Going Pro

[Irisheyes]

I'm planning on playing poker professionally over the summer (starting June) this year. By professionaly I mean 7 hours a day, 5/6 days a week. Firstly though I have some decisions to make about the type of game I wan't to play;

A bit of background: I currently play 400NL full ring at a site called Fortune Poker. I would class the standard of play here as being loose and fishy compared to places like party or stars. I haven't played enough Party or Stars to really know though. My latest stats are 15,000 hands of 100NL FR at Fortune for 10ptBB/100 and 16,000 hands of 200NL FR at Fortune for 8ptBB/100. I've only played about 5000 hands of 400NL but I figure I can beat it for maybe 5-6ptBB/100 long term. There is no 600NL or higher at Fortune due to a lack of players.

That fine I hear you say but the problem I have is that I can only play 250 hands per hour at Fortune FR. The tables are slow and there is a limit of 5 tables per player. There is only 5max SH tables and they suck. I just cant play 5max, it is a whole different experience to 6max IMO. You spend half your time playing 3max at these tables and playing 3max is not something I want to do 7 hours a day.

So I figure I could go play 6max 400NL at somewhere like stars. With a bit of practice I think I could manage 6 6max tables at once.

Also at a place like Stars I would have the option of moving to 600NL about halfway through the summer if I saw fit. I'll be starting with a bankroll of $12,000. Gamling earnings are untaxable in Ireland. I'm still covered by my parents health insurance etc. because I'm a 21yo full time student. I have 13 weeks off over the summer.

Here's some rough figures:

Fortune 400NL Full Ring:
6ptBB/100 x 250 hands/hr = 120 $/hour

Stars 6max 400NL (assuming I can beat it for 4ptBB/100):
4ptBB/100 x 480 hands/hr = 154 $/hour

If anyone has any thoughts at this point please elabourate?

Now I have some questions:
1) Are there better places to 6 table 6max than Stars or Party?
2) Can I get Rakeback there?
3) How difficult is long term 6 tabling 6max?
4) Is eight tabling possible?
5) Is an estimate of 4ptBB/100 reasonabe at 400NL 6max?
6) Is an estimate of 4ptBB/100 reasonabe at 600NL 6max?
7) Is 6ptBB/100 long term reasonable at Fortune?

Also if anyone has any other comments about playing full time I'd love to hear them.

Note that I posted this in Holdem Strategies and SH NL because I feel it applies to both and it's really important for me that I get some information on this.

ty all.

[flomo]

Good Luck!

[biondino]

Irish, I've PMed you.

[Miffed22001]

go play full ring at dise

if not go play at party but the higher limits are some of the toughest i think around, upto 200nl shudbe a breeze perhasp also 400nl.

[EricE]

How are you tracking your long term stats at that site? What program/method are you using?

[Rabid Dog]

That fine I hear you say but the problem I have is that I can only play 250 hands per hour at Fortune FR. The tables are slow and there is a limit of 5 tables per player.

Are you sure about this? Because when I went back there about a week ago (I've been away from this room for a couple months), anyhow, I emailed them and asked how many tables you could play at one time. I was thinking about working my way up to 8 tables using the 10NL tables so it wouldnt be as stressful.

Anyhow their reply was you could play as many as you wanted, but they only recomend one at a time to cut down on your chances of loosing. Unfortunately I didnt save the email. I know their little tabs only show 5 tables, but the email made it sound like you could play more than that.

[EricE]

There is a definite limit of 5 tables.

[Irisheyes]

How are you tracking your long term stats at that site? What program/method are you using?

Really roughly, basically

(number of tables) x (hours played) x ( average hands/hour ) = total number of hands per hour

then I just record my bankroll at the start and end of each session and use all the information to figure a ptBB/100 number. Its rough but probable accurate to +- 20 hands/hour which I guess averages out after a while.

[biondino]

Irish, did you get my PM?

[bdawg56kg]

The 400NL 6-max game at stars has quite a few tough regulars, but there are also a good amount of fish, especially at peak hours. Through 9k hands I've been running at 9 ptbb/100, so the game definitely is beatable, but from what I've read on 2p2, the party 400NL 6-max game is much softer, so I'm planning on moving over to party in the near future. Good luck with whatever you do!

[saywhat2]

Well first good luck. However I don't think you have played enough hands yet to settle in on a strategy. Your stats could get better or worse.
Bodog has plenty of soft NL tables at 200 and 400 NL. I would not limit my self to 1 site. How many hours a week do you play now?

[Irisheyes]

Irish, did you get my PM?

Yeah, ty

[Irisheyes]

Well first good luck. However I don't think you have played enough hands yet to settle in on a strategy. Your stats could get better or worse.
Bodog has plenty of soft NL tables at 200 and 400 NL. I would not limit my self to 1 site. How many hours a week do you play now?

I've played >120,000 hands altogether. When I say I can beat 400NL Fortune FR I'm not basing that on my winrate over my 5k or whatever hands. It's based on watching the tables and what I estimate my relative skill level to be.

Bodog is another option. Theres a limit of 3 tables there yeah? I could play there and Fortune at the same time.

I played about 15 - 20 hours a week up untill last week. Exams coming up