-table 5/10 6 max, Rakeback adds about $15-$20 per hour.

Originally Posted by jmontis

that's nuts, you could be a barely break even player and still profit from Rakeback

Originally Posted by kizzik

elipsesjeff could be a slightly losing player and still be doing better than his internship with ]Rakeback[/url].

Originally Posted by Element187

but for me to play poker professionally, i think i need to make a little more then 20$/ph so thats why i say its years away .

Originally Posted by koolmoe

The primary reason to maintain employment, IMO, is the uncertainty of online poker's future. If I felt certain that the games would remain in their current state for the next 20 years, I'd be a pro tomorrow.

Originally Posted by Fnord

Some reasons NOT to go pro:

o Steady income
o Easier to move up when you're not gambling with your paycheck
o Health insurance
o Ability to get a loan

Originally Posted by ArcticKnight

I know this has been debated lots on 2 + 2, but I do believe that the quality of players will rise and the number of weak players will decrease over the next few years. There will be more good or very good players trying to isolate fewer weaker players (and also stay out of each other's way).

A fish either gets better or runs out of money - in ethier case he provides no source of income for good players.

Jeff, I think you picked a good time to enter the fray, as there may not be a long-term window of profibility in a few years.

If you find that you have an edge on even strong players, I hope you will go for the big bucks, and not be content making 40K a year or so for 3 or 4 years. Make some big bucks that you can stash for your own business or whatever when this game starts to dry up.

Originally Posted by StinkyBeaver

I also think that some of those who go pro now will have a hard time keeping up when all the fish's has been caught.

Originally Posted by Fnord

Some reasons NOT to go pro:

o Steady income
o Easier to move up when you're not gambling with your paycheck
o Health insurance
o Ability to get a loan

Originally Posted by koolmoe

You just need to become a winning player at a decent limit. Over several tens of thousands of hands at 5/10, I have won more per hour (not including Rakeback) than I make at my six-figure job, and I am only a solid player, not a great one.

Three tables of 5/10 6max at 2BB/100 is close to $60 an hour = $120K per year full time.

The primary reason to maintain employment, IMO, is the uncertainty of online poker's future. If I felt certain that the games would remain in their current state for the next 20 years, I'd be a pro tomorrow.

However, for the working professional there is a better plan, IMO...